A comparative analysis of urban and rural broadband penetration and access trends in South Africa

Abstract

This paper considers the differences between rural and urban access to Information and Communication Technology (ICT) through non-intrusive research methodologies that are deemed effective in obtaining the relevant information required to that end, in an effort to ascertain the cause of this disparity. It is further asserted that the slow pace of internet penetration and access in rural areas is attributed primarily to the fact that rural areas are commonly characterized by low income, poverty, underdeveloped infrastructure, illiteracy, and unemployment. These are demonstrated in this paper using results obtained from a broadband survey conducted by the authors. This paper further aims to highlight the extent of the digital divide, in South Africa (SA) through the same survey, which has been conducted in both rural and urban areas. This comparative study was done to highlight the disparity in broadband access and penetration statistics between the rural and urban communities in South Africa observed in recent years, with the aim to better understand the extent of the digital divide, as it persists today. The parameters that are used to achieve this is employment trends, availability of enabling infrastructure and broadband services, and technology availability trends, including the broadband data rates thereof. These results will clearly demonstrate the status of the ICT sector, particularly highlighting the discrepancy between rural and urban communities in SA, and these will be unpacked in this paper.