Access to the internet in Uganda has grown significantly, from the days when it was a preserve of the elite to the current status where any consumer can access it across Uganda.
The cost of mobile data has also been reducing over the years.
According to Uganda Communications Commission’s Annual Communications Sector Report 2023 released recently, the cost of 1GB of data between 2019 and 2023 fell by 50% from UGX 10,000 to UGX 5,000.
“This is explained by the competition in the market and the attendant pricing innovations as more actors come into play,” the report reads in part.
Uganda is only bettered by Rwanda in the East African Community.
“Although the cost of a GB of monthly data remains relatively high at 1.34 USD, it is fairly low within the region coming in after Rwanda at 0.76 USD,” the report says.
Uganda is followed by Tanzania and Kenya where a GB of monthly data costs USD 1.4 and USD 1.8 respectively.
South Sudan and Burundi have the highest prices of internet data where a GB of monthly data costs USD 6.3 and USD 2.8 respectively.
Quoting cable.co.uk, UCC says the average price of 1GB of monthly data in East Africa stood at USD 2.1 while the global average stood at USD 2.6.
UCC report adds that the price of a fiber to the home connection has fallen by 43% from UGX 276,000 in 2022 to UGX 160,000 in 2023.
According to UCC, the price of Dedicated Internet Access (DIA) fell from USD 619 in 2013 to USD 76 in 2023.
Dedicated internet is usually purchased by businesses such as banks and hospitals.
The report further reveals that the price of interconnection rates fell from UGX 181 in 2010 to UGX 45 in 2023 by 75%.
