South Africa Ranks as Africa’s Digital Quality Leader Despite Cyber Security Lag
According to the latest findings from Surfshark’s Digital Quality of Life Index (DQL), South Africa has emerged as the leader in digital quality of life on the African continent. The annual report evaluates 121 countries worldwide and assesses various aspects of digital well-being, including internet quality, affordability, e-security, e-infrastructure, and e-government.
While South Africa continues to make strides in digital quality, it still lags in terms of cyber security. However, the nation’s improvements in internet speed, mobile speed, and affordable internet are noteworthy.
In terms of internet affordability, South Africa secured the 52nd spot globally, indicating that it is relatively more affordable compared to other countries. The average speed of fixed internet in South Africa is around 70 Mbps, which is close to the global average. Singapore holds the title for the fastest fixed internet at 300 Mbps, while Yemen has the slowest at 11 Mbps.
When it comes to mobile internet, South Africa achieves an average speed of 68 Mbps. The United Arab Emirates boasts the fastest mobile internet at 310 Mbps, whereas Venezuela has the slowest at 10 Mbps.
Gabriele Racaityte-Krasauske, spokesperson for Surfshark, emphasized the increasing importance of digital quality of life in today’s world. With numerous daily activities now being carried out online, it is crucial to assess the areas in which a nation excels and where attention is needed.
South Africa has demonstrated significant improvements in its internet speeds compared to the previous year. Mobile internet speed has increased by 30%, while fixed broadband speed has also seen a similar boost. In comparison to Kenya, South Africa’s mobile internet is 79% faster and its fixed broadband is a remarkable 228% faster.
The Digital Quality of Life Index ranks South Africa 63rd in internet quality and 72nd in e-security. Although it falls behind Kenya in terms of cyber security readiness, it outperforms Nigeria, which ranks 73rd.
Regarding internet affordability, South Africa stands out positively in comparison to other countries. South Africans need to work approximately one hour and 43 minutes per month to afford fixed broadband internet, which is lower than the global average. However, it is higher than Romania, which boasts the world’s most affordable fixed internet. Romanians only need to work 18 minutes per month to afford internet access.
To afford mobile internet, South Africans must work around one hour, 26 minutes, and one second per month. This is five times longer than the time required in Luxembourg, home to the world’s most affordable mobile internet. In Luxembourg, citizens only need to work 16 minutes per month to afford mobile internet.
While South Africa excels in several aspects of digital quality, cyber security remains a challenge. The nation dropped seven places in the e-security category, ranking 72nd globally. Although it performs better than Nigeria, it still falls behind Kenya in this regard.
South Africa’s rankings in e-government and e-infrastructure are 61st and 94th, respectively. E-government refers to the use of modern communication technologies to deliver services to citizens, while e-infrastructure is critical for conducting various daily activities online.
Globally, the affordability of internet services has improved compared to the previous year. Fixed internet has become 11% more affordable, reducing the amount of time individuals need to work to afford it. Mobile internet affordability has also increased by 26%, resulting in people working 41 minutes less per month to afford it.
As South Africa continues to lead in digital quality of life in Africa, addressing cyber security concerns will be crucial for its overall progress. Despite the challenges, the nation’s advancements in internet speeds, affordability, and digital infrastructure position it as a notable player in the increasingly digital world.
References:
– Surfshark’s 5th annual Digital Quality of Life Index (DQL)
– United Nations
– World Bank
