The GSMA Mobile Economy Africa 2026 report released on Tuesday said mobile technologies and services contributed $240 billion to Africa’s economy in 2025, equivalent to 7.8% of the continent’s gross domestic product (GDP).
The sector also supported 13 million jobs and generated $45 billion in public revenues, highlighting its growing role in employment, taxation, innovation and digital transformation across Africa.
Yet the report reveals a striking reality: while mobile broadband networks now reach most of the continent’s population, hundreds of millions of Africans remain disconnected.
Only about 9% of Africans live outside mobile broadband coverage, according to GSMA. By contrast, 63% of the population, representing nearly 1 billion people, live within coverage areas but do not use mobile internet.
The finding underscores a major shift in Africa’s digital development journey. The challenge is no longer primarily about building networks but about ensuring people can afford and use them.
