2026年非洲移动经济报告_36页_3mb

The Mobile Economy Africa 2026 Summary

Core Content

The GSMA Intelligence report outlines the evolving role of the mobile industry in Africa, highlighting its economic impact, key trends, and the importance of supportive policies. The mobile sector is not only a critical enabler of digital transformation but also a significant contributor to the continent's GDP, employment, and public revenue.

Main Points

• Economic Impact:
  The mobile industry is projected to contribute $240 billion to Africa's economy in 2025, representing 7.8% of regional GDP. This is expected to grow to $290 billion by 2030, driven by the expansion of 4G and 5G networks, enterprise digitalisation, and broader adoption of digital technologies.

  • Productivity effects: $150 billion
  • Direct contribution of the mobile ecosystem: $70 billion
  • Employment: Supports around 13 million jobs (10 million directly and 3 million indirectly) in 2025.
  • Public revenue: Generated $45 billion in 2025, with $20 billion from device-related duties.

• Challenges:

  • Usage gap: 63% of the population is covered by mobile broadband but not yet online.
  • Sustainability: Operators face pressure to reduce diesel dependency and meet carbon commitments.
  • Geopolitical and logistical pressures: Disruptions to global shipping routes and energy markets affect supply chains and operational costs.

• 5G Growth:
  By 2030, 5G penetration is expected to reach 21%, with Mauritius leading in 5G growth, increasing its share by 35 percentage points between 2026 and 2030.

  • 5G contribution: Expected to be a key driver of economic value.

• Investment Projections:
  Mobile operators in Africa are projected to invest $76.2 billion in network capital expenditure (capex) between 2025 and 2030.

  • Infrastructure-sharing models are emerging as a structural solution to extend coverage in underserved areas.

Key Trends

1. AI Moves from Strategy to Deployment

• AI is transitioning from a strategic goal to an operational reality in Africa's mobile ecosystem.
• AI applications include predictive maintenance, network optimisation, and AI-driven customer service.
• Uganda's Airtel launched Africa's first AI-powered spam alert service in 2025.
• MTN invested in ODC, an AI telecoms startup, to develop AI-RAN solutions tailored for Africa's multi-vendor, power-constrained environments.
• African AI language models are being developed to address the underrepresentation of African languages in global AI systems.
  • G6 operators (Airtel, Axian Telecom, Ethio Telecom, MTN, Orange, Vodacom) launched a collaboration to develop AI language models in Africa.
  • Swahili reasoning model was demonstrated at MWC Barcelona 2026.
  • Google and the Gates Foundation are supporting AI development for over 40 African languages.

2. Network APIs Unlock New Business Models

• Mobile operators are exposing network-layer capabilities (identity signals, connectivity intelligence, real-time authentication) through standardised APIs.
• This enables new commercial opportunities for operators, developers, and enterprises.
• GSMA Open Gateway is the framework for this transition, with 70 operators (representing 11% of the global mobile market) committing to it.
• South Africa is leading in the use of APIs for fraud detection and transaction authentication through SIM Swap and Number Verification.

3. Operators Evolving into Full-Stack Digital Partners

• Operators are moving from traditional connectivity providers to digital transformation partners.
• 79% of African operators stated their primary enterprise goal is to become a digital transformation partner.
• Developer platforms, sovereign AI offerings, and technology-company partnerships are key operational changes supporting this transition.

Policies for Growth

• Fiscal reform is crucial for improving affordability and adoption of digital services.
• Device-related duties (handset VAT, sales taxes, excise and custom duties) contributed $20 billion in 2025.
• Removing import duties and VAT could bring mobile internet within reach of millions of unconnected users.
• Sustainable investment conditions are necessary to support digital infrastructure development.
• Spectrum policies are vital for enabling Africa's digital growth.

Conclusion

The mobile industry in Africa is undergoing a transformation, with operators becoming more than just connectivity providers. They are now key players in digital transformation, AI development, and sustainable growth. The economic value of the mobile sector is expected to grow significantly, supported by technology investments, policy reforms, and collaborative efforts. To fully realise this potential, continued investment, improved policy frameworks, and enhanced digital ecosystems will be essential.