Approximately 1 percent of Africans utilize 5G networks, despite a significant $28 billion investment in the technology
As of September 2025, the African continent is witnessing a significant shift in mobile connectivity, with 5G penetration climbing to around 13%. This rapid growth has seen over 10.8 million users and more than 50% of the population covered.
In South Africa, major operators like Vodacom and MTN are spearheading this change. By establishing 5G sites in every major city and expanding to suburbs, they have contributed to South Africa becoming one of the first African countries to introduce 5G services. By this time, South Africa boasted a substantial share of 5G users.
Similarly, Gabon has fostered advanced network collaboration between Airtel Gabon and Moov Africa to enhance 5G infrastructure and coverage. This early 5G rollout and substantial user adoption are evident across the continent.
However, the progress towards 5G is not uniform. By the end of 2024, only 1% of Africans were connected to 5G, with most mobile connections still using 3G. The slow adoption of 5G could potentially undermine Africa's competitiveness in the global digital economy.
Efforts are being made to accelerate this transition. Between 2023 and 2030, capital expenditure in Sub-Saharan Africa is expected to reach $62 billion for next-generation networks, with a significant portion allocated to 5G expansion.
One such initiative is Ericsson's collaboration with Nigeria to build innovation hubs and incubators. The aim is to create the ecosystems that can make 5G investments pay off.
Innovative deployments such as fixed wireless access are being used to connect schools in rural areas, bridging the digital divide. For instance, in Senegal, Ericsson, Yas, and the Ministry of Education have employed this method to connect previously unserved schools.
The future of connectivity in African countries may rely on using an effective mix of different technologies to increase economies of scale, cost efficiency, and coverage. As 4G had grown to a third of all connections by the end of 2024, it is projected that 5G will reach only 17% penetration by 2030.
Despite this, the growth of 5G in Africa is undeniably on the rise. By September 2025, countries like Nigeria and South Africa had seen significant 5G user adoption, with MTN alone accounting for the largest share of 5G users in Nigeria, covering over 10 million customers and boasting over 4.6 million active users. Vodacom Mozambique has also launched the country's first 5G services.
Benin has seen initial deployments of 5G, marking another step forward in Africa's digital transformation. As the continent continues to invest in and roll out 5G, it is poised to reap the benefits of faster, more reliable, and more efficient connectivity.
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