Africa anticipates 100m new mobile subscribers, powered by Nigeria, Ethiopia
By Jeph Ajobaju, Chief Copy Editor
Africa is expected to have 100 million new mobile subscribers by 2025, with the two of most populous countries – Nigeria at 211 million, and Ethiopia at 117 million – accounting for about a third of the growth.
The Global System for Mobile Communications Association (GSMA) disclosed in its report tittle, “The mobile economy: Sub-Saharan Africa 2022”, Nigeria is projected to have 18 million new subscribers and Ethiopia 12 million in two years’ time.
“By the end of 2021, 515 million people subscribed to mobile services in Sub-Saharan Africa, representing 46 per cent of the population – an increase of almost 20 million in 2020.
“There will be nearly 100 million new subscribers by 2025, taking the total number of subscribers to 613 million (50 per cent of the region’s population),” the report said.
“The two most populated countries – Nigeria and Ethiopia – will account for almost a third of new subscribers in the period to 2025.”
The report anticipates the Democratic Republic of Congo will have eight million new mobile subscribers by 2025, Tanzania (six million), Kenya (five million), Uganda (four million), and 45 million across other countries in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA).
GSMA said since SSA has a sizeable proportion of its population under the age of 18, its subscriber growth will remain strong for the foreseeable future as young consumers move into adulthood and are able to subscribe to mobile services.
Young subscribers are likely to be tech savvy and keen on adopting mobile internet services, therefore, 4G and 5G services are going to benefit from increased adoption, it added.
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Impact of mobile phone
“In 2021, mobile technologies and services generated around 8 per cent of GDP across Sub-Saharan Africa, a contribution that amounted to almost $140bn of economic value added,” GSMA said, via reporting by The PUNCH.
“The mobile ecosystem also supported more than 3.2 million jobs (directly and indirectly) and made a substantial contribution to the funding of the public sector, with $16bn raised through taxes on the sector.
“By 2025, mobile’s contribution will grow by $65bn (to almost $155bn), as the countries in the region increasingly benefit from the improvements in productivity and efficiency brought about by the increased take-up of mobile services.”
GSMA said mobile is driving digital inclusion as it is the primary way most people in the region access the internet.
