As South Africa prepares to mark World Telecommunication and Information Society Day on 17 May, the conversation around connectivity is shifting from infrastructure to impact.
Vuyani Jarana, CEO of Ilitha Telecommunications, says the next phase of South Africa’s digital journey will not be defined by how many networks are built, but by how many people can actually use them.
“Connectivity and community are both infrastructure,” he says. “One without the other isn’t enough. A neighbourhood with reliable internet but fractured social bonds isn’t thriving. And a tight-knit community without digital access is a community with a ceiling on its potential.”
That reflects a growing reality in South Africa: the country has made real progress in expanding digital infrastructure, but the next challenge is ensuring that connectivity is universal, affordable and genuinely useful in people’s daily lives.
From access to impact
Insights from the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) and the Development Bank of Southern Africa (DBSA) reinforce that shift. While network access has improved significantly, both reports point to a stubborn gap between coverage and meaningful usage.
In Africa, the ITU found that just 38% of the population used the internet in 2024, compared to 68% globally. The region’s mobile broadband coverage reached 86%, but rural areas still lag far behind. In South Africa, internet penetration is comparatively high, yet the DBSA study shows that affordability remains the decisive barrier for many households.
Jarana says that the risk is that South Africa builds a connected economy that millions still cannot participate in.
“Access on paper does not automatically translate into opportunity. For many households, digital poverty means connectivity exists but cannot be used in practice.”
The DBSA report shows that 78% of South African households have internet access and 98% to 99% of the population is covered by 4G networks, yet 40% to 50% of households still cannot afford high-speed broadband. Households are also spending around 4,5% of their expenditure on ICT services and equipment, highlighting ongoing affordability pressure.
Why resilience depends on connectivity
This year’s World Telecommunication and Information Society Day theme – Digital lifelines: Strengthening resilience in a connected world – speaks directly to that challenge.
In the South African context, connectivity allows people to keep learning, earning, and accessing services when circumstances are difficult. It is what enables a learner to revise at home, a job seeker to apply online, a family to find healthcare information, and a small business owner to stay connected to customers.
“Connectivity is no longer just about infrastructure – it is about inclusion and resilience,” says Jarana. “If a household cannot afford reliable broadband, the benefits of the digital economy remain out of reach.”
Affordability and the last mile challenge
While backbone infrastructure continues to expand, the last-mile challenge remains the biggest obstacle to universal digital participation.
Jarana says this is where new thinking is needed.
“We need models that bring costs down and access up,” he says. “That means shared infrastructure, flexible usage models and partnerships that make connectivity more affordable and more useful for the communities we serve.”
The DBSA study also makes clear that South Africa will not solve this challenge through a single technology alone, reinforcing the need for a layered approach that combines fibre, wireless and other solutions.
A lifeline for opportunity
Jarana believes the debate about the digital divide must also recognise the human dimension.
“As South Africa reflects on freedom and opportunity following Freedom Day, meaningful digital participation is becoming an essential part of that promise,” he says. “If people cannot participate in the digital world, then they are increasingly excluded from the modern economy.
“The next phase must focus on ensuring connectivity improves people’s lives. That is what digital lifelines are really about,” concludes Jarana.