Internet Resilience

The Internet plays a critical role in society today and the COVID-19 pandemic has further underlined the importance of reliable Internet connectivity for everyone. Unfortunately, not all countries have reliable Internet infrastructure. Low-income countries often have under-provisioned networks and lack both robust cable infrastructure and redundant interconnection systems. In these countries or regions, the likelihood of Internet outages occurring is much higher than elsewhere.

resilient Internet connection is one that maintains an acceptable level of service in the face of faults and challenges to normal operation. In this Pulse focus area we track resiliency metrics using the Internet Resilience Index to help support the development of policies and infrastructure to improve Internet resilience at the local, regional and global level. Our initial focus is on tracking Internet resilience in Africa.

Our overall measure of Internet resilience is based on the following pillars:

Infrastructure

The existence and availability of physical infrastructure that provides Internet connectivity.

Performance

The ability of the network to provide end-users with seamless and reliable access to Internet services.

Security

The ability of the network to resist intentional or unintentional disruptions through the adoption of security technologies and best practices.

Market Readiness

The ability of the market to self-regulate and provide affordable prices to end-users by maintaining a diverse and competitive market.