The good and bad news about broadband adoption in South Africa

South Africa’s 4Mbps broadband adoption rate has increased significantly over the last year, but the country’s 10Mbps and 15Mbps adoption rates have shown significant declines.

This is according to Akamai’s Q1 2017 State of the Internet report, which is based on data gathered from the company’s Intelligent Platform and provides insight into global connectivity metrics.

According to the report, global broadband adoption rates for 4Mbps, 10Mbps, 15Mbps, and 25Mbps have increased year-on-year.

In South Africa, the 4Mbps broadband adoption rate – the connections which access the Internet at over 4Mbps – increased 38% year-on-year to 58%.

This is where the good news stops. The country’s 10Mbps broadband adoption rate dropped by 11%, while the 15Mbps broadband adoption rate dropped by 25%.

South Africa and Egypt were the only countries in the Middle East and Africa which posted a decline in 10Mbps and 15Mbps adoption rates.

Saudi Arabia and Morocco had the largest 15Mbps adoption gains, with significant boosts of 836% and 511% respectively.

The tables below show the 4Mbps, 10Mbps, and 15Mbps broadband adoption rates in the MEA region.