Notes from My Summer time as a Analysis Intern

As our summer time internship session winds down, TeleGeography welcomes summer time pricing intern Zar Adisuryo to the weblog! Zar simply graduated from Georgetown College with a grasp’s in communication, tradition, and expertise right here in Washington, DC. 

We had one of the best time along with her intern class within the workplace; our interns are an asset as we compile massive, data-intensive analysis tasks all through the summer time. In the present day, Zar shares what she’s realized about broadband in Africa whereas on the job.

We’ll go the baton to Zar to inform you the remainder. ⬇️

This summer time, I used to be glad to affix TeleGeography’s Pricing Workforce as a analysis intern aiding with the annual replace of our enterprise broadband knowledge. I spent a piece of my time specializing in Africa and a few components of Asia.  

As my internship expertise winds down, I needed to replicate on what I’ve realized from the TeleGeography crew in regards to the broadband market in Africa.

The Telecom Encyclopedia

First, let’s begin with a number of definitions I wanted to brush up on. 

Concerning web entry companies, broadband is any web entry that gives higher-speed capabilities with low latency, in comparison with conventional dial-up entry. 

Enterprise broadband contains the broadband companies web suppliers supply to companies, versus house entry. This kind varies by way of entry varieties, together with fiber (LAN/FTTx), wi-fi, DSL, cable, and satellite tv for pc. 

Enterprise Broadband Entry Varieties in Africa

LAN or FTTx captures the usage of fiber-optic cables to deliver alerts to the world of a person’s premises. That is the most well-liked entry kind of enterprise broadband in Africa at about 53% of the market penetration, adopted by wi-fi and satellite tv for pc.

We could also be taking a look at speedy growth in Africa’s connectivity market over the following decade. Right here’s why.

Infrastructure Growth & Tech Giants

TeleGeography is not any stranger to the African connectivity market.

In August 2023, TeleGeography Senior Analysis Supervisor Patrick Christian offered on the African Peering and Interconnection Discussion board. On this presentation, Patrick reported a major improve in submarine cable funding.

Regional Subsea Cable Funding | AFPIF 2023

Submarine cable investments include fiber optic cables. Thus, the growing funding right here will improve entry to the connectivity market, together with enterprise broadband.

There are two present tasks value highlighting—one from Meta and one from Google—hyperfocused on growing connectivity between Africa and the world. 

The primary is the 2Africa Subsea Cable Undertaking. 2Africa is the most important ongoing subsea cable system coming in at 45,000 km cable with an anticipated capability of 180 Tbps to offer steady capability inside Africa whereas connecting nations in Africa towards Asia, the Center East, and Europe. 

This mission is backed by eight main expertise and telecommunications firms together with Meta, Vodafone, and China Cellular. The mission launched in 2020; Airtel Africa activated the portion connecting Kenya, Tanzania, and South Africa in June 2024.

The second cable mission value noting is Umoja from Google. Anchored in Kenya—passing by way of Uganda, Rwanda, Democratic Republic of Congo, Zambia, Zimbabwe, and South Africa, earlier than crossing the Indian Ocean to Australia—Umoja turns into the first ever subsea fiber optic route that connects Africa and Australia. Umoja follows Equiano, a earlier subsea cable mission by Google that goes from Portugal to South Africa. 

Trying to the Sky

Other than fiber infrastructure investments, Satellite tv for pc broadband recognition is on the rise. 

As of Could 2024, satellite tv for pc broadband supplier Starlink offered companies to eight African nations. They’ve plans to increase to twenty nations by the tip of 2024.

Satellite tv for pc broadband entry is well-liked amongst rural areas the place it’s difficult to plant fiber as a consequence of challenges on the land infrastructure. And whereas Starlink is gaining consideration, many different satellite tv for pc connectivity suppliers are additionally lively in Africa and teaming up with satellite tv for pc and telecommunications firms to deliver increased velocity and decrease latency web connectivity out there. Within the Low Earth Orbit satellite tv for pc market, one latest instance is Eutelsat Group partnering up with Liquid Applied sciences.

Enterprise broadband is a vital component out there connectivity in Africa. Since we’re taking a look at these massive investments on the spine infrastructure tasks targeted within the area, and satellite tv for pc disruptors like Starlink develop affect within the African area, cables, and satellite tv for pc will have an effect on the enterprise broadband, which is part of the connectivity market as an entire.

My TeleGeography Studying Record

Many due to Zar for sharing insights from her summer time internship. If you would like to discover a TeleGeography internship, control our Careers web page for alternatives in 2025 and past.