Telecom
5G as a Catalyst for Economic Opportunities and Innovation in Sub-Saharan Africa
By Rami Osman, Director for Corporate Sales and Marketing, MediaTek Middle East and Africa.
Over the past two decades, mobile telecommunications has transformed the face of Sub-Saharan Africa, integrating hundreds of millions of people into the digital economy and creating a new industry worth billions of dollars a year. Mobile technology has, according to the GSM Association, reached 1.2 billion connections and over 650 million unique mobile users in Africa.
Thanks to mobile technology, Sub-Saharan Africa has leapfrogged legacy voice and data networks, positioning itself at the forefront of innovations such as mobile money. Now, with 5G, the fifth generation of GSM cellular technology bursting into the mainstream, Africa has another opportunity to take a technological leap.
5G offers a significant jump in speed and performance over 4G/LTE with real-world speeds above 200Mbps and dramatic improvements in latency. Not only does 5G promise a far richer and faster consumer mobile broadband experience, but it will also be the bedrock on top of which organisations will build the digital economy of the future.
The speed at which operators around the world are building 5G networks is unprecedented. GSMA Intelligence forecasts that consumer 5G connections will raise increase from one billion at the end of 2022 to two billion by the end of 2025. This will make 5G as the fastest generational rollout of GSM tech we have seen to date.
Africa cannot afford to get left behind. According to the GSMA, 5G has the potential to contribute $26 billion to Africa’s economy by 2030 when 5G will account for 20% of mobile connections in Africa. The Association reports that 5G-related activities have begun to pick up across Africa, including spectrum auctions, pilots and commercial trials.
5G set to drive the next wave of innovation
Should policymakers, regulators and network operators focus on accelerating 5G deployments across Africa, the economic dividends will be substantial. One of the immediate benefits may come from deploying 5G as a fixed-wireless and mobile broadband access technology to offer higher speed internet to the many parts of Africa where fibre networks don’t reach.
In a world of hybrid and remote work, this could foster new economic opportunities for people across the continent. It could help to catalyse innovation in cloud computing as organisations start to create innovative, localised services and applications to empower individuals, businesses, and communities in remote and underserved areas.
5G will also facilitate the digitalisation of sectors such as agriculture, healthcare, education and manufacturing, leading to increased productivity, job creation, and entrepreneurship opportunities. Higher speeds and lower latency of 5G networks will facilitate the adoption of next-generation digital technologies such as virtual/augmented reality, artificial intelligence and the Internet of Things.
Taken together, these technologies will improve efficiencies, enhance productivity, and provide better services across the public and private sectors alike. 5G will enable automated processes across sectors like smart cities, agriculture, transportation, and energy management. From virtual reality learning experiences and telemedicine to smart factories and intelligent grids, the possibilities are endless.
A commitment to bringing 5G everywhere in Africa
At MediaTek, we are committed to bringing 5G everywhere in support of the efforts from governments, telecoms companies, regulators and end-users. Our advanced portfolio of 5G technologies delivers fast and reliable 5G to fixed wireless access routers, mobile hotspots, PCs, smartphones, tablets, vehicles and beyond.
MediaTek is focusing on making 5G available and accessible to everyone with our Dimensity family of chipsets. The Dimensity system on a chip, or SOC, is the hardware ‘brains’ of a modern 5G smartphone, offering the best of 5G speeds, brilliant gaming technologies, and professional grade imaging and videography.
It’s our goal to enable 5G for as many people and markets in Africa as possible. We plan to work closely with customers, networks and technology suppliers to help everyone take advantage of the power of 5G. Now is the time for Africa to harness the economic, personal and societal benefits of this powerful connectivity standard.
Google has launched its Search Live feature globally to over 200 countries, including Nigeria, where AI Mode is available, enabling voice-and-camera conversations in users’ preferred languages.
Powered by the new multilingual Gemini 3.1 Flash Live model, it delivers natural, real-time interactions via the Google app on Android or iOS—tap the Live icon under the Search bar.
Ideal for hands-free help, users can speak queries for audio replies, follow-ups, or web links. Camera integration adds visual context, like troubleshooting a shelving unit, or pairs with Google Lens for real-world chats.
From the app or Lens, Nigerians can now explore, learn, or solve tasks instantly, boosting everyday productivity worldwide.
Clean and reliable power for telecom networks in Ethiopia, Liberia, and Sierra Leone will be expanded following a $45 million investment by the International Finance Corporation (IFC) in IPT PowerTech.
The investment targets countries where limited power supply continues to slow digital connectivity and broader economic participation, the institution stated earlier this week.
To enable this expansion, the IFC is providing a $45 million corporate financing package consisting of an A-loan of $27 million and $18 million in blended finance.
The blended portion is sourced from the Canada-IFC Blended Climate Finance Programme and the IDA20 Private Sector Window Blended Finance Facility.
The initiative marks the IFC’s first direct infrastructure engagement in Liberia in a decade and in Sierra Leone in six years.
It will help scale solar- and battery-based power systems that reduce reliance on diesel and support greener, more resilient telecom networks.
By improving the quality and stability of power to telecom towers, the initiative will strengthen mobile coverage and ensure that households, schools, health centres, and small businesses can depend on consistent digital services, said the IFC.
The funding supports the modernisation, operation, and maintenance of 2 235 telecom sites across the three nations. More than 90% of these are located in off-grid or weak-grid locations.
With new solar and battery systems powering these sites, mobile networks will experience fewer outages and improved service quality.
Optimising the energy mix is estimated to reduce power costs for operators by up to 30% in Liberia, 26% in Sierra Leone, and 52% in Ethiopia.
This transition is also expected to cut emissions by more than 10 624 tonnes of carbon dioxide annually. Furthermore, the partnership will promote gender inclusion by expanding opportunities for women in technical, operational, and leadership roles within the sector, says the IFC.
This agreement reflects a shared vision for a greener telecom industry and empowers the company to scale its innovative energy platforms, according to Nabil Haddad, CEO of IPT PowerTech Group.
Reliable and affordable power for telecom networks is a cornerstone of Africa’s digital transformation, said Nathalie Kouassi-Akon, IFC regional director for West Africa and the Gulf of Guinea.
Through this partnership, the institution is supporting a scalable, private sector-led solution that enables mobile operators to reach underserved and fragile communities more sustainably, added Kouassi-Akon.
The project advances the World Bank Group and African Development Bank’s Mission 300 initiative, which aims to provide electricity to 300 million Africans by 2030.
Expedier has unveiled “Expedier for Business,” an online pro-banking platform to simplify global payments, multi-currency transactions, and financial operations for expanding companies.
Kingsley Madu
The tool centralizes payments, invoicing, payroll, and treasury into one secure dashboard, tackling challenges like fragmented systems and poor visibility that hinder international scaling.
Kingsley Madu, Co-Founder and CEO of Expedier, said: “African businesses are increasingly global… Expedier for Business was built to simplify how companies manage money across borders while maintaining visibility, control, and compliance.”
Key features include customizable dashboards for payments, invoices, and workflows; support for USD, CAD, GBP, EUR, and more; virtual cards; automated payroll/invoicing; currency swaps; and real-time tracking.
Security measures cover two-factor authentication, KYC/KYB verification, and team access controls.
As cross-border trade and remote work boom in Africa, the platform aids firms dealing with international suppliers, teams, and customers. It is now available for organizations scaling globally.
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