The economic impact of internet disruptions in sub-Saharan Africa

Despite the increasing benefits associated with access to the internet and the contribution of the ICT sector to GDP in sub-Saharan Africa, since 2015 there have been state-initiated internet disruptions in at least 12 countries in the region.

While it is clear how internet shutdowns affect users’ fundamental rights, such as the right of access to information and freedom of expression, the impact of disruptions on a country’s economy and citizens’ livelihoods is rarely as clearly articulated due to a lack of verifiable data. That made it necessary to develop a framework that can be used to estimate the economic cost of shutdowns in SSA.

Losses

The report shows the losses in USD terms which each of the countries studied lost during the duration of the network disruptions. The report also shows that:

• The economic cost of an internet disruption persists far beyond the days on which the disruption occurs because the disruption unsettles supply chains and have systemic effects, harming efficiency throughout the economy.
• Internet disruptions, however short-lived, undermine economic growth, disrupt the delivery of critical services, erode business confidence, and raise a country’s risk profile
• Shutdowns have a high economic impact at micro and macro levels, adversely affecting the livelihoods of citizens, undermining the profitability of business enterprises, and reducing the GDP and competitiveness of countries that implement them.

Disruptions have been witnessed during national exams as was the case in Ethiopia, during elections in countries such as Chad, Gabon, Gambia, Republic of Congo, and Uganda. Public protests have also led to internet disruptions in countries like Burundi, the Central African Republic, Cameroon, DR Congo, Ethiopia, Mali, Niger, and Togo.

Internet shutdowns have been witnessed in countries, some of which have very low internet penetration and usage figures.

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According to the ITU, Cameroon, Uganda and Niger have internet usage percentages of 25%, 21.9% and 4.4% respectively. The three countries have experienced internet disruptions for 93 days, six days and three days respectively between 2016 and 2017.

The significant contribution of the ICT sector and of more prevalent internet services to the economy and society cannot be disputed. This is more so in most African economies where the contribution of the ICT sector to GDP is on average 5%, a contribution greater than in many countries in Europe and Asia.

View the report here.