While high data costs have long been a barrier to internet access in many parts of the globe including Africa, it is lovely to see that some African countries are leading the way in providing affordable data prices, making the digital world more accessible to their citizens.
These countries are making data cheap thanks to factors like fierce competition in their telecommunications industry and some solid infrastructure investments.
Having cheaper data is not only about lower internet bills but also about enhancing the people’s overall quality of life.
Cheaper data means more people can hop on the internet train. And as the number of internet users grows, the better shot the ICT sector has at boosting the country's economy.
The cable.co.uk, a leading broadband, TV & phone comparison site recently released a report for the average price of one gigabyte (1GB) derived from an extensive analysis of over 5,600 mobile data packages offered across the globe.
The report revealed that all countries in this region are cheaper than the global average of USD 2.59. Northern Africa is the cheapest region in the world overall.
Read also: Top 10 African countries with the most expensive data prices from June to September
According to the report, here is a list of African countries with the cheapest data prices in the world from June to September 2023:
| Rank | Country | Data Price (1GB/$) | Global rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Malawi | $0.38 | 29th |
| 2 | Nigeria | $0.39 | 31st |
| 3 | Ghana | $0.40 | 33rd |
| 4 | Somalia | $0.50 | 45th |
| 5 | Democratic Republic of Congo | $0.52 | 49th |
| 6 | Rwanda | $0.55 | 52nd |
| 7 | Western Sahara | $0.58 | 53rd |
| 8 | Kenya | $0.59 | 57th |
| 9 | Morocco | $0.63 | 60th |
| 10 | Egypt | $0.65 | 62nd |