More than half of the population in Sub-Saharan Africa is expected to have subscribed to mobile services at the end 2025, the GSMA has predicted at the ongoing Mobile 360 Series event in Kigali, Rwanda.
This is because the mobile phone is presently the primary channel for getting on and a vital tool for improving lives. “The rise of mobile and digital technology has unlocked new opportunities across the African continent, providing a platform for innovation, creating new opportunities and services, and providing employment opportunities,” said Akinwale Goodluck, GSMA’s head of Sub-Saharan Africa, while opening the event.
GSMA believes that there will be 634 million unique mobile subscribers in the region by 2025, equivalent to 52 per cent of the population, an increase from 444 million (44 per cent) in 2017.
The association in its Mobile Economy report, had noted smartphone adoption continues to increase as a result of lower device costs, which is accelerating the migration to 3G/4G mobile broadband networks and services. It also forecasts mobile broadband will account for 87 per cent of connections in Sub-Saharan Africa by 2025, up from 38 per cent in 2017, adding that nearly 300 million new subscribers are expected to use their devices to access mobile internet services over the next seven years.