In its annual report, the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) released details of the top countries with cheapest mobile data prices in the world.
An analysis of prices in local currency shows that in about 70 per cent of countries, mobile broadband prices decreased or remained the same in 2015, according to the ITU Measuring the Information Society Report 2016 document.
The report also showed that a drop in prices of more than 10 per cent was recorded in 35 per cent of countries for handset-based plans, and in 30 per cent of countries for computer-based services.
Despite the general flat or downward trend, in about 15 per cent of countries mobile broadband prices went up by more 10 per cent.
The price of a prepaid handset-based service with a 500 MB monthly data allowance corresponds to less than 0.15 per cent of personal income in Norway, Sweden, Austria, Estonia and Ireland, the countries with the most affordable services.
European nations dominated the list of the top ten countries worldwide with the most affordable handset-based mobile broadband, which also includes two Asian economies: Singapore and the Republic of Korea.
All these countries have in common high income levels, advanced mobile networks (all have deployed LTE), strong competition in the mobile broadband market (three or more operators) and high mobile broadband penetration rates (above 65 per cent).
At the end of the table, most of the countries with the least affordable handset-based mobile broadband prices are from Africa, Asia and the Pacific.
In the countries with the least affordable handset-based mobile broadband prices, the cost of the service corresponds to more than 20 per cent of personal income, thus making it unaffordable for most of the population in these countries.
This is reflected in the low mobile-broadband penetration achieved in these countries (less than 25 subscriptions per 100 inhabitants.
Top 10 African countries with cheapest mobile broadband prices:
- Tunisia
- Algeria
- South Africa
- Gabon
- Morocco
- Namibia
- Congo (Rep.)
- Rwanda
- Botswana
- S. Tomé & Principe
According to the ITU report, the price of a prepaid handset-based service with a 500 MB monthly data allowance is $10.91 in Nigeria (13th position).
“Many people continue to be excluded from the global information society, and the relatively high cost of ICT services remains one of the main barriers to ICT uptake. Monitoring prices is critical for developing policies that aim to make ICT services affordable for all citizens,” the report stated.
There have been fears that the new data price floor to be introduced by the Nigerian Communications Commission will stifle competition in the mobile broadband market and make mobile broadband prices skyrocket.
Ranking of other countries with cheapest mobile data prices in Africa:
- Angola
- Ghana
- Nigeria
- Kenya
- Libya
- Swaziland
- Zambia
- Lesotho
- Côte d’Ivoire
- Guinea
- Cameroon
- Senegal
- Tanzania
- Gambia
- Benin
- Chad
- Uganda
- Papua New Guinea
- Liberia
- Zimbabwe
- Burkina Faso
- Mali
- Togo
- Ethiopia
- Sierra Leone
- Niger
- Malawi
- South Sudan
- Madagascar
- Mauritania
- Guinea-Bissau