Internet access: A basic need, not a luxury

The internet is infrastructure

If we’re serious about growing South Africa’s economy and supporting entrepreneurs at every level, we need to start seeing the internet for what it truly is: vital infrastructure. Just as roads connect goods and people, the internet connects ideas, opportunities, skills and services. It allows an informal trader in Khayelitsha to order stock online, a student in Giyani to access online classes and a small business in Lusikisiki to apply for funding or accept digital payments.

When countries like India made access to affordable mobile data a priority, it helped fuel digital transformation which gave millions of people the tools to start businesses, upskill, and access essential services. On the African continent, we’re seeing how digital access is enabling farmers to get better prices for crops, families to send and receive money safely, and micro-enterprises to expand their reach. South Africa should be no different.

Left behind because they can’t connect

A comprehensive study by Research ICT Africa (2024) found that while cellphone internet coverage has expanded significantly in the country, only 34% of households have consistent access to the internet at home, up from just 12% in 2018.

Most South Africans depend on cellphones for connectivity, often through limited prepaid data plans that restrict meaningful usage. The study notes that “data prices may have fallen, but for low-income households, affordability remains a barrier to digital equity.”

This gap in access prevents meaningful participation in society. Without internet access, students fall behind in a digitally driven education system. Job seekers find it difficult to find and apply for positions or prepare for interviews. Small businesses and informal traders are excluded from the growing digital economy and cannot access markets or manage transactions efficiently. Families are often disconnected from critical healthcare resources and the necessary tools to bank or budget.