Digital & Connectivity Indicators

The 4G network coverage in Sierra Leone is estimated to amount 72.11% in 2024.
The average broadband connection speed in Sierra Leone is estimated to amount 12.03k kbit/s in 2024.
The 3G network coverage in Sierra Leone is estimated to amount 100.00% in 2024.
The export in ICT services per capita in Sierra Leone is estimated to amount US$0.24 in 2024.
The total consumer spending in ICT equipment in Sierra Leone is estimated to amount US$22.77m in 2024.
The Internet penetration in Sierra Leone is estimated to amount to 40.41% in 2024.
The number of households with internet access at home in Sierra Leone is forecast to amount to 378.60k in 2024.

The Digital & Connectivity Indicators refer to the various technology-related and digital indicators of a country. It provides a comprehensive look at past, current, and anticipated technological developments and digital transformations in a global comparison. These indicators are helpful for understanding scientific and technological advancements as well as making both short- and long-term business and policy decisions.

Structure:

The Digital & Connectivity Indicators cover four focus areas:

The Digital Infrastructure focus area includes the number of secure internet servers, information & communication technologies (ICT), and the coverage of 3G and 4G networks. The Server Security chapter reports the number of distinct, publicly trusted TLS/SSL (Transport Layer Security / Secure Socket Layer) certificates per one million people of a country's population as a key performance indicator. The ICT chapters show the export values of ICT services per capita and consumer spending on ICT products, both at the current value of the US$.
The Internet focus area reports internet users in numbers, penetration as a percentage, and connection speed in Mbit/s as key performance indicators.
The Telecommunications focus area shows the overall number of landline or mobile subscriptions and the number of subscriptions per 100 people within a population.
The Banking focus area shows the percentage of the population that owns a banking account or card.

Server security
3G and 4G
Information and communication technology
Internet
Telecommunication
Banking

Innovation
Artificial intelligence
Research & development
FinTech
5G technology

Regional Differences in Digital Development: Global digital and connectivity indicators show significant regional disparities. Developed regions like North America, Western Europe, and parts of Asia have advanced digital ecosystems, while many developing are still catching up. These differences present both challenges and opportunities in the digital landscape.

Competition and Innovation in Telecommunications: Intense competition among telecommunications and technology providers, especially in developed regions, is driving innovation. Key trends include the development of 5G, IoT, cloud computing, AI, and data analytics, all of which are reshaping the digital landscape and expanding connectivity possibilities.

Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic: The COVID-19 pandemic has accelerated the adoption of digital technologies, boosting remote work, telemedicine, and e-commerce. This shift underscores the critical need for reliable connectivity and highlights the vital role of digital infrastructure in sustaining economic and social activities during crises.

Future Outlook in the Digital Sphere: The digital landscape's future revolves around the expansion of 5G, advances in IoT, and innovations in AI. These technologies will significantly impact global societies and economies, driving further digital transformation and shaping the future of industries and daily life.

Data coverage:

The dataset encompasses data from 152 countries. The charts depict the situation of each country in six different domains. These domains are socioeconomic indicators, macroeconomic indicators, health indicators, digital and connectivity indicators, consumption indicators, as well as logistics and transport indicators. Within these domains, various segments are covered, including demography, economic measures, economic inequality, employment, consumption, health determinants, and much more.

Modeling approach:

The composition of each domain follows a comprehensive approach that combines both top-down and bottom-up methodologies, with each domain and segment being guided by a specific rationale. To evaluate the situation of these six domains within each country, we rely on pertinent indicators and data from reputable international institutions, local national statistical offices, industry associations, and leading private institutions. Additionally, we undertake data processing procedures to address issues such as missing timelines, outliers, and data inconsistency. Our data processing incorporates advanced statistical techniques, including interpolation, exponential moving weighted average, and the Savitzky-Golay filter. These methods contribute to the refinement and enhancement of data quality.

Forecasts:

In our forecasting process, a wide range of statistical techniques is utilized based on the characteristics of the markets. For example, the S-curve function is employed to forecast the adoption of new technology, products, and services, aligning the forecast model with the theory of innovation adoption. Additionally, the data is forecasted using ARIMA with and without seasonality considerations, exponential trend smoothing, and the Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR), with the option to incorporate adjustment factors when necessary. These techniques enable accurate and reliable forecast methods tailored to the unique characteristics of the data in each market and country.

Additional notes:

The data is updated twice per year or every time there is a significant change in their dynamics. The impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic and of the Russia/Ukraine war are considered at a country-specific level.

Since 2020, the world has seen two crises that have had a massive impact on the global economy. First, as the coronavirus (COVID-19) started spreading that year, companies and stores around the world were forced to shut down, resulting in a global economic downturn. Then, as the economy was slowly starting to recover from the effects of COVID-19, Russia's President Vladimir Putin decided to invade Ukraine in February 2022, which resulted in rising inflation. At first there were fears of a global recession, but as of January 2024, it seems that most countries have fared better than first feared, and consumer confidence has bee increasing since November 2022. However, Hamas' attack on Israel in October 2023 and the resulting war in Gaza has further spurred global uncertainties, and attacks by the Houthi militia based in Yemen on ships travelling through the Red Sea has disrupted international trade routes.