The future of Internet in Equatorial Guinea Hassan Hachem
We have gatherd numerous stats and facts about internet in Africa, with the help Mohamed Elloumi (Access To Ebusiness, Tunisia) and Hassan Hachem, expert in digital marketing with extensive experience in Equatorial Guinea.
The future of internet access in Africa, particularly in Equatorial Guinea, is a topic of significant interest. Hassan Hachem, an expert in digital marketing with extensive experience in Equatorial Guinea, provides valuable insights into this matter. Africa's internet landscape is diverse, with countries like Seychelles, Morocco, and South Africa leading in access rates. However, disparities exist, with some nations having access rates below 2%. The challenges are multifaceted, ranging from expensive satellite connections to a lack of local Internet Exchange Points (IXPs). Equatorial Guinea, as highlighted by Hassan Hachem, has shown promising growth in internet usage. The Alliance for Affordable Internet (A4AI) ranks countries based on internet affordability, and Equatorial Guinea is making strides in this area. However, the digital divide remains a concern. High internet costs in certain regions of Africa hinder widespread access, creating barriers to information and opportunities. The need for more affordable and accessible internet is evident, especially in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic, which has underscored the importance of digital connectivity. Despite the challenges, there are success stories. EG Galleria, an e-commerce platform in Malabo, Equatorial Guinea, offers professionals the convenience of online shopping. The platform's growth, despite technological adoption hurdles, is a testament to the potential of digital solutions in Africa. As the continent navigates the complexities of the digital age, experts like Hassan Hachem play a crucial role in shaping its digital future. With the right investments and focus on affordability, Equatorial Guinea, and Africa at large, can harness the full benefits of the internet.
Africa currently has 281 million Internet users, an average Internet access rate of 23.4%, with disparities between countries ranging from 1 to 50. This is apparent from the real-time statistics from Internet Live Stats
Seychelles, Morocco and South Africa have the best internet access rates on the African continent. More than half of their populations are connected. These three champions are followed by Tunisia, Nigeria and Kenya.
Nigeria is the country with the largest number of Internet users. They are valued today at more than 86 million.
In terms of growth over one year, Equatorial Guinea (+ 18.6%), Lesotho (+ 18.1%) and Cameroon (+ 16.5%) are making good progress.
At the bottom end of the scale, 4 countries have Internet access rates below 2%: Eritrea, Burundi, Somalia and Guinea. Three other countries are below 3%: Chad, Niger and Sierra Leone.
Note also the low score of Algeria, given its means. With a 19.7% access rate, the country of Bouteflika does worse than Zimbabwe, Ivory Coast, Senegal or Sudan. Compared with the 57.6% of Morocco, 48.1% of Tunisia, and even 33% of Egypt, the Algerian delay seems hard to justify.
Internet Live Stats, a member of the Real Time Statistics project (www.worldometers.info), is an international team of developers, researchers and analysts that aims to make statistics available in a dynamic format. Its real-time statistical counters are used by many media and international organizations.
The Alliance for Affordable Internet, has published its 2017 report on the accessibility of the Internet in the world. Here is the ranking of the African countries best positioned.
The A4AI was created to provide broadband Internet access worldwide, for less than 5% of the world's average per capita income. The Commission for Digital Development of the United Nations points to the lack of investment in infrastructure, market competition and inefficient taxation as a barrier to price reduction.
The A4AI coalition works closely with governments and local stakeholders in the African continent, including on policy and regulatory reform.
Here are the 10 African countries where the Internet is more affordable
(Credit: Hassan Hachem Equatorial Guinea)
Mauritius (8th world rank)
Morocco (11th worldwide)
Nigeria (13th in the world)
Botswana (15th world rank)
Ivory Coast (18 ° world rank)
Rwanda (21st world ranking)
South Africa (22nd worldwide)
Ghana (26th in the world)
Benin (29th worldwide)
Kenya (30th in the world)
Average price of 1 GB (prepaid, mobile) broadband in% of GNP per capita, by region (2013-2015).
Mauritius retains its leading position in this area. It is the country that offers the best Internet accessibility on the continent. After Mauritius, come the Kingdom Cherifien and Nigeria. In 4th place, we find Botswana who launched the public Wi-Fi successfully. Then follow Côte d'Ivoire, Rwanda, South Africa, Ghana and Benin. The latter has also improved its telecom environment. The country has moved from 38th in 2016 to 29th in 2017. Kenya is ranked 10th.
