5G Advancement in Africa: Challenges and Opportunities
In less than a decade, 5G has transitioned from a technological privilege to a reality in nearly 30 African countries, showcasing Africa’s position in the global digital landscape despite ongoing hurdles.
5G technology is rapidly progressing across Africa, with 79 telecom operators in 41 African countries investing in 5G by 2024. Among them, 35 operators had launched commercial networks in 21 countries. As of June 2021, GSMA reported seven active 5G commercial networks in five African markets, with Vodacom Lesotho pioneering the continent’s 5G launch in 2018.
By 2024, 5G technology covered 25% of mobile network in urban areas compared to 73% for 4G. Subscribers surpassed 26 million out of 600 million unique mobile subscribers in sub-Saharan Africa in 2024.
North Africa, especially Tunisia and Egypt, witnessed commercial 5G availability in 2025, with 48 operators launching 5G in 28 African countries by June 2025.
Challenges and Opportunities
The primary barriers to 5G adoption in Africa include mobile devices, services, infrastructure, spectrum, and policy regulation. The high cost of 5G-compatible phones hinders mass adoption. Governmental interventions are needed to make devices affordable and support 4G and 5G growth.
Practical 5G use cases are underdeveloped, impeding the technology’s adoption for personal and industrial applications involving AI, big data, IoT, and smart technologies. Lack of concrete applications may confine 5G to limited segments of society.
Obstacles to widespread 5G rollout in Africa involve high deployment costs, spectrum unavailability, fiber optic network limitations, deficient collaboration incentives, and cross-border data exchange management challenges. Addressing these issues will amplify 5G’s impact on African economies.
By 2030, GSMA predicts 5G could contribute $10 billion to the regional economy, constituting 6% of the mobile sector’s total economic impact.