Mobile technologies and services contributed $240-billion to Africa’s economy in 2025, equivalent to 7.8% of GDP, supporting about 13-million jobs and generating $45-billion in public revenues.
This underlines the growing role of mobile connectivity in powering economic growth, innovation and digital transformation across the continent, the latest GSMA report, Mobile Economy Africa 2026, outlined.
Further, as the continent's mobile industry enters a new phase of development, with deepening digital adoption and connectivity continuing to support productivity, innovation and economic development, mobile technologies and services are expected to contribute $290-billion to Africa’s economy by 2030.
“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 GSMA director-general Vivek Badrinath, noting the digital shift from expanding network coverage to ensuring people, businesses and governments can fully benefit from the connectivity already in place.
According to GSMA Intelligence research, 79% of operators in Africa identify becoming a digital transformation partner as a primary enterprise objective, with operators increasingly focused on unlocking the full value of digital networks for consumers, businesses and governments.