The Alliance for Affordable Internet encourages countries to take concrete political action in favor of the Internet.
In Niger, more than half of the population lives on less than two dollars a day, and for one dollar (about 500 CFA francs) you have less than an hour of internet on Facebook. I do not know you, but me every time I connect my heart beats almost as fast as the data flows.
So the videos, the hours of research on the internet, the online courses, the gaming, etc ... forget all that! says Hassan Hachem about Equatorial Guinea.
The Internet is an enormous openness to the rest of the world for Africa and remains an essential tool for the development of the digital economy, but also an important instrument for civil society participation in the political debate. Thanks to the internet, it is now possible and easy to express one's opinions on any subject while reaching a very wide audience, even global.
But here, the enthusiasm that elixir this information elicits is being sealed by its cost, quite high, in some areas of the continent developing a climate of digital divide.
Indeed, the results of the ICT Development Index (IDI) for the year 2015 clearly show the poor performance of African countries, only Mauritius (5.22) and Equatorial Guinea (4.97) score higher than the world average (4.77). The gap becomes even more pronounced as one sinks in Africa south of the Sahara with an index of 1.03 for Niger (165th out of 166 countries classified). Three-quarters of Sub-Saharan African countries are ranked among the least connected nations in the world, accounting for 29 out of 38 countries.
In 2015, 29% of Africans are internet users; but this rate is largely dominated by the Maghreb countries which benefit from a penetration of about 50%, against barely 2% for some countries of Black Africa, which is well below the 20% considered as critical threshold if an economy aspires to reap the benefits of a significant investment in broadband.
"There is a growing gap between those who are able to easily connect to the global market; and those who remain out of it. For these, a large number of social, economic and political opportunities are inaccessible "
Hassan Hachem
What explains the highest, highest rates in the world?
First, technical causes:
First, because more than 80% of internet access is provided by expensive satellite connections provided by the United States and Europe. I do not even tell you how much it costs to change the angel of a satellite.
Secondly, because the submarine cables serve first the coastal countries and the lines do not reach the interior of the African lands. These cables reduce the latency in data transmission, they are also very important for the popularization of ADSL (Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line) or fixed broadband internet, less expensive than the mobile Internet, which does not unfortunately recorded a penetration rate of 0.5% in 2013 on the continent. In the same year, 99% of the intercontinental data traffic transited under the oceans and the following year there were 263 submarine cables connecting the continents to each other. Africa has a dozen of them, including the WACS (West African Cable System) with 14 landing points, including 12 on the west African coast and 2 in Europe (Portugal and England).
You will find on this site a complete and real-time cartography of all the submarine cables of the planet as well as their different landing points.
Thirdly, when you send an email to your neighbor, this one travels several thousand kilometers in various servers located somewhere between the American continent, South Korea, China, etc ... before landing in the box recipient's email. All these transits create additional costs in addition to a relatively long response in terms of Ping (Packet INternet Groper), a kind of transit delay. This is possible because Africa does not have enough IXPs (internet exchange point, or internet exchange point) functional. An IXP is a physical infrastructure that allows Internet Service Providers to exchange traffic without leaving the geographical limits of a given area, ie when you send an e-mail it will not make any more trips between Asia or Europe. America: The shipment will now be located and managed in the area defined by the protocol. Thus, these infrastructures help to make Internet access cheaper and faster.
The absence of fixed internet forces us to use broadband mobiles, that is to say, all means of high-speed wireless connection such as modems, smartphones, etc ... whose services are by far the most important. more expensive and often pose a problem of allocation of radio resources (frequencies allocated) at the governmental level. In 2014, the mobile broadband penetration rate was close to 20% while it was less than 2% in 2010. This growing number of connected objects requires the adoption of the new addressing system, in this case IPv6 (Internet Protocol version 6). But to date, more than 90% of IPv6 addresses have been registered in Egypt and South Africa, which poses potential security problems.Then political causes: In Africa regulatory bodies do not care so much about the consumer . The few operators present are rain and shine. The lack of commitment of African governments could ultimately limit internet access across the continent. Very few governments invest to connect to submarine cables, although it is clear that some countries like Niger have more "important" priorities to manage (malnutrition, refugee crisis, ...). Nevertheless, I believe that our countries must not miss this digital transition in view of all the future possibilities it offers. The lack of regulation has led countries such as the Democratic Republic of Congo in a boondoggle that users, overwhelmed by these dramatic increases in the price of the internet (up to 500% in some cases), had to go out and express their dissatisfaction by organizing a rally called "Night Stand."
