Africa was hit by a record number of digital shutdowns in 2025 that stifled opposition and undermined democracy. On 29 October 2025, election day, a nationwide internet outage cut online communication across Tanzania, raising concerns about electoral transparency. This is increasingly common across Africa. Ethiopia has one of the most extensive and systematic histories of…
Between 2016 and 2024, there were 193 internet shutdowns imposed in 41 African countries. This form of social control is a growing trend in the continent, according to a new open-access source book. It has provided the first-ever comparative analysis of how and why African states use blackouts – written by African researchers. The book,…
Between 2016 and 2024 there were 193 internet shutdowns imposed in 41 African countries. This form of social control is a growing trend in the continent, according to a new open access source book. It has provided the first-ever comparative analysis of how and why African states use blackouts – written by African researchers. The…
Fixed broadband service revenue will increase at a CAGR of 4.4% during the 2025 to 2030 period. Fixed communication services revenue in South Africa is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 4.1% during the 2025 to 2030 period. This is according to GlobalData’s South Africa Fixed Communications Forecast (Q3 2025)…
The author, Q-KON CEO Dawie de Wet The International Telecommunication Union reported in early 2025 that Africa still has the world’s lowest internet usage rate: only 38% of the population was online in 2024, compared to a global average of 68%. Access also remains uneven. In urban areas, 57% were online, but in rural communities…
VeriSign, Inc. (NASDAQ: VRSN), a global provider of critical internet infrastructure and domain name registry services, today announced that, according to the latest Domain Name Industry Brief Quarterly Report from DNIB.com, the third quarter of 2025 closed with 378.5 million domain name registrations across all top-level domains (TLDs), an increase of 6.8 million domain name…
The author, Seacom’s Nic Breytenbach When it comes to digital infrastructure in Africa, few things are more pressing than the need for faster, more resilient and more direct connectivity between the continent’s east and west coasts. As things stand today, if a submarine cable is cut north of Mombasa, data traffic must travel all the…
Malawi is hosting a three-day Africa Broadband Mapping to map and promote inclusive digital transformation across Sub-Saharan Africa. Speaking during the official launch of National Broadband Mapping System in Lilongwe, Malawi Communications Regulatory Authority (MACRA) Director of Telecommunications, Edward Kauka said there is need for countries to have broadband mapping system to identify gaps to…
The Taliban government in Afghanistan has imposed a nationwide shutdown of telecommunications, weeks after it began severing fibre-optic internet connections. The country is currently experiencing a “total internet blackout”, internet watchdog Netblocks reports. International news agencies say they have lost contact with offices in the capital Kabul. Mobile internet and satellite TV have also been…
Harare is preparing to host one of Africa’s most outspoken gatherings on digital media and civic technology, with this year’s Hub Unconference urging the continent to “decolonise the internet.” Now in its 11th edition, the free two-day event will run on 24-25 September at Harare Gardens as part of the build-up to the Shoko Festival….
