Mobile Phones and Broadband—a big Leap for Africa

This report by the Institute for Security Studies examines the role of mobile technology and broadband in Africa's technological leapfrogging. It details the shift from fixed-line to mobile networks, the impact of mobile broadband on poverty reduction, and the emergence of satellite internet solutions to bridge connectivity gaps in remote areas.

• Africa has experienced significant technological leapfrogging by bypassing traditional fixed-line infrastructure in favor of mobile networks. Between 2000 and 2023, fixed-line access grew minimally from 2.4 to 2.9 lines per 100 people, while mobile subscriptions increased from 1.9 to over 100 per 100 people.
• Mobile broadband coverage has a measurable positive impact on household consumption and poverty levels. A study by the World Bank and GSMA using data from Nigeria indicates that one year of mobile broadband coverage increases total household consumption by approximately 6%, while two years increase it by 8%. This coverage reduces the share of households in extreme poverty by 4 percentage points after one year and 7 percentage points after two or more years, lifting roughly 2.5 million people out of extreme poverty.
• While mobile internet is expanding, high-speed fixed broadband lags. Low Earth orbit satellite services, specifically Starlink by SpaceX, are addressing this by providing connectivity in remote areas. Starlink launched in Senegal in early 2026 and has expanded into the Central African Republic, São Tomé and Príncipe, Chad, Somalia, Lesotho, Guinea-Bissau, DR Congo, Niger, and Liberia.
• Projections for 2050 suggest mobile phone subscriptions will reach 150 per 100 people, mobile broadband will reach 149 per 100, and fixed broadband will reach 29 per 100. By 2030, a near one-to-one alignment between mobile phone and mobile broadband subscriptions is expected, though challenges regarding affordability, quality, and digital skills gaps will persist.
• Internet penetration in Africa was approximately 35% in 2024, an increase from 7.5% in 2009, though it remains the lowest globally. There is a significant gap in 5G deployment: while over two-thirds of the population in high- and upper-middle-income countries had 5G coverage in 2024, coverage in low-income countries was only 4%.

APA

Yeboua, K. (2026). Mobile Phones and Broadband—a big Leap for Africa. Institute for Security Studies. https://futures.issafrica.org/thematic/guide.pdf?thematic=09-leapfrog&topic=03-mobile-phones-broadband

Chicago

Yeboua, Kouassi. Mobile Phones and Broadband—a big Leap for Africa. Institute for Security Studies, 2026. https://futures.issafrica.org/thematic/guide.pdf?thematic=09-leapfrog&topic=03-mobile-phones-broadband.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Yeboua |first1=Kouassi |title=Mobile Phones and Broadband—a big Leap for Africa |publisher=Institute for Security Studies |date=25 May 2026 |url=https://futures.issafrica.org/thematic/guide.pdf?thematic=09-leapfrog&topic=03-mobile-phones-broadband |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{yeboua2026mobile, author = {Yeboua, Kouassi}, title = {{Mobile Phones and Broadband—a big Leap for Africa}}, institution = {Institute for Security Studies}, year = {2026}, month = may, url = {https://futures.issafrica.org/thematic/guide.pdf?thematic=09-leapfrog&topic=03-mobile-phones-broadband}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }