Connecting Africa is part of the Informa Tech Division of Informa PLC

This site is operated by a business or businesses owned by Informa PLC and all copyright resides with them. Informa PLC's registered office is 5 Howick Place, London SW1P 1WG. Registered in England and Wales. Number 3099067.

4G/5G

Africa set for mobile data traffic boom

Article Image
Mobile data traffic in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) is set to multiply by 12 in the next five years, while the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region is likely to grow by a factor of almost nine in the same timeframe.

This is according to the June 2020 Ericsson Mobility Report which shows that total mobile data traffic in SSA is estimated to grow from 0.33 Exabytes (EB) per month in 2019 to 4EB by 2025.

Ericsson predicts that average traffic per smartphone is expected to reach 7.1GB per month for SSA by 2025, compared to 1.6GB in 2019. In MENA, average usage per smartphone will grow from 5GB currently to 23GB per month by 2025.

Mobile data traffic per smartphone (GB per month)
Courtesy of Ericsson Mobility Report, June 2020.
Courtesy of Ericsson Mobility Report, June 2020.

Global total mobile data traffic reached around 33EB per month by the end of 2019, and is projected to grow by almost five times to reach 164EB per month in 2025.

"This figure represents the mobile data that will be consumed by over 6 billion people using smartphones, laptops and a multitude of new devices at that time. Smartphones continue to be at the epicenter of this development as they generate most of the mobile data traffic – about 95 percent – today, a share that is projected to increase throughout the forecast period," the report reads.

LTE leap
When it comes to LTE/4G subscriptions in SSA, Ericsson predicts they will triple from 90 million in 2019 to reach 270 million in 2025. LTE accounted for only 11% of SSA subscriptions in 2019, but this should grow to 30% by the end of the forecast period.

The researchers believe mobile broadband subscriptions will account for 72% of SSA mobile subscriptions in SSA by 2025. The driving factors behind the growth of mobile broadband subscriptions include a young and growing population with increasing digital skills, and more affordable smartphones.

In the MENA region, around 23% of mobile subscriptions were for LTE at the end of 2019. The region is anticipated to evolve over the forecast period, and by 2025, 77% of subscriptions are expected to be for mobile broadband.

Ericsson's president of Middle East and Africa, Fadi Pharaon, said that the new report highlights Africa as one of the fastest growing mobile markets and "reiterates the need for a more efficient technology, higher data rates and availability of ample spectrum."

Sub-Saharan Africa's smartphone subscriptions will likely grow from 390 million in 2019 to 650 million in 2025.

Ericsson believes that HSPA (3G) will remain the dominant technology over the coming years with a share of around 40%, which is similar to 2019.

Mobile subscriptions by region and technology (percent)
Courtesy of Ericsson Mobility Report, June 2020.
Courtesy of Ericsson Mobility Report, June 2020.

5G future
5G will likely remain a small part of the African ecosystem over the next five years. Ericsson believes that discernible volumes of 5G subscriptions are only expected from 2022 in the SSA region and will reach about 3% by 2025.

In MENA, commercial 5G deployments with leading service providers have taken place during 2019 and 5G subscriptions have already passed 500,000, but mainly in the Gulf countries. Significant volumes are expected in 2021 and the region is likely to reach around 80 million 5G subscriptions by 2025, representing around 10% of total mobile subscriptions.

Meanwhile, globally, by 2025 Ericsson expects 45% of total mobile data traffic will be carried by 5G networks.

— Paula Gilbert, Editor, Connecting Africa

Innovation hub

Story

Hot startup of the month: Nigeria's Tech Herfrica

Connecting Africa's hot startup is Nigeria's Tech Herfrica, a social impact organization that focuses on the digital and financial inclusion of women and girls in rural areas of Nigeria.

Story

Omdia View: February 2024

Highlights in February 2024 in the Middle East and Africa included 5G launches in Senegal and 5G trials in Egypt as well as Kenya's first 5G MVNO. Airtel also launched a new wholesale connectivity business while MTN and Huawei are planning a joint Innovation Technology Lab in South Africa – that and more in this month's Omdia View.

More Innovation hub

Latest video

More videos

Partner perspectives

All Partner Perspectives

Sponsored video

More videos

Industry announcements

More Industry announcements

Upcoming events

Africa Tech Festival 2024
November 11-14, 2024
Cape Town, South Africa
More Upcoming events

Africa Tech Perspectives

Story

Uber's Marjorie Saint-Lot on inclusion and sustainability in Africa

Uber's Country Manager for Ghana and Cote d'Ivoire, Marjorie Saint-Lot, shares how the ride-hailing company is approaching public-private partnerships, environmentally friendly initiatives and gender inclusion in Africa.

Story

The 100 most influential African leaders in 2023

A new report from Africa Tech Festival and Connecting Africa puts a spotlight on the top 100 African leaders in the telecoms and technology sector in 2023.

Story

Deep dive into East Africa's tech startup ecosystem

New survey reveals a lack of access to investors, reliance on international VCs and global recession trends as the biggest barriers for East African tech startups to access funds.

More Africa Tech perspectives

Guest Perspectives

Story

Omdia View: February 2024

By Omdia Analysts

Highlights in February 2024 in the Middle East and Africa included 5G launches in Senegal and 5G trials in Egypt as well as Kenya's first 5G MVNO. Airtel also launched a new wholesale connectivity business while MTN and Huawei are planning a joint Innovation Technology Lab in South Africa – that and more in this month's Omdia View.

Story

Omdia View: January 2024

By Omdia Analysts

Highlights in January 2024 in the Middle East and Africa included a $200 million fintech deal between MTN and Mastercard as well as 5G network trials by Telecom Egypt – that and more in this month's Omdia View.

More Guest Perspectives

Like us on Facebook

Newsletter Sign Up


Sign Up
Tag id test-002