Internet Subscriptions Cross 22m Mark; Mobile Money Accounts Grow to 32.3M - UCC

Internet subscriptions for the first time crossed the 22 million mark, indicating a broadband penetration rate of 52%, according to the communications sector report for the third quarter of 2021 released by the Uganda Communications Commission on January 23.

"... the report points out that 85% of the 200,000 new mobile connections (mobile subscriptions stood at 29.1 million) during the third quarter were data-enabled connections," reads the report.

"This high broadband connectivity conversion is reportedly driven by the continued shift to data-enabled low-cost entry terminals pushed by both Mobile Network Operators and independent handset importers."

According to UCC, growth in mobile subscriptions also had a multiplier effect on mobile money accounts, with the total number increasing by 900,000 accounts during the quarter. 

At the end of September 2021, the total number of registered mobile money accounts stood at 32.3 million, reads the report.

"Indicative of a sustained increase in business activity that is gradually positioning the mobile as a financial tool, the number of active mobile money agents grew by 11%, from 285,371 in June 2021 to 315,895 by the end of September 2021," reads the report.

"Going by a year-on-year analysis, the agent footprint across the country grew by 39%, with over 88,000 mobile money agents joining the Digital Financial Services (DFS) eco system over the last 12 months."