Africa Is World’s Most Expensive Region For Mobile Data – New Survey

 

A survey by the Worldwide Mobile Data Pricing 2022 has revealed a list of countries offering the cheapest and most expensive mobile data.

The list, compiled by Cable.co.uk, analysed data from 5,292 mobile data plans from 233 countries. The report lists the cost of 1GB of mobile data in all 233 countries.

Data from the report indicates that Sub-Saharan Africa is generally the second-most expensive region in the world for mobile data. The report further noted that Sub-Saharan Africa has just five countries among the top 50 cheapest in the world.

The region also has five out of the ten countries in the world, with Saint Helena being the most expensive in the world (USD 41.06), followed by São Tomé and Príncipe (USD 29.49), Botswana (USD 15.55), Togo (USD 12.94) and Seychelles (USD 12.66).

According to the report, the internet in the sub-Saharan region is most affordable in countries like Ghana, Somalia, Nigeria, Tanzania, Sudan, Eswatini, Kenya and Mauritius, where 1GB of mobile data costs less than a dollar

The report showed that Ghana has the cheapest mobile data price in all of Sub-Saharan Africa, as the cost of 1GB mobile data in the country costs $0.61. In second place is Somalia, where the cost of 1GB mobile data is $0.63.

Nigeria ranks third on the list as 1GB mobile data in the country costs $ 0.71. In fourth place is Tanzania, where the cost of 1GB mobile data is $ 0.71. Sudan rounds up the top five (5) list with the price of 1GB mobile data is said to cost $0.75.

The report pointed out that countries with excellent 4G or 5G infrastructure tend to have cheaper mobile data offers. In contrast, countries with little or no fixed-line broadband rely more on mobile data; in such cases, mobile data becomes the only way to go online. So, high demand coupled with multiple service providers can result in exceptionally cheaper data plans.

Based on the report, 1GB of data costs $29 in Sao Tome and Principe, making it the most expensive in the region. In second place is Botswana, where 1GB costs $16. Togo ranks third on the list with 1GB priced at $13. Seychelles ($13) and Namibia ($11) rounded off the top five (5) list of Sub-Sahara African countries with the most expensive data packages.

The report concluded that mobile data is so expensive in these countries that 1GB costs an average of $10. This is 250 times more expensive than Israel, the country known to have the world’s cheapest data at $0.04 per 1GB.