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SMARTPHONES DRIVING
INTERNET ADOPTION
The adoption of Internet-enabled devices such as
smartphones is the main driver of Internet use in Africa.
The 2017 After Access Survey shows that Internet penetration is mostly driven by smartphone take-up. Of those
who use the Internet in the seven surveyed countries, 67
percent access the Internet via smartphones.
Smartphone penetration in Mozambique stands at
seven percent, which explains the low ten percent,
Internet penetration in Mozambique. A quarter of mobile
phone users use smartphones and the majority (70%)
use basic phones, which do not have the capability
to connect to the Internet (see Figure 10). Asked why
they do not have smartphones, about two-thirds (64%)
stated that smartphones are too expensive and 21
percent said that they do not need them, while nine
percent reported that they are too complicated to use
(see Figure 11). The lack of access to devices is the main
stumbling block to the country making progress towards
its own national universal access goals and Sustainable
Development Goals.
25%
5%
Basic phone
70%
Feature phone
Smartphone
Figure 10: Type of mobile phone owned
Source: RIA After Access survey data, 2017
It is too expensive
64
I do not need one
21
It is too complicated
9
Other
4
I do know what it is
1
Not available in my area
1
Not allowed to get one 0
0
18
35
53
70
Figure 11: Why individuals do not have a smartphone (in percentages)
Source: RIA After Access survey data, 2017
Smartphones driving Internet adoption
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