Article

Africa’s total inbound international Internet bandwidth reached 26.9 Tbps by December 2021, according to the 2022/23 Africa Telecom Transmission Map published by Hamilton Research. This international bandwidth compares to 20.4 Tbps in 2020, and 8.2 Tbps in 2017. The inventory of operational terrestrial fibre optic network reached 1,184,028-km by June 2022, compared to 820,397-km in 2017. And 57.1% of the population in Sub-Saharan Africa (669 million) lived within reach of an operational fibre optic network node, compared to 55.2% (522 million) in 2017.

The LIT Fibre Africa Telecom Transmission Map shows the growth of Liquid Intelligent Technologies (LIT) regional fibre optic network from 5,000-km in 2009 to 103,000-km in 2022. This is compared against the operational (“lit”) fibre optic network that was in service across the region in each year from 2009 - 2022. From the Map Layers tab, press the forward or backward play button or drag the slider bar to show the fibre optic network that was in service in each year, and choose the LIT Fibre Optic Network and/or Operational Fibre Optic Network map layers.

LIT Fibre Africa Telecom Transmission Map

The 2022/23 Africa Telecom Transmission Map is sponsored by Liquid Intelligent Technologies (LIT).

http://www.africabandwidthmaps.com/app/

Terrestrial Transmission Network

Africa’s total inventory of terrestrial fibre optic transmission networks passed the milestone of 1 million route-kms during 2018. Africa’s total inventory of operational fibre optic network reached 1,184,028-km by June 2022, compared to 820,397-km in 2017 and 412,729-km in 2012. In the twelve months since June 2021, an additional 34,474-km of fibre optic network has entered service, an average of 95-km of new fibre optic network entering service per day. In addition, there was in June 2022 a further 119,062-km of fibre optic network under construction, 125,541-km planned, and 69,352-km proposed.

Approximately one-fifth of the total fibre inventory in Africa is within cities: of the inventory of 1,184,028-km of operational terrestrial fibre in June 2022, at least 256,107-km was metropolitan fibre rings and FTTH/B (fibre-to-the-home/ building) networks. These metro rings distribute bandwidth from fibre optic nodes to districts and suburbs around each city. The FTTH/B networks provide the last mile access, delivering fibre bandwidth right to the door.

Fibre Reach

The landing of new submarine cables and expansion of terrestrial transmission networks is bringing additional countries, regions, cities and towns within reach of fibre networks for the first time. In the last ten years, network expansion has brought more than 324 million more people within access to high capacity national and international backbone networks.

In June 2021, 57.1% of the population in Sub-Saharan Africa (669 million) was within a 25-km range of an operational fibre optic network node. This compared to 56.7% (647 million) in 2021, 55.9% (620 million) in 2020, 55.2% (584 million) in 2019, 54.2% (556 million) in 2018, 55.2% (522 million) in 2017, 48.1% (469 million) in 2016, 45.8% (436 million) in 2015, 44%, (410 million) in 2014, 41.8% (371 million) in 2013, and 40% (345 million) in 2012.

Once the fibre network which is currently under construction enters service, the fibre reach of Sub-Saharan Africa will increase to 57.9% (679 million), and once the network which is planned or proposed enters service it will increase to 62.3% (730 million).

International Internet Bandwidth

Africa’s total inbound international Internet bandwidth reached 26.9 Tbps by December 2021. This compared to 20.4 Tbps in 2020, 15.8 Tbps in 2019, 12.0 Tbps in 2018, and 8.2 Tbps in 2017. This total of 26.9 Tbps in 2021 was split between Sub-Saharan Africa, which increased by 32% to reach 16.6 Tbps, and North Africa which increased by 34% to reach 10.3 Tbps.

Almost two-thirds of all this bandwidth to sub-Saharan Africa is supplied to its three largest markets. South Africa’s inbound international Internet bandwidth was reported at 5.598 Tbps in 2021, Kenya was reported at 2.941 Tbps, and Nigeria had an estimated 1.950 Tbps.

Of the total bandwidth of 16.630 Tbps in Sub-Saharan Africa by December 2021, 15.255 Tbps (91.7%) was supplied directly by submarine cable. This total of 15.255 Tbps was a 32% increase compared to 11.555 Tbps in December 2019.

There is plenty of room for future growth: this figure of 15.255 Tbps is still a fraction of the total design capacity of at least 406.5 Tbps that is potentially now available on the 31 submarine cables serving the region in December 2021. Four new cables entered service during 2021: DARE 1, METISS, Ellalink and Maroc Telecom’s West Africa cable. So far during 2022, the SHARE submarine cable has also entered service.

The completion of new cross-border links, and the expansion of capacity on others, has seen the volume of intra-regional traffic backhauled to submarine cable landing points increase by 27% in the last year to reach 1.354 Tbps in December 2021. This compares to 1,066 Tbps in 2020, 690 Gbps in 2019, 547 Gbps in 2018, and 400 Gbps in 2017.