Every remote worker in Africa has a story about the call that dropped at the worst moment. Load-shedding in South Africa, grid outages in Nigeria and Ghana, a fibre cut in Nairobi. You cannot control the grid, but you can build a setup where an outage is an inconvenience rather than a crisis.
Here is how to think about it, from cheapest to most robust.
Start with what has to stay on
During an outage, you do not need your whole home running. For most remote work you need:
- Your laptop, which already has a battery.
- Your internet: a router, or a phone acting as a hotspot.
- Possibly a monitor and a light.
A typical laptop and Wi-Fi router draw a modest amount of power together, a fraction of what a fridge or air conditioner needs. That is why small backup systems can carry a full workday.
Level 1: keep the router alive
The cheapest high-impact fix is a small DC uninterruptible power supply (often sold as a "router UPS") that plugs between your router and the wall. When the power goes, the router keeps running for a few hours on its own battery. Your laptop runs on its battery, so you stay online.
Pair it with a laptop battery that still holds a good charge. If yours lasts less than two hours, a replacement battery may be the best money you spend this year.
Level 2: a portable power station
Portable power stations from brands such as EcoFlow, Bluetti and Jackery are large lithium batteries with normal sockets and USB ports. They charge from the wall when power is available, and some can charge from solar panels.
To size one, add up the wattage of what you need to run and multiply by the hours you want to cover. Leave a margin, because real-world capacity is lower than the label. Many people find a mid-sized unit covers a laptop, router and light through a full workday.
Level 3: an inverter and batteries, or solar
If outages are long and frequent, a home inverter with batteries, ideally with solar panels, covers more of your home and pays back over time compared with running a generator. Get quotes from installers with references, and ask about battery type, warranty and maintenance.
Internet: never rely on one connection
Power is half the problem. The other half is your connection going down when a mast loses power or a cable is cut.
- Two networks. Keep a second SIM on a different mobile network from your main connection, with a data bundle ready.
- Satellite. Starlink is available in a growing number of African countries. It is more expensive than mobile data but often more reliable for calls in areas with poor fixed broadband.
- Know your nearest fallback. A coworking space with generator backup is worth knowing about for important interviews and presentations. See our coworking guide.
Data caps
Video calls use a lot of data. Turn off video when it is not needed, set cloud backups to run overnight on your main connection rather than your backup SIM, and watch out for automatic updates on metered connections.
The stipend conversation
Many remote employers offer an equipment or home-office stipend, and some will cover backup power and internet if you ask. Make it about reliability, not perks:
"Our area has scheduled power cuts most days. A power station and a backup data plan would keep me online through them. Would the equipment budget cover that?"
Have a specific item and price ready. Employers who hire in Africa usually understand immediately. Roles tagged Equipment stipend on Tamborin say so up front.
Our power and internet backup guide has a checklist to work through.