According to data reports, Sierra Leone’s population grew by 2% from 2021 to 2022. The current population is estimated to be 8.22 million, and as of January 2022, 2.67 million of the total population were internet users. The 2.67 million internet users is a 12.5 % increase compared to 2021. More Sierra Leoneans have flocked online in recent years, and this shift is only accelerating with the explosion of social media. There are multiple reasons why internet usage in Sierra Leone is at an all-time high in 2022.
Why has internet usage in Sierra Leone increased?
In 2019 the current government confirmed that they secured a US$30 million loan agreement to finance the National Fiber Optic Backbone project. This project’s scope is to install fiber cables in unconnected regions across Sierra Leone. The objective is to enable mobile network operators and internet service providers to expand their capacity and offer 3G and 4G services. This project has gradually improved the internet infrastructure in Sierra Leone and made it more accessible, especially in rural areas of the country. The top 3 mobile operators in Sierra Leone: Orange, Africell, and Qcell, continue to compete against each other to offer improved coverage and speeds.
How can Sierra Leoneans living overseas help increase internet usage at home?
According to Statista, 1 gigabyte of mobile internet in Sierra Leone will cost, on average, 1.26 US dollars in 2022. This is very expensive for the average user in a country with a high unemployment rate and low per capita income. Having a fixed internet modem in each household is not viable, so many Sierra Leoneans rely on mobile internet access. Sierra Leoneans living overseas can help by sending internet data or top-ups to their loved ones in Sierra Leone through 247topup.com. It is a 100% Sierra Leonean-owned product registered under BAAJA Technologies LLC in USA and Sierra Leone. 247topup.com is a sister product of 247bigmarket.com, Sierra Leone’s online marketplace. Visit 247topup.com to download your app and send mobile recharge or top-ups to your family members and loved ones in Sierra Leone. Service is also available to other African countries.
