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The need to deliver voice and data access to remote and rural communities remains pressing. While the issue is attracting increasing attention and there is a wide range of funding sources, this has yet to translate into significant positive action. As an award-winning supplier of innovative rural connectivity solutions across the African continent, WTL is an active stakeholder in this community. We feel we have a great deal to contribute to the debate but do not know all the answers and, because we wish to contribute findings to the debate and help the industry advance towards practical, universally available solutions, we conduct detailed surveys among the stakeholder community, to gather opinions and take the temperature. The input is valuable and we appreciate all those who contribute – and, in recognition of these efforts, WTL is proud to share the findings with the community at large.

One of the most important of these sources of capital is Universal Service Funding, which is reserved in many countries for the specific purpose of supporting network rollout to achieve full national coverage. This has become contentious. For example, to some, it must be equally accessible to all, preventing the creation of monopolies in remote regions; to others, it’s a lever that, skilfully applied, will subsidise a single player to make a bold leap – and to deliver exciting results. These views may be opposing, with the result that a deadlock exists. Of course, there may be other reasons – regardless, USF capital has yet to deliver the benefits it promises.

Ovum view

• Despite relatively high mobile penetration rates in Africa, broadband penetration remains low, particularly in rural and remote areas. 
• Rural areas in Africa are characterized by vast unconnected areas with sparsely distributed populations, underdeveloped basic infrastructure, and relatively low income levels, which discourage service providers from investing in broadband networks. 
• There is growing demand for broadband services in the rural areas of Africa, which creates huge opportunities for service providers. However, broadband requirements for rural users vary greatly from those in urban areas. 
• Use of alternative technologies will play an important role in bridging the connectivity gap in rural and underserved areas of Africa. 
• Partnerships are vital in improving broadband connectivity in rural and underserved areas of Africa. 
• Alternative broadband technologies face regulatory challenges, due to lack of regulatory frameworks to support the licensing of such technologies.