Mobile usage in the SSA region increases again.
2G subscribers are decreasing, while 3G/4G subscribers are increasing significantly.
Also used as a solution development platform

The GSMA's The Mobile Economy report predicts that more than half of the population in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) will subscribe to mobile services by 2025. The newly released The Mobile Economy Report Sub-Saharan Africa 2018 projects that there will be 634 million unique mobile subscribers in SSA by 2025.

This represents 52% of the SSA region's population, a significant increase from 444 million (44%) at the end of 2017. The report also estimates that the SSA region's mobile ecosystem will generate $150 billion in added value by 2022, accounting for 8% of the region's GDP.

The number of mobile service subscribers is a statistical figure that takes into account the number of multiple SIM card holders. As of the end of 2017, there were 747 million SIM connections in the SSA region, a figure projected to increase to 1 billion by 2025.

Over the past few years, the SSA region has seen the fastest growth in mobile subscriptions. However, the high cost of mobile devices and the large number of young people with limited economic resources have slowed this growth rate. The current mobile subscription rate in SSA is 44% of the total population, significantly lower than the global average of 66%. Furthermore, according to World Bank statistics, 40% of the SSA population is under 16 years old. Mobile subscription rates among young people are significantly lower than those among other age groups worldwide.

However, with smartphone prices falling, 3G/4G subscribers are increasing. The trend of migrating from 2G to 3G/4G is also evident. According to the report, mobile broadband services are expected to account for 87% of the SSA region's internet penetration by 2025, up from 38% in 2017. Furthermore, an estimated 300 million new subscribers are expected to access mobile internet services over the next seven years.

In 2017, the mobile technology and services sector accounted for 7.1% of the SSA region's total GDP, worth $110 billion. The report projects that by 2022, the mobile sector will account for 7.9% of the region's GDP and generate $150 billion in economic value, driven by increased productivity and efficiency through the use of mobile devices.

Even today, the mobile ecosystem in the SSA region generates 3 million jobs, driven by increased productivity and efficiency through the use of mobile devices, particularly mobile internet access. This number is projected to grow to 3.45 million by 2022. Additionally, the mobile sector currently contributes $14 billion to the public sector through taxes and levies related to mobile service consumption, a figure that is projected to increase to $16 billion.

This report presents various examples of how mobile networks and services can play a role in achieving the UN's Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and fostering the growth of the IT venture ecosystem. Many technology ventures in Africa are leveraging mobile as a platform for developing solutions that address various socio-economic challenges.

“For many people in this region, especially those living in rural areas, mobile is more than just a means of communication,” said John Giusti, Chief Regulatory Officer at the GSMA. “It is their primary means of accessing the internet and a crucial means of improving their quality of life.” He added, “To expand online connectivity to even the most underserved regions, governments must create an investment-friendly regulatory environment to ensure the long-term sustainability of the industry.”

The Mobile Economy Report Sub-Saharan Africa 2018 was authored by GSMA Intelligence, the research arm of the GSMA. The full report and accompanying infographics are available at www.gsma.com/mobileeconomy/sub-saharan-africa/ .