Broadband in SA doubles in two years
2012-12-06 12:49
Johannesburg – Broadband access in South Africa has more than doubled in the last two years, as mobile operators slashed the cost of data and network roll-out accelerated.
This is revealed in new data contained in the final version of the Internet Access in South Africa 2012 study which was conducted by World Wide Worx.
Findings
The broadband data, which is analysed in detail in the report, shows that the number of broadband subscriptions grew from 3.6 million at the end of 2010 to an expected 8.2 million by the end of 2012 which is a total of 128% growth.
Many users have multiple forms of broadband access, such as an ADSL account as well as 3G, while many hop between operators to take advantage of promotional offers.
As a result, the number of individual broadband users is substantially lower, but also more than doubling in the past two years.
The number has grown from 2.8 million to 6.7 million, 140% growth in just two years.
Telkom’s ADSL service now holds just 10.6% of the broadband subscriber market in South Africa.
Measured by subscriptions, South Africa now has an apparent 15.8% broadband penetration of the population.
However, due to extensive multiple-use of broadband subscriptions, especially thanks to the falling cost of data and the proliferation of promotional offers, the number of individuals using broadband subscriptions represents only 11% penetration of the population.
Future
“This may seem small, but it is still light years ahead of where we were five years ago,” Arthur Goldstuck, managing director of World Wide Worx, said.
“It suggests that, five years from now, mobile broadband and smart phones will be the conventional means of access, rather than fixed line, which will increasingly be confined to small business.”
