The Alliance for Affordable Internet (A4AI) is a global coalition working to drive down the cost of internet access in low- and middle-income countries through policy and regulatory reform. A report from the A4AI published in February 2022 reveals important differences in how people around the world experience the internet.
The A4AI defines meaningful connectivity as “a measure of whether someone can regularly access the internet on an appropriate device with sufficient data and a fast connection”.
Focusing on nine low- and middle-income countries, including South Africa, Ghana, Kenya, Mozambique, Nigeria, and Rwanda, the report measures the gap in the number of people with just basic internet access and those with meaningful connectivity. It also examines what this digital divide means for an individual and for a society.
Key findings from the report show that:
- There are large inequalities among those who are online as well as those with and without internet access
- Urban internet users are more likely to have meaningful connectivity than rural internet users
- Men who are online are more likely to have meaningful connectivity than women who are online. These disparities exist even in countries that have closed the gender gap in basic access, such as South Africa .
What is the importance of meaningful connectivity?
Meaningful connectivity goes beyond basic internet access and recognises the power that reliable, regular internet access can have to include more people in society, strengthen the economy, and allow people to participate in technological innovation.
The report advances the Meaningful Connectivity framework as a way to promote digital inclusion and strengthen digital economies, as illustrated below:
| 4G-like speed | Internet speeds make or break an online experience and without fast speeds, services like online learning and telehealth can be inaccessible. A 4G mobile connection is the minimum threshold that can provide the speeds required for optimal internet usage. |
| Device | To experience the full power of the internet, users need the right devices for the task at hand. Smartphones provide the functionality to create and consume content in ways that basic phones do not, as well as the portability to use the internet anywhere. |
| Unlimited broadband connection | An unlimited broadband connection at home, or place of work or study provides reliable internet access. |
| Daily use | Daily access to the internet is a minimum requirement for users to see real benefits for work, education and communication. |
You can read more in the article Advancing Meaningful Connectivity: Towards active and participatory digital societies, or read the full report: Advancing Meaningful Connectivity: Towards Active and Participatory Digital Societies (A4AI (2022). Advancing Meaningful Connectivity: Towards Active & Participatory Digital Societies. Alliance for Affordable Internet).
