The average monthly cost of broadband in South Africa is more than 10 times that of the United Kingdom (UK).<\/p>\n
Moreover, the UK enjoys broadband speed that is five times higher than that of South Africa, according to a new survey published by the South African Institute of Race Relations (IRR).<\/p>\n
The Survey is the annual yearbook on all social, economic, and political aspects of South Africa.<\/p>\n
The average monthly costs of broadband in South Africa and the UK are US$28 (R340) and US$3 dollars respectively.<\/p>\n
Despite the costs, the UK has broadband speed of 24 megabits per second compared to South Africa’s 4.8.<\/p>\n
Its (SA broadband) several times greater than many prominent advanced economies, and other emerging markets, said\u00a0IRR CEO Frans Cronj\u00e9 . “We pay far more for broadband, and the quality of the product that we get is very much slower, very much worse.”<\/p>\n
“The cost-to-speed ratio of the two countries might explain why the UK has more than twice the number of internet users per 100 people as South Africa,” said IRR communications analyst Kerwin Lebone.<\/p>\n
Lebone said that most countries in the world have a favourable low-cost\/high-speed internet ratio. South Africa is among the few developing countries with a high-cost\/low-speed internet ratio.<\/p>\n
“Lowering the cost of broadband in South Africa would lead to greater access to the Internet by households and individuals, which, in turn, would be particularly helpful to job seekers.”<\/p>\n
Ookla\u2019s Household Value Index and Household Promise Index statistics<\/a>\u00a0from February 2015, showed that in terms of\u00a0cost per Megabit per second (Mbps) \u2014 which measures how much you pay for the broadband speed you get \u2014\u00a0South Africa was ranked 62nd out 62 countries, with a median monthly cost of $19.88 (R230) per Mbps.<\/p>\n Thanks City of Joburg, but we have enough broadband<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n Broadband may be Africa\u2019s railway to the world<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\nMore on broadband in SA<\/h3>\n