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-   -   Trans Africa - Internet? (https://www.horizonsunlimited.com/hubb/sub-saharan-africa/trans-africa-internet-74493)

teizms 13 Feb 2014 19:46

Quote:

Originally Posted by thepinproject (Post 454006)
We are travelling for more than a year in Southern-Eastern Africa and I could say that I am internet addicted.

You can find internet literally everywhere and also reasonable speeds up to really fast. The only restriction is the unexpected power cuts but its usually during the night.

What is more, just use your smartphone and use 3G networks. I will agree with MovingHouse. You will be surprised how fast it goes. Uganda, Kenya and Zambia were the best in terms of speed. Rwanda and Tanzania in terms of cost.

The bundles sometimes are ridiculously cheap and fast like hell in urban areas.

I even managed to update my blog using EDGE in a tiny villagein Rwanda. Slow but I made it.

3G works in all capitals and busy cities flawless. Then EDGE comes in the coast and small villages to make your life a bit more difficult.

But, you can always be online. If the internet availability is your major concern, GO FOR IT!!!


Cheers

Nikos

in the same situation - will need daily internet access to answer emails and manage a business remotely.so based on this post it seems like it will be possible.

Surfy 14 Feb 2014 10:51

When you did focus you for internet availability i guess too that it is possible.

When you dont do wildcamping in the bush, when you stay at villages or cities, buy a simcard in each country also when you dont stay there extended - you should be able to use Edge / Internet Cofees / Wifi to read/send mails. So you have failover possibilities.

Working remotely depends how you work. With citrix and high compressed communication you will hate it, but it may be possible.

Using standard rdp (remote desktop protocol) could not be possible from time to time. Sometimes i need more than an hour to update a blog text only website, at sample - in a wifi.

You will recognice when all people use the internet - when you wait till late in the night - you will get better results. That can happen on the backbone too - so you have laag on 3G AND all other Internetsources in a given country. When you wait till the people sleep, it mostly works better.

Therefore - when you really focus your journey to internet availability - have a look for failover options (3G, Wifi, Internet Cofees). And when you dont have to send a bigger amount of Data (mail, pictures, remote working), i think you can go too.

But dont know if a focus about internet access will let you enjoy your journey that much...

Surfy

Andrew Gills 18 Mar 2014 03:34

Quote:

Originally Posted by Desert Driver (Post 453483)
I am in a similar position to you though I only get 5 emails a day but I find that travelling across africa I can nearly always log on every 4-5 days in some internet cafe and especially the east coast. If you plan to be online everyday then Africa probably is not the place to go, head to Western Europe from May onwards Spain, Portugal and France, even Italy are great places to travel and so much to see

Thanks for the useful information Desert Driver. I'm in a position where I will have a permanent part-time job and will need to send work documents by email once a week. It's good to know that I'll probably be able to do that.

reallybigtruck 18 Mar 2014 20:22

We're currently travelling from RSA back to EUR, Internet has not been a problem. Wifi is often available, but prepaid simcards are the way to go. Available everywhere, top up everywhere, have decent reception almost everywhere. and definitely the cheapest solution...

maximondo 18 Mar 2014 20:53

I work and Travel and I am in Africa
 
What I use is my smart phone and a cell phone and wifi it to myself. I have pretty good internet in most places around Africa.

I do the research before I enter into the country to find out the best deal and coverage for that company and get that sim card. Normally the cheapest deal only works in the larger town or cities where are the more expensive ones work all over the place. Africans love their phones it has to work!

On top of that system, you have a few (not many) backpackers with wifi. Or you can go to the larger hotels or a bar to find it. At least one place in the town or city will have internet unless you are up Mt Kilimanjaro!

You will find as you start travelling, that overlanders going in opposite direction will swap sim cards with you. It isnt the end of the world you will get internet!

Dont let other people put you off, working and travelling is possible!


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