Africa’s rollout of fifth-generation mobile technology gained momentum in 2025, with 53 telecoms operators now offering commercial 5G services across 29 countries, according to data from GSMA Intelligence.
The industry body said operators in a further 14 African markets have committed to launching 5G networks in 2026 and beyond, signalling an acceleration of deployment despite the continent’s relatively early stage of adoption.
As of September 2025, the 53 operators had activated live 5G mobile services, with nearly half also deploying fixed wireless access (FWA) to deliver high-speed broadband to underserved suburban and rural communities.
Africa ended 2025 with an estimated 54 million 5G connections, representing about 3.8 percent of total mobile subscriptions. While penetration remains well below global averages, GSMA said the expanding footprint provides a foundation for growth as device affordability improves.
“5G momentum continues to build in Africa,” GSMA Intelligence said, citing rising data demand and more supportive policy frameworks.
North Africa has led deployments, supported by dedicated spectrum strategies. Egypt emerged as the continent’s frontrunner after raising more than $700 million from 3.5 GHz spectrum auctions in 2024, enabling operators including Telecom Egypt, Vodafone Egypt, Orange Egypt and Etisalat Misr to scale commercial networks.
Tunisia and Morocco followed with nationwide launches in 2025, supporting high-capacity urban use cases.
In sub-Saharan Africa, deployments have been more gradual, with many operators prioritising 4G expansion while repurposing spectrum under technology-neutral policies. South Africa, Nigeria and other large markets have focused on higher-value use cases, particularly fixed wireless access aimed at premium customers.
In Nigeria, operators including MTN and Airtel have pushed ahead with 5G expansion despite affordability challenges. MTN Nigeria has rolled out more than 2,100 5G sites and introduced unlimited broadband plans, while the Nigerian Communications Commission said 5G coverage had reached around 13 percent of the population by early 2026.
Challenges remain across the continent. Fewer than 30 percent of African countries have allocated 5G spectrum, compared with more than 90 percent in Europe, while power shortages and high energy costs continue to affect network operations.
Despite these constraints, GSMA forecasts that 5G could contribute around US$10 billion to Africa’s economy by 2030, supporting applications ranging from digital finance and healthcare to agriculture and industrial services.
With Africa’s young population driving rapid growth in data consumption, industry players see 5G as a key pillar of the continent’s long-term digital transformation.
