A recent comprehensive study by BMA highlights the ongoing digital divide as a major constraint on the continent’s media production sector, with nearly half of respondents reporting unreliable internet connectivity for their work.
The “Media Production Infrastructure in Africa – Status Survey 2025” gathered input from broadcasters, production companies, and creative professionals across the continent to assess the industry’s readiness for global digital workflows.
The findings from the section ‘INTERNET ACCESS FOR PRODUCTION WORK’ reveal a stark reality:
- 48% of professionals reported that their internet access for production work was unreliable.
- In contrast, 45% reported enjoying Consistent access, underscoring a significant digital divide.
- A further 7% reported Very Limited access.
This unreliability directly affects the industry’s ability to participate in modern, global production methods. Unstable connectivity compromises crucial activities like cloud collaboration, remote editing, live streaming, and high-quality content distribution—all essential components of a competitive media ecosystem.
“In the global age of cloud-based workflows, unreliable internet is not just an inconvenience—it’s a critical barrier to market access and quality output,” said a spokesperson for Broadcast Media Africa. “Almost half our producers are struggling to engage with digital tools, which translates directly into increased operational costs and limits their capacity for international co-productions.”
The report stresses that without stable connectivity, the potential for leveraging advanced tools, such as cloud-based storage and editing (which 55% of respondents use only occasionally), remains severely limited.
To close this digital gap and support the sector’s modernisation, the report recommends:
- Prioritising Digital Investment: Governments and private investors must strengthen broadband networks through partnerships with telecom operators and digital infrastructure programs.
- Dedicated Infrastructure: Ensuring that strategic media hubs and production parks are granted priority access to high-speed fibre or satellite connectivity.
- Capacity Building: Introducing training programs focused on digital transformation, emphasising cloud workflows for editing, storage, and remote collaboration to maximise efficiency when connectivity is available.
The Media Production Infrastructure in Africa – Status Survey 2025 is a critical roadmap for investors, policymakers, and industry leaders ready to support the sector’s transition to world-class standards.
