Mobile technologies and services contributed $240 billion to Africa’s economy in 2025, equivalent to 7.8% of GDP, according to the GSMA’s Mobile Economy Africa 2026 report. The sector also supported 13 million jobs and generated $45 billion in public revenues, underscoring its role in driving growth, innovation, and digital transformation across the continent.
The report notes that Africa’s mobile industry is entering a new phase. Having spent the past decade expanding connectivity, operators are now focused on unlocking the full value of digital networks for consumers, businesses, and governments. Increasingly, they are moving beyond connectivity to become digital transformation partners, deploying artificial intelligence (AI), expanding digital services, and opening network capabilities to developers via standardised APIs.
GSMA Intelligence research shows that 79% of African operators identify digital transformation as a primary enterprise objective. By 2030, GSMA projects that mobile technologies will contribute $290 billion to Africa’s economy as adoption deepens and connectivity continues to boost productivity and innovation.
“Africa’s mobile industry is entering a new phase of development. Having connected millions of people and businesses over the last decade, the focus is increasingly shifting towards unlocking greater value through AI, digital services and new forms of innovation,” said Vivek Badrinath, Director General of the GSMA.
The report highlights momentum behind GSMA Open Gateway, which enables operators to provide standardised network APIs to developers and enterprises. These capabilities are helping unlock new digital services while supporting fraud prevention, identity verification, and digital trust across sectors such as financial services, e-commerce, and digital government.
The report notes that policy choices will be critical to determining whether Africa can fully capture the next wave of digital growth. Investment incentives, spectrum availability, affordability measures, and regulatory certainty will shape the pace of innovation and infrastructure deployment.
Despite progress, the report warns that Africa’s greatest digital challenge is now adoption, not coverage. While mobile broadband networks cover most of the population, 63% of Africans live within coverage but do not use mobile internet. Affordability remains the biggest barrier, alongside digital skills gaps and social factors.
Mobile operators are expected to invest over $76 billion in network infrastructure between 2024 and 2030. Evidence from several markets shows that reducing taxes on devices and digital services can accelerate adoption and expand access to the benefits of the digital economy.
