People from lower-income countries have to work three times harder than those of higher-income countries for the internet which is nearly three times slower.
According to international media, this was revealed in a study done by Surfshark, the VPN company. The research has also shown that the internet is significantly less affordable in Africa when compared to Asia — 78 per cent to be precise. The continent also experiences the sharpest internet divide, with only 55 per cent of the population having access to the internet, compared to 77 per cent in Asia.
Lower-income countries work 17 minutes for 1 GB of mobile internet with 26 Mbps, while higher-income countries work 6 minutes for 1 GB of mobile internet with 75 Mbps, the report has outlined. This speed is enough for streaming a movie, but not so for a video call which requires 50 Mbps.
Many of such lower-income countries also suffer from frustratingly slow internet speeds, making video-calling impossible, while also greatly limiting people’s ability to work/study online. Economic stimulation is also difficult without digital exports, taking people from lower-income countries on a downward spiral of financial hardship.
