A COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF URBAN AND RURAL BROADBAND PENETRATION AND ACCESS TRENDS IN SOUTH AFRICA

Various studies have suggested that broadband connectivity is an enabler of rapid development in the socio-economic landscape, in countries where it is readily accessible. Consequently, the demand for Information and Communication Technology (ICT) has risen sharply, as countries continually recognize the benefits and potential of ICT as a tool for social and economic development. However, while this adaptation is seen globally, the observed trend is that it is mainly readily accessible in urban areas, while in rural communities the ICT services, including internet access, is not widely seen. This paper verifies these assertions and findings through non-intrusive research methodologies that are deemed effective in obtaining the relevant information required to that end, in an effort to ascertain the cause of this disparity. It is further asserted that the slow pace of internet penetration and access in rural areas is attributed primarily to the fact that rural areas are commonly characterized by low income, poverty, underdeveloped infrastructure, illiteracy, and unemployment. These are demonstrated in this paper using results obtained from a broadband survey conducted by the authors. This paper further aims to highlight the extent of the digital divide, in South Africa (SA) through the same survey, which has been conducted in both rural and urban areas. This comparative study was done to highlight the disparity in broadband access and penetration statistics between the rural and urban communities in South Africa observed in recent years, with the aim to better understand the extent of the digital divide, as it persists today. The parameters that are used to achieve this is employment trends, availability of enabling infrastructure and broadband services, and technology availability trends, including the broadband data rates thereof. These results will clearly demonstrate the status of the ICT sector, particularly highlighting the discrepancy between rural and urban communities in SA, and these will be unpacked in this paper.