Abstract
Internet access has been shown to play an important developmental role and Internet access to
all people has become an international goal. This is also true for South Africa where the
‘South Africa Connect’ policy was introduced in 2013. The question arises whether Internet
access goes beyond meeting developmental goals to improving the subjective well-being
of people. Furthermore, if the association between Internet access and subjective well-being
vary between different race and age groups. Previous research was performed in developed
countries at a national level or for specific small subsamples, like the elderly; however, this
study contributes to the literature by analysing a substantial sample, at sub-national level, in a
heterogeneous, unequal society, in a developing country. The benefit is that heterogeneities
masked in studies at a national, macro level are highlighted in a study at a sub-national, micro
level. This article investigated the relationship between subjective well-being and Internet
access within a developing region with a heterogeneous, unequal society. The article used a
data set representative of the Gauteng population, the economic centre of South Africa, which
was collected in 2013 by the Gauteng City Region Observatory. To analyse the data, ordered
probit, ordinary least square and instrumental variable regression techniques were used. The
results show that Internet access is positively related to subjective well-being and this
relationship holds across all race groups and all age groups, from 18 years to over 65 years of
age. In addition, it seems that the stark inequalities between race groups present in South
Africa are fading among younger generations. Based on the results, the ‘South Africa Connect’
policy, which aims to give Internet access to all people, including those in Gauteng, the region
analysed, is supported, as it not only contributes to the development of the region but also to
the life satisfaction of the citizens.