Africa Accounts for 9pc of the 5 Billion Mobile Subscribers Globally

Sub-Saharan Africa is the least penetrated region at 44 per cent in mobile subscriptions as the number of subscriptions hits 5 billion according to real-time data from GSMA Intelligence, the research arm of the GSMA.

“Reaching the 5 billion subscriber milestone is a tremendous achievement for an industry that is only a few decades old, and reflects the many billions of dollars that mobile operators have invested in networks, services and spectrum over many years,” commented Mats Granryd, Director General of the GSMA in statement issued on Tuesday.

“Today mobile is a truly global platform, delivering connectivity and, perhaps more importantly, social and economic opportunities to citizens in all corners of the world. This massive reach allows the mobile industry to be a key player in delivering global initiatives such as the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals.”

The most highly penetrated region in the world is Europe, where 86 per cent of citizens are subscribed to a mobile service.

“Subscriber growth opportunities over the coming years will be focused on connecting mainly rural, low-income populations; operators are developing a range of sustainable solutions to deliver affordable connectivity to underserved communities,” added Granryd. “Meanwhile, in mature markets where subscriber growth is slowing, operators are evolving their business models to capture increasing value within the expanding mobile ecosystem, and providing the platform for a new digital world as we enter the 5G era.”