Southern Africa
How much basic internet price baskets cost across Southern Africa
Mozambique’s 2025 ITU fixed broadband basket cost 44.21% of monthly income per person, compared with 6.40% for mobile data. In Lesotho the fixed basket cost less than mobile. The four standardized baskets reveal different price and affordability rankings.
Sources checked
Mobile data only
Shared scale · 0% to 44.21%
Fixed broadband
Shared scale · 0% to 44.21%
Both views use monthly GNI per capita. Selected offers can have different speeds, data allowances and terms.
The fixed offer in Mozambique used a large share of the income benchmark
The sampled fixed offer cost USD 21.17, or 44.21% of monthly GNI per person, and included 40 GB. The sampled mobile data offer cost USD 3.07, or 6.40%, and included 5.8 GB. Both met the basket minimum, but the actual services and data allowances differed. Source 1
Lesotho and Zambia had low dollar prices with different affordability
Lesotho’s fixed basket cost USD 5.35, or 5.58% of monthly GNI per capita. Zambia’s fixed basket cost USD 3.54, or 3.97%. Lesotho’s sampled mobile data basket was more expensive than its fixed offer, at USD 8.00 and 8.35% of monthly GNI per person. Source 1
South Africa and Botswana were below 2% for mobile data
South Africa’s mobile data basket cost 1.27% of monthly GNI per capita and Botswana’s 1.38%. Namibia’s came to 2.75%, while Zambia’s was 3.18%. In nominal US dollars Zambia’s offer was cheaper than all three. The income benchmark changes the affordability order. Source 1
The samples are standard baskets rather than national averages
ITU selects published plans meeting minimum service criteria. Its data-only mobile basket uses at least 5 GB in the 2025 methodology. The selected plans can include different data, access technology and taxes. The GNI share uses average income per person and does not indicate what lower-income households actually pay or can afford. Source 1 Source 2