Effects of Expensive Internet Data Cost in Africa
Many of the newbies I introduced to steemit all love the idea of steemit and are eager to explore it. Within days of introducing them, I notice very few posts on their blog. All of them had the same reply when I asked, "The site consumes a lot of data and I do not have money to subscribe."
Source
That compelled me to a post on how to reduce data on steemit twenty-two days ago. Here is the link to the post I did below:
https://steemit.com/steemit/@greenrun/mobile-phone-users-a-way-to-save-data-on-steemit-site-emergency-measure
In my country Nigeria, we have four telecommunication giants handling the GSM services. They are MTN, Glo, Airtel, and 9Mobile.
I would use the MTN's data pricing as an instance. MTN telecommunication company is the biggest of the four with more coverage of the country.
Source
The smallest data subscription is 1GB for 30 days at the rate of one thousand naira (N1000) which is about $2.78. This may not seem like much till you realize the basic minimum wage is less than $100. Most of the internet users here are the young who basically have no means of income and are dependent on the parent's pocket money or magnanimity. Such parents are already stressed out about things and providing for data is the least of their priorities.
That is just number one, in the growing problem of data in Africa. This 1GB is something I could finish in a day, assuming I am not streaming any video! The size alone at that cost is not something I would go for.
Effects
Education
The effect of this is far-reaching consequences in communication in Africa. You would see a tutorial video and you would be unable to download it due to the cost of data. I once sent a 63MB tutorial video to a newbie on how steemit works. The person was unable to view it due to data unavailability.Business
Many online transactions are affected due to the inability of the populace to access the cheap good internet. E-commerce is the hardest hit in this data dearth. It is not unusual to see people booking appointments of when they would be online.
Source
3.Communication
Effective communication requires some data exchange and internet data is needed to make this happen.
The internet data is costly, and the services are poor. On the screenshot below, notice the poor download speed of 89.6kb/s for a supposedly touted 3G data capability.
To be abreast with most nations of the world, Africa needs a cheap fast data service that is readily available at all location. At present, the services are costly and poor.
A Way Out
The only way out, especially in Nigeria, is to address the power problems bedeviling the sector. The telecommunications companies are always quick to blame the high cost of data to high cost of running a business here as they have to power their BTS solely on diesel-powered electric generators. In order to offset this, they move this cost to their subscribers.
This article is in response to the topic for the community challenge which is Internet data is very expensive in Africa in the United Africa discord server administered by @dragonslayer109
Have really not noticed this data thing though. Will take time to analize how much data i use. Although i do a lot on the internet so is had to tell if steemit is what consumes my data.
You right @greenrun, most steemit newbies are finding it hard to stay on steemit because of the cost of steeming. I really hope there will be a way out of this soon.
Your phone track the data usage. Just check on the settings. Thanks.
How much sunshine does Nigeria get? is solar an option for power? There are a lot of longer lasting and rechargeable batteries available now to store solar energy. Here in Alaska we have many remote Antenna sites that use a mix of solar and wind to stay operating. Weather and camera, and radio relay sites in mountain passes where there is no conventional power.
I have alway thought that the National Weather Service and the Federal steempostexample.html Administration should be more proactive in showing the world some of their remote power systems for keeping pilots and the general population up to date on weather. http://avcams.faa.gov/ Look at where they have some of the camera's. In the middle of nowheres ville.
We have a lot of sunshine. Some of the BTS run a hybrid system, solar and generator. The solar is not the main power, kinda acts like a backup when there's a change over or emergency maintenance of the generators. I think the sole reason they do this may have to do with efficiency, cost, and space. Some of these sites require a lot of power but have limited space. Most sites are less than 10m square. The one you see in the picture below is believed to be big.
The two generators you see above is at least 17kva capacity. Now you could see they have a power hungry equipment right there and space are not that much for them to operate in. The solar you see is just a fraction of the power requirement of the site.
So what they usually do is run a hybrid system, and still depend on the diesel generator for their electric power needs.
