Lions go digital: The Internet’s transformative potential in Africa
- Author:
- James Manyika, Armando Cabral, Lohini Moodley, Suraj Moraje, Safroadu Yeboah-Amankwah, Michael Chui and Jerry Anthonyrajah
- Publisher:
- McKinsey Global Institute
- Publication Date:
- 20 November 2013
- Tags:
- Africa, ICT and Telecom
Africa's internet journey is just beginning, says this McKinsey report. "Only 16 percent of the population is online, and the Internet's contribution to GDP is half that in other emerging regions. But... a majority of urban Africans own Internet-capable devices, go online regularly, and visit social networking sites. Many countries have rolled out 3G networks, and planned infrastructure investments are likely to increase bandwidth, reduce costs, and connect new corners of the continent. If governments and the private sector continue to build the right foundations, the Internet could transform sectors as diverse as agriculture, retail, and health care-and contribute as much as $300 billion a year to Africa's GDP by 2025."