UCC | BROADBAND | CONNECTIONS 

KAMPALA - A total of 232,000 new broadband subscriptions were recorded between April 2022 and June 2022, bringing total connections in Uganda to 23.7 million, Uganda Communications Commission (UCC) market performance report indicates.

According to UCC, in a year-on-year comparison, the 12 months ended June 2022, recorded 1.9 million new broadband subscriptions – an 8% year-on-year growth in broadband subscriptions, says the quarterly report.

“In terms of penetration, the 23.7 million broadband subscriptions translate into a broadband penetration of 55 internet connections for every 100 Ugandans,” says the UCC report.

Promotions drive growth

According to the report, the 232,000 new broadband connections are 34% of total new telephone connections and it attributes this growth to new smartphone promotional device activity during the quarter.

Similarly, fixed and mobile subscriptions grew by more than 690,000 subscriptions during the period under review, bringing the total number of subscriptions to 31.3 million at the end of June 2022.

73 lines per 100 ugandans

The report further indicates that over 12 months (June 2021-June 2022), 2.4 million new telephone subscriptions were recorded, an 8% year-on-year growth, which translates into a national telephone penetration of 73 lines for every 100 Ugandans.

Digital financial services

On digital financial services, the report states that 40.7 million digital wallets were recorded at the end of June 2022. 

Of these, 36.9 million were mobile money wallets linked to mobile network operators (MNO), while 3.8 million wallets (10%) were administered by licensed non-MNO payment service providers.

The quarter also saw the harmonisation of Airtel and MTN mobile money cross-network remittance charges.

 Consequently, the report says, MTN and Airtel have uniform cross-network transfer rates with effect from April 2022.

Cyber Security

In a bid to curb the scourge of mobile money fraud, UCC initiated a campaign dubbed “Tonfera” (Don’t con me) to further raise awareness about cyber security.

“Through this ongoing campaign, UCC has partnered with MNOs, Bank of Uganda, and the National Association of Mobile Money operators to conduct consumer awareness on both traditional and social media platforms,” says UCC in their official blog.

Relatedly, UCC hosted the Second Annual Cyber Security CEO Forum during the quarter. The forum brought together thought leaders from the technology, banking and fintech sectors to discuss emerging cyber security threats in the digital financial services ecosystems.