A total of 22 million Ugandans used internet-enabled gadgets, an indication of a growing digital enabled economy, latest data shows.
According to the Uganda Communications Commission (UCC) report for July -September 2021, total internet subscriptions for the first time crossed the 22 million mark.
“This translates into a broadband penetration rate of 52%. In a nutshell, every 1 in 2 Ugandans has an active internet connection,” the report says.
UCC attributes the increase in connectivity to low-cost internet-phones and low cost data bundles offered by telecom companies.
“During the period under review, the market yet again saw continued vendor mobile network operators’ partnerships for flagship brands. These partnerships included bonus data offerings to stimulate demand,” the UCC report for the third quarter of 2021 reads in part.
For instance on the third quarter of 2021, of the 200,000 new mobile connections, 170,000 were data-enabled connections.
Majority of Ugandans access the internet through mobile phones, supported by heavy investment in internet infrastructure.
According to UCC, the upward trend in broadband connections is similar to that observed in the fixed and cellular subscriptions. The broadband subscriptions base has grown by 1.9 million (10%) as of September 2021 compared to September 2020.
Further, the share of feature phones continued to grow during the quarter. This was on account of significant promotional activity for this segment.
At the end of September 2021, the share of feature phones had grown to 60%, up from 58% in June 2021. Both smartphone and basic phone share of network-connected smartphones continued to fall.