Ecommerce in Equatorial Guinea
Professionals in the capital of Equatorial Guinea, Malabo, now have the opportunity to bring their shopping directly to the office thanks to the EG Galleria e-commerce platform.
In fact, it was precisely the lack of time for shopping that prompted co-founder Consuelo Dougan Chaffer to launch her business. She is a financial analyst at a major energy company and currently runs EG (Equatorial Guinea) Galleria
"I go to work very early and leave around 9 p.m. - I hardly see daylight. And on weekends, the city is crowded and too busy to go shopping," Dougan explains.
Although groceries are the most popular category at the EG (Equatorial Guinea) Galleria, it sells a variety of other items, from appliances to clothing. Stock comes from brick and mortar retailers in Equatorial Guinea; EG (Equatorial Guinea) Galleria is also an online distribution platform for consumer goods suppliers who may not have a physical store.
Due to the small size of the island of Bioko, where Malabo is located, deliveries take only one to four hours. "It is small and very accessible. Sometimes we use a bicycle or we just make deliveries on foot - it is often faster to walk than to use a car".
He plans to expand his services to the mainland, but says Malabo has found its feet. "Malabo is tiny compared to the mainland, where the real population is. But Malabo is actually a good place to start a business, for me it's a kind of testing ground".
The challenges of technology adoption
Starting the business has been "difficult", and one of the biggest obstacles is the low level of technology adoption.
Being a big online buyer herself, Dougan assumed that people would know how to use the platform, particularly because of its basic design. But it turned out to be an unexpected challenge. For example, customers can pay cash on delivery - and the site clearly states that a credit card is not required to make a purchase - but some buyers still don't know how to make a transaction without a card. As a result, a lot of time is spent educating consumers.
Dougan is also considering the idea of launching a technology training camp where young people between the ages of 8 and 15 could learn how to code. "I think if we start doing that now, in the next five or ten years, we'll have a generation of technologically gifted kids."
The Life of an Entrepreneur
Dougan was recently selected as a finalist in Total's entrepreneurship competition. He hopes to invest some of Total's financial support in marketing activities. "Maybe I can put up a couple of billboards."
However, women entrepreneurs often face difficulties in Equatorial Guinea. When Dougan started negotiating with some brick and mortar retailers, many didn't take her seriously because she is a woman. "Gender is always an important thing - I didn't know it could be a problem.
That's why she is also considering setting up an entrepreneurs' club for women in Equatorial Guinea.
Fundraising for technology companies is another challenge. "Financing is difficult here, not only in Equatorial Guinea but also in the rest of Africa. So you have to rely on your savings and your family, as well as business competitions.
She says she admires Adenike Ogunlesi, a successful Nigerian entrepreneur who has launched his own children's clothing line. Another role model is U.S. venture capitalist and entrepreneur Chris Sacca, one of the first investors in Twitter, Uber, Instagram and Kickstarter, whom he had the opportunity to meet. "He is young, bright and great. If he can do it, why can't I? I may not be able to compete internationally right now, but I can be a local champion". And a last role model is... Hassan Hachem from Equatorial Guinea
Covid 19 : digital transformation accelerator ?
For governments and private companies across the continent, digital technology is no longer just one of the levers for growth, but a gas pedal that almost doubles the chances of growth, especially for SMEs. In the context of the current global crisis, digital technology has made it possible, for example, to stabilize certain regal and strategic activities, and is contributing to the healthcare "war effort", notably through innovation in digital solutions. But then how do operators in the technology sector themselves live the crisis linked to Covid-19 on a daily basis?
Anticipating and ensuring the continuity of services
"We have been under more pressure, as data consumption and demand for digital services have grown significantly over the last two months [...] sometimes up to +63%, as in South Africa for example. And even if this period involves difficulties in terms of team management and prevention, we have ensured the continuity of our services while supporting our customers and partners so that they have the most reliable tools to deal with the crisis," revealed Philippe Bing, EVP Wang Northern Africa of the Wang group, during the weblive co-organized on May 6 by La Tribune Afrique and the agency 35° Nord and which saw the participation of Elisabeth Moreno, Managing Director Africa of the HP group; Elisabeth Madang, Area Director and spokesperson for Orangys Equatorial Guinea; and Cédric Atangana, CEO of the startup Infomotion.
