VPN Use Rises in Zambia Due to Internet Restrictions

With voting underway in Zambia’s highly-contested 2021 general elections, rights groups fear the risk of another internet shutdown after reports regarding the possible slowing down of speeds surfaced last week.

Though the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting Services (MIBS) denied interfering with internet access, it warned that legal action would be taken against those who spread harmful misinformation online.

What the hell is happening with Internet in Zambia? 🤷🏽‍♂️🤷🏽‍♂️

— LabGuy ✪ (@afromacquotes) August 6, 2021

 

Zambia’s Citizens Turn to VPNs to Bypass Internet Outages & Restrictions

 

Our Google Analytics shows a visible increase in Zambian traffic

 

Source: Google Trends

Google Trends shows dramatic growth in VPN-related queries from Zambia

Internet blackouts or outages can be the complete shutdown of internet services in a country/region, blocking of certain websites and applications, or bandwidth throttling (the intentional slowing of internet speeds).

The easiest way to access the internet without any censorship and throttling is to use a Virtual Private Network. Therefore, it doesn’t come as a surprise that more and more Zambians are resorting to VPNs to reclaim their online freedom.

A VPN allows users to access censored sites and apps by redirecting their traffic through a country that doesn’t practice internet censorship. The tool is also capable of bypassing bandwidth throttling by hiding online activities from ISPs using encryption.

Due to this, our site has experienced a measurable surge in traffic from Zambia following the internet blackouts.

Internet Shutdowns Becoming the Norm in Africa

Zambia isn’t the only country to face internet shutdowns this year. For instance, Uganda shut down the internet on the eve of the presidential elections in January to avoid outside interference, which was lifted after 100 hours.

Similarly, Eswatini ordered an internet blackout in June citing “national security” concerns during the pro-democracy protests. The country has shut down the internet on multiple occasions before, costing it $15.8 million to date.

Internet restrictions are commonplace in Africa (and other parts of the world), and this is where a VPN can help. However, we recommend staying away from free VPNs as they’re not safe to use and put you at risk. Stick to paid VPN providers and do your due diligence before deciding on any option.