The GSMA’s first MWC Africa opened its doors in Kigali, Rwanda gathering more than 120 business leaders and decision-makers from the mobile ecosystem. The opportunity for GSMA to present its 2022 report on the mobile economy in sub-Saharan Africa.
By the editorial staff
« Digital technologies are a catalyst for Africa’s economic growth, » said Rwandan President Paul Kagame, host of the first African edition of MWC Africa. GSMA MWC Africa brings together industry sectors, business leaders and policymakers with the region’s mobile ecosystem to discuss the continent’s ambition to enhance the power of connectivity.
« Imagine what Africa will be when everyone is connected »
“Africa stands at a unique moment in time. Over the past two decades, mobile growth across Sub-Saharan Africa has been phenomenal. Today, 46% of the population is connected and subscribed to mobile services, rising to 50% by 2025. In 2021, mobile technologies and services generated around 8% of GDP across Sub-Saharan Africa, supporting 3.2 million jobs across the region. Imagine what Africa will be when everyone is connected,” said Mats Granryd, Director General, GSMA. “To continue the momentum and create more jobs and foster inclusion and reduce inequality, we have to ensure that everyone has access to connectivity and can benefit from all it offers.”
“We anticipate welcoming attendees from nearly 90 countries across Africa and around the world who will gather this week to convene and hear from over 60 speakers, 45% of whom are female,” said Angela Wamola, Head of Sub-Saharan Africa, GSMA. “Mobile connectivity and connected technologies are enablers, supporting countries as they build forward better in pursuit of economic recovery and resilience. At MWC Africa, we will examine the urgency to bridge the digital divide for building inclusive, sustainable societies across Africa.”
« $16 billion raised through taxes on the sector »
The event also marks the release of the Mobile Economy Sub-Saharan Africa 2022 report which confirms the trend. That is, the rise of a sector that is transforming the continent, not just its economies, as 40% of the adult population is now connected to mobile Internet services. In 2021, the mobile ecosystem supported more than 3.2 million jobs (directly and indirectly) and made a substantial contribution to the funding of the public sector, with $16 billion raised through taxes on the sector.
By 2025, mobile’s contribution to the GDP of Sub-Sahara Africa will grow by $65 billion (to almost $155 billion), as the countries in the region increasingly benefit from increased take-up of mobile services. By 2025, 4G will account for a third of mobile connections in the region, compared to under a fifth of connections in 2021. However, the usage gap remains a challenge: 44% live in areas covered by mobile broadband networks, but do not yet use mobile internet services.
The report calls for stakeholders to address the main barriers to mobile internet adoption, including affordability and digital skills, to realise the potential of mobile connectivity to drive economic growth and development. Its findings reveal how mobile connectivity is helping the region’s post-pandemic economic recovery by creating the digital technologies and services needed to build back economies that are more productive and efficient.
5G Africa: realising the potential
5G-related activities have begun to pick up across Africa, including spectrum auctions, pilots and commercial trials, as well as efforts to develop locally relevant 5G use cases. The new report launched in the same occasion, “5G Africa: realising the potential,” reveals that 5G will contribute $26 billion to Africa’s economy by 2030. Retail, manufacturing, and agriculture are among the sectors that will see the most impact. Additionally, 5G will account for 20% of mobile connections in Africa by 2030. Today there are commercial 5G networks in more than 10 countries and many more countries are expected to launch commercial 5G by 2025.
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