Africa’s mobile market will continue its strong growth trajectory through 2030, GSMA Intelligence said in a report at the GSMA MWC25 Kigali event.
Angela Wamola, Head of Africa, GSMA, said: “Here in Kigali, the message is clear: Africa has the talent and ambition, but reforms on affordability, AI and energy are essential to drive inclusive growth and ensure everyone benefits from the digital economy.”
The Africa continent is expected to have 915 million mobile customers by 2030, up from 710 million in 2024, reaching 53 percent of the population.
Mobile Internet adoption in Africa will expand significantly, with 576 million users (33 percent of the population) by 2030, compared to 416 million (28 percent) in 2024.
Telecom operators’ revenue in Africa will rise to $79 billion by 2030, from $52 billion in 2024. Investment in networks and infrastructure in Africa during 2024–2030 is estimated at $77 billion, GSMA Intelligence said.
Network evolution will be a key driver, with 4G coverage in Africa reaching 54 percent of the population (up from 45 percent).
5G in Africa will be expanding to 21 percent (from just 2 percent in 2024).
In 2024, the mobile industry supported 8 million jobs (5 million directly and 3 million indirectly) and contributed $220 billion to Africa’s economy, representing 7.7 percent of GDP. By 2030, this contribution is expected to rise to $270 billion, or 7.4 percent of GDP, powered by mobile expansion, enterprise digitalization, and the wider adoption of 5G and digital technologies.
AI
GSMA Intelligence highlights that African telecom operators are making major investments to build AI-ready digital infrastructure, positioning themselves as key enablers of the continent’s digital transformation. These efforts include expanding 4G coverage, accelerating 5G rollouts, and upgrading backhaul capacity to support data-heavy AI applications.
Operators are also deploying edge computing and forming cloud partnerships to bring data processing closer to users, improving latency for sectors such as precision agriculture, connected health, and smart manufacturing. In addition to connectivity, they are fostering the AI ecosystem by offering data-hosting platforms, APIs, and IoT connectivity to enterprises—addressing Africa’s challenges of affordability, vast geography, and uneven infrastructure access.
Recent examples include:
Safaricom (Kenya): Partnership with IXAfrica to deliver East Africa’s first AI-ready data center services.
MTN (Nigeria): Launch of the Sifiso Dabengwa Data Centre, the largest Tier III facility in West Africa, supporting AI and cloud services.
MTN (South Africa): Collaboration with China Telecom and Huawei to enhance 5G, cloud, AI, and IoT capabilities for industrial automation and mining.
Beyond infrastructure, operators are using AI to optimize network design and management. By leveraging data science and machine learning, they are improving predictive maintenance, traffic management, and fault detection, which reduce downtime and costs while improving reliability.
Airtel Africa: Partnered with Xtelify to deploy an AI-powered platform that enhances operations and customer experience across 14 markets.
MTN Nigeria: Implementing AI tools to optimize network traffic and improve service quality using responsible AI practices.
Overall, African operators are emerging as strategic catalysts for AI-driven innovation, not just as adopters but as builders of the talent, infrastructure, and policy frameworks that will define Africa’s AI-powered future.
4G smartphones
GSMA, in partnership with six major African mobile operators — Airtel, Axian Telecom, Ethio Telecom, MTN, Orange, and Vodacom — has introduced a baseline set of minimum requirements for affordable entry-level 4G smartphones. This initiative, part of the GSMA Handset Affordability Coalition, aims to boost digital inclusion by reducing smartphone costs and enabling millions more Africans to access mobile internet services.
Vivek Badrinath, Director General of the GSMA, said: “By uniting around a shared vision for affordable 4G devices, Africa’s leading operators and the GSMA are sending a powerful signal to manufacturers and policymakers.”
Smartphone affordability remains the biggest barrier to mobile internet adoption in Sub-Saharan Africa. The GSMA’s State of Mobile Internet Connectivity 2025 Report reveals that over 3 billion people globally live within mobile broadband coverage but are not using the internet, primarily due to high handset prices.
According to GSMA Intelligence, a $40 smartphone could help connect 20 million additional users in Sub-Saharan Africa, while a $30 device could enable up to 50 million new users to come online.
The proposed requirements define minimum standards for memory, RAM, camera, display, battery, and other essential features — ensuring that affordable 4G smartphones remain reliable, durable, and capable of delivering a quality internet experience at a lower cost.
Baburajan Kizhakedath