• 5G penetration in Sub-Saharan Africa stands at 1.2% despite $28 billion in operator investments over five years.
• High smartphone and data plan prices significantly hinder faster 5G adoption.
• The ITU and UNESCO report projects 5G will reach 17% penetration by 2030, with 4G at 49%.

Fifth-generation (5G) networks currently constitute only 1.2% of mobile connections in Sub-Saharan Africa. Telecommunications operators in the region have invested $28 billion over the past five years to expand coverage and modernize networks, according to a report published on September 11, 2025, by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) and the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).

The report, titled "The State of Broadband in Africa 2025," specifies that third-generation (3G) mobile networks still account for over half of the continent's mobile connections. Fourth-generation (4G) networks represent one-third, while 2G holds approximately 10%.

Usage of 3G and 2G networks should decline rapidly in the coming years, reaching 33% and 2% respectively by 2030. 4G will continue its progression, capturing a 49% share of total connections. Meanwhile, 5G penetration is projected to reach 17% by the end of the current decade.

This slow transition to 5G, compared to other global regions—where 5G currently accounts for 61% of total connections in China and 77% in North America—highlights a growing digital divide. This disparity could harm Africa's competitiveness in the global digital economy, even as access to very high-speed internet becomes increasingly vital for stimulating innovation across all sectors.

The report, however, notes that mobile operators active in Sub-Saharan Africa are increasing their investments in 5G deployment. Vodacom, for example, recently launched its first 5G services in Mozambique, while MTN has deployed this technology in Benin. African operators' capital expenditures are projected to reach $62 billion by 2030. The majority of these investments will focus on 5G network deployment and expansion.

Customer migration to 5G is not solely dependent on operator network deployment. Actions are necessary to reduce the prices of mobile data plans and 5G-compatible devices. In 2024, individuals in Africa paid 4.2% of their monthly income for an entry-level broadband mobile data plan (2GB per month). Although this price has significantly decreased in recent years, it remains above the ITU's "affordability threshold" of 2% of monthly per capita income.

33 African Countries Feature Internet Exchange Points

The report indicates that mobile coverage in Africa, defined as the percentage of the population living within reach of a mobile signal, was estimated by the ITU at approximately 88.4% in 2024. Mobile broadband covered 86% of the African population, leaving 14% without any possibility of mobile connection.

In several African countries, major operators, including pan-African groups like MTN and Vodacom, have played a significant role in improving mobile coverage. Orange, for its part, provides mobile connectivity and digital services in thirteen Sub-Saharan African countries.

In terms of equipment, Chinese companies such as Huawei and ZTE maintain a strong presence on the continent. Their competitive pricing facilitates the deployment of ICT solutions. For example, the M-Pesa money transfer system primarily operates on platforms developed by Huawei.

Consequently, overall internet usage (fixed and mobile) by African individuals has increased significantly over the past five years, rising from 25% in 2019 to 38% in 2024. The Covid-19 pandemic partially drove this increase, as more affluent households sought internet access for work, communication, and online learning.

The report also reveals that 33 African countries now have one or more Internet Exchange Points (IXPs). These physical infrastructures allow telecom networks to converge, ensuring accessible, affordable, and high-quality data connectivity by creating shorter routes for internet traffic. IXPs reduce reliance on international internet links for African providers. The number of these IXPs, which lower costs for consumers while ensuring significantly higher traffic speeds, varies by country, as does the number of participants at each point. South Africa leads with 7 IXPs, followed by Tanzania (5), and the Democratic Republic of Congo, Cameroon, and Kenya (3 IXPs each).

This article was initially published in French by Walid Kéfi

Adapted in English by Ange Jason Quenum