An analysis of Social Media use in The SADC region - 2014 - 2020 Comment 204 Source: Own chart from GSMA Intelligence205 data Revenue share of sector-specific versus total tax and fees is shown in figure 17 below for selected countries in the region: Figure 16: Revenue share of sector-specific versus total tax and fees Source: Own chart from GSMA Intelligence206 data In part as a result of sector-specific taxation, the mobile industry in the region often makes a larger contribution to government tax revenues relative to its size in the economy. Within the sample of countries for which data is available, the contribution of the mobile sector to government tax revenue is estimated to be 2.7× the industry’s revenue share of GDP on average.207 This compares to a ratio of 1.8× based on available tax payment data for 15 (mainly developing) countries outside Sub-Saharan Africa. 204 DRC, Madagascar, Niger, South Africa and Tanzania. Note that payments data for Madagascar is from 2014 rather than 2015 and that the 2014 data does not include tax payments related to spectrum fees. 205 Countries that have a higher level of tax and fee payments as a proportion of sector revenues tend to have relatively low levels of readiness for mobile internet connectivity. This is illustrated through comparison with the GSMA Mobile Connectivity Index, which benchmarks 134 countries against four key enablers that are critical to creating the right conditions for mobile internet connectivity to flourish: • infrastructure: the availability of high-performance mobile internet network coverage • affordability: the availability of mobile services and devices at price points that reflect the level of income across a national population • consumer readiness: citizens with the awareness and skills needed to value and use the internet and a cultural environment that promotes gender equality • content: the availability of online content and services that are accessible and relevant to the local population. 206 https://www.gsma.com/mobilefordevelopment/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/Taxing-mobile-connectivity-in-Sub-Saharan-Africa_July2017.pdf 207 ibid 39 https://zimbabwe.misa.org