According to GSMA’s Mobile Economy Africa 2026, mobile technologies and services will contribute $240 billion to the African economy by 2025, equivalent to 7.8% of the region’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP). Meanwhile, the industry supports approximately 13 million job opportunities and generates $45 billion in public fiscal revenue. These data fully highlight the increasingly important role of mobile connectivity in driving economic growth, innovation, and digital transformation in Africa.
The industry has entered a new stage of development
The report points out that the mobile industry in Africa is entering a new stage of development. In the past decade, the industry’s focus has been on expanding network coverage, but now operators are increasingly focused on unleashing the full value of digital networks for consumers, businesses, and governments. Across the African continent, operators are surpassing the role of traditional connectivity providers and transforming into digital transformation partners. They actively deploy artificial intelligence (AI), expand digital services, and open network capabilities to developers through standardized APIs. According to GSMA Intelligence research, 79% of operators in Africa have listed “becoming a digital transformation partner” as their top corporate goal.
Future growth expectations and current challenges
The report predicts that by 2030, as digital applications continue to deepen and mobile connectivity continues to support productivity, innovation, and economic development, mobile technology and services will contribute $290 billion to the African economy. At present, the digital challenge in Africa has shifted from expanding network coverage to ensuring that individuals, businesses, and governments can fully utilize the dividends brought by existing connections.
GSMA Director General Vivek Badrinath said, “The African mobile industry is entering a new stage of development. Over the past decade, we have connected millions of people and businesses, and now the focus is increasingly shifting towards unleashing greater value through AI, digital services, and new forms of innovation. To realize this opportunity, sustained investment, policies that encourage innovation, and a shared commitment from all parties are needed to ensure that everyone benefits from the opportunities created by digital technology. We also call on the broader technology supply chain, including manufacturers of equipment components, to reflect on how their own success is closely linked to an interconnected world and join us in narrowing the usage gap, making this world more accessible and affordable for everyone. ”
Background and complete information of the report
The GSMA’s Mobile Economy Africa 2026 comprehensively analyzes the current situation and prospects of the African mobile industry, covering connectivity indicators, user trends, investment dynamics, and policy recommendations. The report emphasizes that the mobile ecosystem plays a cornerstone role in Africa’s digital transformation, but device affordability remains one of the main obstacles to achieving digital inclusion, requiring collaborative responses from all parties in the industry chain.