Very well said Sir, you must be recouped immensely for this resourceful info. lol
I have not been online now for days because of the issue of data. In a week I subscribed for about 4 times. Then I decided to really sit and calculate things. It is really sad though.
Thanks for sharing this information.
Would it surprise you if it tell you that I use more than 14GB of data every month? I really do. I'm continuously running out of data. I just wish we could get a true unlimited cheap internet. Most mobile internet data providers say they are offering unlimited data and include the clause :.. "fair usage" After you exceed that mysterious threshold of data consumption that falls into that fair usage, they'd start throttling your browsing speed.
Haha exactly... seem like they use binoculars to monitor these days. Once you delve into steemit... the next thing is data alert.
Lol @gloglo. Welcome back.
Hahah... thank you my friend. I didn't get to see you at S.I.N wish I did.
Thanks my dear. Wish i could make SIN. That was one big thing i missed. I hope we get to meet one day soon.
Definitely. Stay inspired.
Yeeee, Oluwa o. 14gb. This one weak me o. Chai. Its discouraging to know that o. Hmmm, i reserve my further comments.
Do all comments, here is decentralised :)
I noticed you haven't been online. Glad to see you online. Don't let the data Nazis win :)
Keep steeming.
Thank you ☺
I noticed as well. I was trying to know if you were taking a break not knowing data wasnt friendly.
Not at all. Data was being an ass, still messing up though but there is nothing I can really do. All the same am not happy about it.
This is one of the reasons why they should respect African steemians. They go through a lot to make a post
It certainly makes being online a little harder for Africans. Thanks for dropping in.
The data is expensive and really true, I think the steemit site consumes more data as well
Data is expensive, any website now seems to be a data guzzler. Thanks for your input.
Hello @greenrun
Cost of data is truely very expensive in Africa. I am sure if every African on #steemit read this article . This post will be flooded with thier experiences.
Thanks for sharing this.
I am sure you have somewhere to be now.
Go Green GoCheers
@dante31
Thank you thank you. You could've been in any other blog but you stopped here. Yeah, internet pricing keeps a lot of our brothers offline. It is a sad situation as we would've love to have them online.
I had to stop at a time to catch my breath before continuing running :)
Nice write up wow I love dix !!!! Steemians are really trying!!! God is our strength we will all steem high to a point where data will be nothing compare to our daily earnings. I pray so
Thank you. I'm happy you liked it. Yeah, the more you steem, the easier it becomes to buy data for more steeming.
hello @greenrun,
The best way to have an edge is to live on one."
Truth spoken.
Salutations.
Truly enjoyed your post.
I am Alexander Djan from Ghana, aka @richforever.
And if I haven't had the pleasure to make your acquaintance, it's very nice to meet you.
Here, what I also think about this:
https://steemit.com/steemit/@richforever/internet-data-is-very-expensive-in-africa-major-hindrance-to-wealth-creation-in-africa
Hi @richforever, nice to have a rich guy on my blog :)
Thank you for visiting my blog. I'll check yours too. Keep steeming.
I have too many interests to spend my time unwisely. And I am too "seasoned" to suffer fools.
So, believe me when I say this:
Connecting with you via your excellent posts is time well-spent.
congrats
Your comments has a poetic ring to it. Interesting. Good job.
ma pleasure bro
This is a major challenge to a lot of people who would have loved to be on steemit . Thank you for doing justice to this post.
It's a sad reality that in 21st century that internet data cost is keeping me off the internet. We can only hope something good happens.
Very sad indeed.
Thanks
Hello @greenrun
Taking Nigeria as a case study here our government is to be blame, this is because they have fail to act appropriately. if we look at the way the telecommunications operators abuse our laws with impunity yet nothing happens. Even the NCC that suppose to wedge the sledge hammer on this economic saboteurs, has been left moribund.
I think a more stronger law with no loopholes that anyone could abuse should be made. Thank you for your input to the discussion.
It's my pleasure bro!
Thank you