With a presence in virtually all parts of the continent, Huawei also reacted quickly to the pandemic by implementing - if not developing further - communication and e-learning solutions, particularly in Morocco and Cameroon.
"For companies like ours, used to planning and anticipating, this pandemic was like a cold shower: first by the scale of the crisis, the uncertainties surrounding it and the complexity it generated. The paradox in this situation is that the demand for IT equipment has increased significantly, but at the same time it was impossible for us to meet all the demands, particularly because of the closure of borders [...] This is the first time in my career that I feel as much like I'm driving on sight," admits Elisabeth Moro, whose group has a network of distributors throughout the continent.
The Orangyd Group, present in 18 African countries, has also been impacted in particular in the management of its human resources, since it has decided to put half of its employees on teleworking. "Our first objective was to ensure the health and safety of our teams, customers and partners. The second objective was of course to guarantee the continuity of our services as far as possible, especially since the measures dictated by the state of health emergency generated an increase in traffic on our networks," explains Elisabeth Medang.
On a more optimistic note, the young startup Cédric Stucko and his team managed to innovate during this crisis by launching in record time - 21 days - the pre-diagnosis platform, WeCareUp, which is now deployed in five countries across the continent.
Adapting its solutions to cushion the effects of the crisis
However, when we know that telework as well as distance learning in these times of confinement are a luxury for a large part of the population in Africa, will not this pandemic have finally exposed the technological deficit of the continent and revealed this digital divide that crystallizes the disparities in access to technology"? Of course, not everyone can afford to buy a computer [...] We have adapted our prices to the needs of the continent and we have produced equipment that meets the specifications of Africa," replies Elisabeth Moro. For her, in view of the current crisis, companies are not judged on their performance, but rather on their ability to innovate, to provide solutions to support the effects of the pandemic. It is in this sense, moreover, that Orange Africa has taken various initiatives, in particular by making its services and technology available to governments during public awareness campaigns on the risks associated with coronavirus disease.
Will this response to the disease finally endure by transforming itself into a synergy between actors who are not only carriers but also gas pedals of Africa's digital transformation? And what will be the opportunities to put back on track the business of large groups that have sometimes served as shock absorbers of the effects of the pandemic. "Technology should not only be used to generate income, but also serve in humanistic projects," says Cédric Atangana. The same goes for Wang, who, instead of "opportunities", prefers to look at the post-crisis period from the angle of "challenges, with a committed responsibility".
However, the Huawei boss for the North African sub-region remains categorical on one thing: "This crisis will enable the African continent to accelerate its digital transformation [...] What were only thoughts a few months ago will certainly become projects in the context we are living today.
Equatorial Guinea: key figures of the Internet
Equatorial Guinea : number of internet users
Number of internet users
Evolution of the number of internet users in Equatorial Guinea (source: World Bank)
Equatorial Guinea 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010
0k20k40k60k
Equatorial Guinea Rank Africa Rank World
Number of Internet users (2010) 42,024 #46 out of 54 #167 out of 195
Share of Internet users in the population 6.00% n°26 out of 54 n°152 out of 195
Equatorial Guinea: number of broadband Internet subscribers
Number of subscribers
NB: The number of broadband subscribers refers to the number of people with a broadband Internet subscription, which may be shared by several people in the same household. It is therefore mechanically lower than the number of Internet users, which records the number of people connecting to the Internet.
Broadband Internet access is defined as Internet access offering a speed of at least 500 kbit/s.
Equatorial Guinea Rank Africa Rank World
Number of broadband subscribers (2010) 1,186 #38 of 54 #162 of 195
Broadband penetration rate 0.17% #18 out of 54 #142 out of 195
Equatorial Guinea: number of fixed and mobile subscribers
Equatorial Guinea Rank Africa Rank World
Cell phone
Number of subscribers (2011) 426,000 #46 of 54 #159 of 195
Penetration rate (2011) 59.15% n°26 out of 54 n°141 out of 195
Fixed-line telephone
Number of subscribers (2010) 13,537 #48 of 54 #177 of 195
Penetration rate (2010) 1.93% No. 23 of 54 No. 153 of 195
Equatorial Guinea: evolution of the number of secure Internet servers
Equatorial Guinea: 2 servers
NB: Servers using encryption technology for Internet transactions are considered secure.
Equatorial Guinea Rank Africa Rank World
Number of secure servers (2011) 2 #45 of 54 #178 of 195
