Nigeria’s Digital Quality of Life (DQL) has deteriorated in 2021, with internet speeds among the world’s slowest at 13.45Mbps for broadband connections and 17.91Mbps for mobile internet.
This is in addition to internet affordability plummeting by 90% below the global average.
Nigeria’s internet speed, despite improving, continues to lag below African peers such as Kenya and South Africa, according to a DQL research done by cyber security firm Surfshark.
“Due to slow internet connections, Nigeria is ranked 56th in the internet quality index. According to the research, “the country has one of the world’s worst broadband connection speeds (13.45 Mbps), ranking 105th, and marginally faster mobile internet (17.91 Mbps), ranking 96th.” “However, the country’s internet speed growth is among the world’s quickest, coming in 16th.”
A recent study on the Digital Quality of Life around the world found the wide disparities in internet affordability between countries.
According to the Digital Quality of Life ranking, the world regions that pay the most for mobile and fixed broadband internet services also have the slowest internet speeds and the least stable connections.
People in Africa, for example, must work about 11 hours each month to pay for even the most basic broadband bundle. It is almost 34 hours in Nigeria. Individuals must labor three hours and 48 minutes per month on average to pay for even the most basic broadband bundle.
The data also reveal that countries with the most expensive internet have the slowest internet speeds. Nigeria sits at the bottom of the internet affordability pillar, with the least affordable internet out of the 85 countries analyzed, according to the index results.
According to the study, Africa’s average broadband internet speed is 4.85 Mbps, which is lower than the global average of 15.94 Mbps. Similarly, the average mobile connection speed in Africa is 20.55 Mbps, compared to 33.53 Mbps globally.
READ ALSO: How To Manage Mobile Data On Your Android Device
The affordability of the cheapest mobile and broadband plans available in a country is combined to determine total affordability.
According to the findings, the cost of internet connections has a direct impact on its accessibility. As a result, a less inexpensive internet has a detrimental impact on the citizens’ overall digital well-being.