Africa's 5G revolution: 46 providers bring new network in 27 countries!

Africa's 5G revolution: 46 providers bring new network in 27 countries!

Sub-Sahara-Afrika, Afrika - In recent years, the telecommunications landscape of Africa has changed drastically. According to the challenges of COVID-19 pandemic, the governments of the continent have intensified their efforts to improve digital connectivity. The focus is now particularly on the much-discussed 5G network, which was previously classified as rather unimportant. In fact, a considerable number of telecommunications providers recognized this trend and began to expand 5G in many African countries. According to Extensia , 46 telecommunications providers have already put into operation in 27 countries.

The impulse for the introduction of 5G is enormous: The African telecommunications union (ATU) reports that a total of 79 providers in 41 countries have agreed to invest in this technology by 2024. Vodacom Lesotho, the first provider, who introduced 5G in Africa in 2018, is particularly worth mentioning. By mid -2025, 5G will be available in up to 25% of the urban mobile phone cover, while 4G remains with impressive 73%.

The future of 5G in Africa

The outlook for the coming years is promising: it is forecast that around 226 million 5G mobile radio subscriptions will exist in Subsahara Africa by 2030, with an adoption rate of 17%. In 2022, this number was only 0.2%. The introduction of 5G services focuses on urban areas with high density and demand, whereby the expansion to rural regions follows according to economic feasibility. The experts from Telecom Review Africa Advantages will act, with an estimate of $ 11 billion, which should contribute to the regional economy by 2030.

While the euphoria is growing for 5G, there are also considerable challenges. High-priced 5G-capable smartphones are unaffordable for many potential users, which inhibits the acceptance of technology. In addition, regulatory structures have to be reformed in order to ensure broader acceptance. The ITU emphasizes that overcoming these hurdles is crucial for the growth of 5G in Africa, since it can contribute to an engine for economic development.

market trends and challenges

Despite the potential, there are also challenges that stand in the way of 5G expansion. The manufacturers are working on a proactive lobby to promote technological progress; Nevertheless, the current introduction of 5G in Africa still seems to be slow. As the Afrikaverein currently focus on the expansion of 4G-nets. This development is considered a priority to increase the data consumption of users and to secure the income that is under pressure through the dominance of over-the-top services such as WhatsApp and Telegram.

Overall, it should be noted that the path to the comprehensive 5G adoption in Africa is promising, but at the same time challenging. The combination of growing interest, company engagement and necessary regulatory reforms could change the digital landscape of the continent sustainably and open many doors to new technologies and business models.