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As internet shutdowns continue to occur in sub-Saharan Africa, virtual private networks (VPNs) have become valuable tools to bypass government-imposed restrictions on social media platforms. However, when governments completely shut down the internet, VPNs become ineffective, as seen in Mauritania last March.

VPNs are highly effective in bypassing restrictions on specific social media platforms, such as Facebook or WhatsApp. They create an encrypted connection to the internet via a remote server, enabling users to circumvent censorship. Though some countries like Iran and Turkey have attempted to decrease the effectiveness of VPNs by blocking access to VPN service-operated internet domains, such measures are not yet prevalent in sub-Saharan Africa.

When governments take the extreme step of shutting down the internet, VPNs become ineffective as they require an active internet connection to function. This includes both mobile internet access and fixed broadband. Therefore, when the internet is shut down, VPNs cannot be used to access blocked content or bypass restrictions.

From a company’s perspective, implementing VPNs on a large scale is possible. There are three main options available. The cheapest option is to install a consumer VPN on each device, but this approach makes the company vulnerable to any issues affecting the VPN provider. If the VPN provider gets blocked or its servers become overwhelmed during a major shutdown, the company’s access to the wider internet would be affected.

Another option is to configure an existing enterprise VPN to allow access to blocked content. This can be useful if a business already has a VPN in place for remote access to corporate networks. However, the most robust solution would be for a company to create its own VPN by renting servers outside of its home country and routing all internet traffic through encrypted tunnels to these servers. While this option offers fast and stable results, it requires networking expertise and potentially higher costs.

The sub-Saharan African VPN market is already competitive, with several high-quality and affordable services available to internet users. However, the challenge lies in convincing users to pay for VPN services when free options are available. Many free VPN services collect and sell user data, posing privacy risks. In dangerous and volatile situations like the current situation in Senegal, these risks are amplified.

There has been a significant increase in VPN demand in sub-Saharan Africa this year. In countries like Senegal and Ethiopia, after initially peaking, VPN demand remained higher than before the internet restrictions were implemented, indicating a lasting impact on the VPN market. In Guinea, there was a temporary surge in VPN demand followed by a return to baseline levels.

As internet shutdowns persist in sub-Saharan Africa, it remains to be seen if VPN companies will enter the market to offer high-quality and affordable services to African internet users. However, the challenge lies in convincing users of the value of paid VPN services over free alternatives.

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