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Latest GSMA report highlights that AI, digital services, and mobile connectivity are driving economic growth in Africa, but affordability remains a key barrier to digital inclusion
LondonJune 18, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — According to the GSMA’s 2026 Mobile Economy in Africa report, mobile technology and services contributed $240 billion to Africa’s economy in 2025, equivalent to 7.8% of GDP. The sector also supported approximately 13 million jobs and generated $45 billion in public revenue, underscoring the increasingly vital role of mobile connectivity in driving economic growth, innovation, and digital transformation in Africa.
The report finds that Africa’s mobile industry is entering a new phase of development. After a decade focused on expanding connectivity coverage, operators are increasingly prioritizing unlocking the full value of digital networks for consumers, businesses, and governments. Across the continent, operators are evolving beyond their traditional role as connectivity providers to become digital transformation partners, deploying artificial intelligence (AI), expanding digital services, and opening network capabilities to developers through standardized APIs. According to GSMA Intelligence research, 79% of operators in Africa have identified “becoming a digital transformation partner” as their top corporate goal.
By 2030, as digital adoption deepens and connectivity continues to underpin productivity, innovation, and economic development across the region, mobile technology and services are expected to contribute $290 billion to Africa’s economy. Today, Africa’s digital challenge has shifted from expanding network coverage to ensuring that individuals, businesses, and governments can fully benefit from existing connectivity.
GSMA Director General Vivek Badrinath stated: “Africa’s mobile industry is entering a new phase of development. Over the past decade, we have connected millions of individuals and businesses. The current focus is increasingly shifting toward unlocking greater value potential through AI, digital services, and new forms of innovation. Realizing this opportunity requires sustained investment, an enabling policy environment, and a shared commitment to ensuring everyone can benefit from the opportunities created by digital technology. We also call on the broader technology supply chain—including companies that manufacture the key components that make devices possible—to reflect on the close link between their own success and a connected world, and to join us in bridging the usage gap, making this world more accessible and affordable for all.”
Read the full GSMA press release here.