Weak internet, high cost count; as digital quality rates countries best and worst
By Jeph Ajobaju, Chief Copy Editor
Weak internet and high cost of broadband have contributed to Nigeria’s slide to 7th position in Africa and 186th globally in the Digital Quality of Life Index (DQL) 2022 compiled in a survey of 117 countries by Surfshark, a cybersecurity company.
DQL evaluates countries based on five fundamental digital wellbeing pillars –internet quality, e-government, e-infrastructure, internet affordability, e-security.
Nigeria dropped four points compared with 2021 survey, falling from 82nd to 86th.
Surfshark Public Relations Head Gabriele Racaityte-Krasauske said Nigeria’s e-government come in at 95th position, internet quality 99th, and e-security 66th.
The report explained internet quality in Nigeria is very weak and not affordable compared with global standards.
Global digital divide is now deeper than ever and countries are rated as best and worst to live in by digital quality of life.
Nigeria’s worst score is for internet affordability (114th globally), and best for e-security (66th). Its e-infrastructure services (86th), e-government (95th), and internet quality (99th).
All index pillars
“Out of all index pillars, Nigeria’s weakest spot is internet affordability, which needs to improve by 13,970 percent to match the best-ranking country’s result, Israel” the report said.
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Weak internet
“Nigeria’s internet quality, considering internet speed, stability, and growth, ranks 99th in the world and is 26 percent worse than the global average,” according to the report, per Vanguard.
“Regarding internet speed alone, Nigeria’s mobile internet ranks higher than fixed broadband in the global ranking, operating at 25.2 Mbps/s (92nd globally).
“Meanwhile, the fixed broadband internet comes 102nd (18.9 Mbps/s).
Internet affordability
“Nigeria’s internet affordability ranks 114th in the world. Residents can buy 1GB of mobile internet in Nigeria for 15 minutes of work per month, two times more than in Kenya.
“Its affordability decreased since the previous year, making people work 13 minutes and 16 seconds more to afford the same mobile internet service.”
Digital divide
“Globally, broadband is getting less affordable each year. Looking at countries included in last year’s index, people have to work six minutes more to afford broadband internet in 2022.
“In some countries, such as Ivory Coast and Uganda, people work an average of two weeks to earn the cheapest fixed broadband internet package.
“The same trend was observed last year. With the current inflation, the pressure on low-income households that need the internet has become even heavier.”
Best and worst digital countries
“Overall, seven out of 10 highest-scoring countries are in Europe, which has been the case for the past three years.
“Israel ranked 1st in DQL 2022 pushing Denmark to second place after its two-year lead. Germany ranks 3rd, and France and Sweden round up the top five of the 117 evaluated nations.
“Congo DR, Yemen, Ethiopia, Mozambique, and Cameroon are the bottom five countries.”