How South Africans connect to the Internet

The DMMA and Effective Measure’s November 2011 South African Internet user demographics reveal that ADSL remains the main connectivity method for South Africans to access to the Internet.

According to the statistics, which are based on 114,492 surveys of South African Internet users over the last month, 53% of South Africans use ADSL to access the Internet.

The statistics further reveal that 37% of Internet users make use of mobile/cellular networks while 24% use Wi-Fi hotspots.

Some Internet users use multiple connection types (like ADSL and HSPA) to connect to the Internet at various locations which means that the total percentage of connections will add up to well above 100%.

These statistics substantiate World Wide Worx MD Arthur Goldstuck’s research which shows that a single ADSL line typically connects multiple users to the Internet in the small and medium size business environment.

Goldstuck further pointed out that a high proportion of ADSL users also have 3G as a backup connection and for use away from the office, explaining the ‘higher than 100%’ connectivity percentage.

The Effective Measure statistics further reveal that most South Africans access the Internet from home and from work while 21% of netizens use their mobile phones to browse the net.