Fifty-seven percent of Africans yet to adopt advanced 5G technology despite significant financial investment of $28 billion.
In the rapidly evolving digital landscape, Africa is making strides in the adoption of next-generation networks, particularly 5G.
By September 2025, South Africa had seen a significant increase in 5G penetration, with around 13% of the subscriber base, or over 10.8 million users. The country's major operators, Vodacom and MTN, have been key drivers in this growth. Meanwhile, more than half of the South African population is covered by 5G infrastructure.
However, the continent as a whole is still catching up. By the end of 2024, half of all mobile connections on the continent were still 3G, and only 1 out of 100 Africans were connected to 5G. This slow adoption could potentially undermine Africa's competitiveness in the global digital economy.
Despite this, there are signs of progress. In Nigeria, for example, about 3.1% of the active mobile lines were on 5G by September 2025, representing over 5.2 million subscribers. Vodacom Mozambique has also launched the country's first 5G services.
Innovative deployments like fixed wireless access are being used to connect previously unserved schools in some African countries, such as Senegal, where Ericsson, Yas, and the Ministry of Education have collaborated on this initiative.
The global investment in next-generation networks between 2023 and 2030 is projected to be $1.5 trillion. In Africa, capital expenditure for next-generation networks is expected to reach $62 billion over the same period, with a significant portion going into 5G expansion.
Ericsson is also collaborating with Nigeria to build innovation hubs and incubators, further boosting the continent's digital infrastructure.
However, the report suggests that the future of connectivity in African countries will rely on using an effective mix and combining the strengths of different technologies. This approach could help address the challenges of infrastructure development and the slow adoption of 5G.
As of September 2025, several African countries have progressed toward 5G rollouts. Gabon, for instance, has taken significant steps with a partnership between Airtel Gabon and Moov Africa to share infrastructure, facilitating faster 4G/5G deployments.
Despite these advancements, no explicit mention of African countries with completed commercial 5G rollouts by September 2025 was found, indicating mostly initial deployments or infrastructure preparations rather than widespread commercial launches.
As the digital landscape continues to evolve, it's clear that Africa is making significant strides in the adoption of next-generation networks. However, challenges remain, and a strategic approach to combining different technologies will be crucial in ensuring a strong and competitive digital future for the continent.
Mark your calendars! Our Moonshot event is returning to Lagos on October 15-16, where we'll delve deeper into these topics and explore the potential of next-generation networks for Africa. Stay tuned for more updates!
