Introduction
Internet penetration in sub-Saharan Africa lags
behind much of the rest of the world for a variety
of economic, political, and infrastructural reasons. Despite these hurdles, most countries in
the region view their future success as inextricably linked to harnessing the Internet’s promise for
economic development. Internet regulation in
Africa, as a result, is primarily focused on infrastructure and access-related issues rather than
on content regulation, though countries are making plans to broaden the scope of regulation as
the Internet spreads.
Given the current restrictions on the freedoms of expression and the press in subSaharan Africa, one would expect similar restrictions on Internet freedom. In one way, this expectation is met: a number of countries in Africa have
sought to limit the use of Voice-over Internet
Protocol (VoIP) to protect incumbent telecommunications companies. However, ONI unearthed
evidence of systematic blocking of Internet content in only one country, Ethiopia. 1 Uganda is
also reported, by other sources, to have engaged
in one temporary incidence of filtration during the
past year. Time will tell whether sub-Saharan
countries choose to apply their restrictive laws
and practices—targeted originally at traditional
media—to the Internet realm as the Internet
spreads.
Infrastructure and development
In sub-Saharan Africa Internet penetration rates
are exceptionally low. West Africa generally has
Internet penetration rates of around 1 percent or
lower, with a pocket of countries (Benin, Nigeria,
and Togo) maintaining higher Internet usage
rates falling between 4 and 6 percent. Eastern
and southern African penetration rates are slightly higher on the whole, between 1 and 4 percent.
South Africa and Zimbabwe stand out with 11
and 8 percent, respectively. 2
Various factors contribute to these low
Internet penetration rates. Many areas in the
region lack the basic infrastructure necessary to
support the Internet. Only half of the homes in
Botswana 3 and as few as 10 percent in Tanzania
4
have access to electricity.
Internet Filtering in
Internet Filtering in
Sub-Saharan Africa
Internet penetration in sub-Saharan Africa lags
behind much of the rest of the world for a variety
of economic, political, and infrastructural reasons. Despite these hurdles, most countries in
the region view their future success as inextricably linked to harnessing the Internet’s promise for
economic development. Internet regulation in
Africa, as a result, is primarily focused on infrastructure and access-related issues rather than
on content regulation, though countries are making plans to broaden the scope of regulation as
the Internet spreads.
Given the current restrictions on the freedoms of expression and the press in subSaharan Africa, one would expect similar restrictions on Internet freedom. In one way, this expectation is met: a number of countries in Africa have
sought to limit the use of Voice-over Internet
Protocol (VoIP) to protect incumbent telecommunications companies. However, ONI unearthed
evidence of systematic blocking of Internet content in only one country, Ethiopia. 1 Uganda is
also reported, by other sources, to have engaged
in one temporary incidence of filtration during the
past year. Time will tell whether sub-Saharan
countries choose to apply their restrictive laws
and practices—targeted originally at traditional
media—to the Internet realm as the Internet
spreads.
Infrastructure and development
In sub-Saharan Africa Internet penetration rates
are exceptionally low. West Africa generally has
Internet penetration rates of around 1 percent or
lower, with a pocket of countries (Benin, Nigeria,
and Togo) maintaining higher Internet usage
rates falling between 4 and 6 percent. Eastern
and southern African penetration rates are slightly higher on the whole, between 1 and 4 percent.
South Africa and Zimbabwe stand out with 11
and 8 percent, respectively. 2
Various factors contribute to these low
Internet penetration rates. Many areas in the
region lack the basic infrastructure necessary to
support the Internet. Only half of the homes in
Botswana 3 and as few as 10 percent in Tanzania
4
have access to electricity.
Internet Filtering in
Internet Filtering in
Sub-Saharan Africa