Get Some Global Tech Facts

February 22, 2008—Technology is spreading at a faster pace than ever before, especially new technologies such as mobile phones, computers and the Internet.

For example, when telephone and telegram services were invented in the 19th century, it took almost 100 years for them to reach 80% of the countries.

Yet in just some 25 years since mobile phones, personal computers and cable television came into existence, they have become available in 80% of the countries.

Mobile Phones

• Today, mobile phones are as common in poor countries as they were in rich countries in 1995.
• Mobile phone ownership rates almost doubled in poor countries between 2000 and 2004.
• African mobile market is fastest growing in the world. 17% of Sub-Saharan population has cell phones. There are now at least five times more mobile than landline phone subscribers in Africa.
• Countries in Latin America and East Asia have fewer than 20 landlines per 100 people, while South Asia and Sub-Saharan Africa have fewer than 5 lines per 100 people.

Internet and Computers

• Between 1999 and 2004, internet bandwidth and computer use (mostly through internet cafes) more than doubled in developing countries.
• 75% of poor countries have fewer than 15 PCs available for 1,000 people.
• In South Asia and the Middle East and North Africa, there are 4 times as many internet users as there are PCs.
• Internet penetration rose by 41% in Sub-Saharan Africa from 1999-2005, but the region remains the least connected in the world. One big reason is there are no fiber-optic cables laid across the region. Instead of using broadband to get on the Internet, countries in East and South Africa rely on satellite connections, which is several times more expensive. A project is underway to lay 10,000km of fiber-optic cable along the East coast of Africa, connecting South Africa, Mozambique, Madagascar, Tanzania, Kenya, Somalia, Djibouti, Sudan, Comoros and Mayotte. The Eastern African Submarine Cable System (EASSy) will increase the amount of bandwidth in the region while lowering its cost.

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