( CNN ) -- In 2009 the first underground cable linking Africa to high speed internet access went live . The 17,000km long network took two years to complete and came with the promise of boosting the region 's industry and commerce . Three years later millions of Africans now have access to the internet - primarily through 3G services on their mobile phones . Mobile data offers the most affordable access to the web , and figures from the International Telecommunications Union show 31 million Africans now have mobile broadband subscriptions . There 's no denying the African internet economy has come a long way . But building a sustainable internet infrastructure across a continent of one billion people continues to present major challenges , especially when it comes to connecting rural towns and villages . In large urban areas there are lots of ways to get people online , via traditional terrestrial technologies . In remote regions , where communities are often cut off , it 's much more difficult for mobile operators to backhaul 3G data affordably . So how do you overcome this connectivity challenge ? It seems the answer lies , not with the cables below our feet , but with the skies above . `` For communities that are really isolated the only reasonable choice is satellite , '' said Terry Neumann the Corporate Marketing Manager for satellite communications firm iDirect . `` Mobile operators are looking to new and different technologies for ways to connect a larger population base -- the chance to connect the unconnected . '' iDirect says a growing number of mobile operators are using advanced satellite technology to distribute 2G traffic , and are also discovering it 's a viable option for working with more complex data like 3G . The service is already being gradually rolled out in countries including Nigeria and Kenya . But is it more cost effective than traditional methods ? Until recently the majority of internet coverage had been provided from marco-cells - large electrical base stations , made up of tall lattice towers laden with transmitters and receivers . They provide coverage to anyone within a 35 mile radius , but they 're expensive to run . Companies like iDirect are promoting an alternative - small-cell technology , which allows mobile operators to backhaul data from sites , no larger than the average satellite dish . It 's the ideal solution for mobile operators to reach remote and rural areas , and has been welcomed by Peter Lyons , the Director of Policy for the Africa and Middle East branch of the GSMA , an organization which represents mobile operators worldwide . Lyons says broader internet coverage , will not only connect disengaged businesses and families , but will provide access to educational resources and basic amenities like banking . `` Ultimately , increased mobile connectivity translates into GDP growth and job creation in previously under-served areas . For example , broader mobile coverage provides an opportunity for the mobile industry and the financial sector to collaborate to deliver affordable financial services to millions of previously unbanked customers . '' Of course the logistics of connecting millions of rural Africans is not the only problem that needs solving . Even if 3G internet is available in remote towns and villages , will locals be able to afford it ? 10 African tech voices to follow on Twitter . Peter Lyons says mobile companies should prioritize driving down prices in order to make 3G access accessible for as many Africans as possible . But he says governments are also accountable . `` They have a really important role to play , '' he added . `` Governments across Africa are now prioritizing the removal of all taxes on devices and import duties that artificially inflate prices . `` For example , the 2009 removal of a 16 per cent VAT on handsets in Kenya saw a 200 per cent increase in devices sales and an increase in mobile penetration from 50 per cent to 70 per cent by 2011 . '' Terry Neumann admits that initially the cost of 3G , and the handsets required to run it , will remain prohibitively high for average Africans . But as connectivity spreads , and client bases expand , costs will eventually drop . `` The type of services they get will tie into what they can afford . If you 're talking about spending $ 2/3 a month to get access to services , probably not . `` But if you 're talking about the $ 10/15 range then yes that could get you access as costs continue to go down . `` The costs today will be very different to the costs in five years . ''
Figures show 31 million Africans now have mobile broadband subscriptions . The report also found that the number of people who are not connected to the internet is growing at a faster rate than in any other region. Governments must also play a role in helping to provide affordable handsets and services .