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This study aims at determining the extent and benefits of Africa’s broadband connectivity, as well as the challenges and best practices for addressing them. The diffusion of broadband Internet infrastructure is shaping modern society and the nature of traditional information and telecommunication technology (ICT) sectors. The impact of broadband can be analyzed in three different contexts: economic, political and social. In the economic context, broadband is measured in terms of efficiency, productivity and economic growth. In the political contexts, broadband has an impact on e-government and e-democracy, and promotes democratic forum in the cyberspace. Finally, in the social context, broadband diffusion leads to a better quality of life, by providing better healthcare, expanded education opportunities, and increased responsiveness by governments to citizens (Ferro et al., 2006). Broadband as a tool for e-government can assist citizens to be more informed and improve access to government information and service delivery. Indeed, some studies (e.g. Ferro et al. 2006) have revealed a positive relationship between broadband availability and the implementation of e-government services. Generally, governments are able to influence broadband markets either on the demand or on the supply-side to improve e-government infrastructure and private economic activity.
In recent years, a variety of studies have detailed several benefits of broadband networks. These benefits include the ability to expand economic opportunities and innovation, increase trade and productivity, reduce business costs, create jobs and encourage foreign investments (Lehr et al., 2005; Qiang et al., 2009; Kelly & Rossoto 2011). These benefits have been linked to the transformational effect of broadband throughout the sectors of the economy, raising productivity and efficiency (Kelly & Rossoto 2011). Mobile broadband has been found to have a higher impact on GDP growth than fixed broadband, through the reduction of inefficiencies (Thompson & Garbacz, 2011). Broadband lowers costs of international communication and improves the availability of information, enabling companies to access foreign markets more easily and become more competitive. In a study of 27 developed and 66 developing nations, Clarke and Wallsten (2006) found that a 1 percentage point increase in the number of Internet users is correlated with a boost in exports of 4.3 percentage points and an increase in exports from low-income to high-income countries of 3.8 percentage points. Qiang et al. (2009) suggest although this study was not broadband specific, it is safe to infer that broadband would have an even bigger positive impact.