January 2025

African 5G penetration to hit 25% by 2029 – Omdia

Technology research and advisory group Omdia believes 5G penetration in Africa will grow from 1.4% in 2024 to 25.6% in 2029.

Omdia, a sister company of Connecting Africa, reported these findings in its recent regional outlook report, which forecasts that Africa’s total of 5G subscriptions will reach 427 million in 2029, compared to 20 million in 2024.

“The growth in 5G adoption will drive growth in cellular data traffic in Africa, with 5G data traffic accounting for 38.2% of the total cellular data traffic in 2029, compared to 1.9% in 2024,” said the report’s author Danson Njue, Omdia senior research analyst for the Middle East and Africa.

While 5G deployment has accelerated, Omdia believes the lack of 5G spectrum and the high cost of 5G devices will continue to hinder 5G adoption in the region.

“As such, governments should focus on spectrum allocation and increasing 5G device and service affordability to promote 5G development in Africa,” Njue said.

Fixed-wireless access (FWA) is currently the main use case for 5G in Africa.

Njue said African telcos continue to leverage FWA 5G to provide fiber-like wireless broadband speeds at a lower cost, particularly in areas with limited fiber penetration.

“To increase 5G monetization, telcos must explore more use cases for 5G with a focus on private networks for enterprise services,” he said.

As Africa’s pioneer 5G market, South Africa has made progress in 5G development.

Omdia projects that South Africa’s 5G subscriptions will grow tenfold between 2024 and 2029, to reach 51.9 million and account for 36.2% of the total subscriptions.

Omdia also anticipates Egypt will see the rollout of 5G services in 2025.

The government issued the country’s first 5G license to Telecom Egypt in January 2024, while Vodafone Egypt, Orange Egypt and e& Egypt were awarded 5G licenses in October 2024, paving the way for nationwide 5G rollout.

Mobile subscriptions forecast

As a mobile-first continent, Africa is expected to continue to see growth in overall mobile subscriptions over the next five years.

Omdia predicts that Africa will have 1.78 billion mobile subscriptions by the end of 2029, a 23.6% increase from 2024, with the data and digital services segments supporting the double-digit growth.

4G and 5G combined will account for more than 80% of the total mobile subscriptions in 2029, indicating a sharp rise in the adoption of mobile broadband services in the region.

Mobile broadband subscriptions will account for up to 97% of the total mobile subscriptions in 2029.

Omdia believes that 2G and 3G dominance will decline sharply over the forecast period, with the technologies finding niches in providing connectivity needs in rural areas and supporting machine-to-machine (M2M) connections.

“Low smartphone penetration in Africa will continue to justify the use of 2G and 3G services in the region,” Njue said.

However, Omdia believes developed regional markets, such as South Africa, will achieve a total shutdown of the legacy mobile networks by 2029.

“Satellite technology will also continue to play an important role in promoting broadband penetration in the region. As such, network operators will increasingly adopt satellite-to-smartphone strategies as they focus on bridging broadband connectivity gaps in the region,” Njue added.

Mobile revenue forecast

According to Omdia market data, mobile service revenue in Africa is set to grow 31%, from $54.1 billion in 2024 to $70.9 billion in 2029, fueled by the growth in uptake of mobile data and digital services, including mobile financial services (MFS).

Mobile data service revenue will be up 95% over the five-year period to $54.4 billion in 2029, supported by a 38% growth in mobile broadband subscriptions to 1.7 billion.

The strong uptake in mobile broadband services and an increase in smartphone penetration will see a 288% relative growth in cellular data traffic to 129.3 million TB in 2029, Omdia predicts.

By mid-2024, 25 out of 71 markets across the Middle East and Africa had launched commercial 5G services.

While 5G has not significantly impacted African operators’ revenue and average revenue per user (ARPU) so far, Omdia believes that the increased focus on 5G deployment will accelerate service adoption, thereby leading to growth in 5G traffic and blended ARPU going forward.

Njue also pointed out that voice ARPU and revenue will continue to decline over the forecast period due to the increased adoption of over-the-top (OTT) messaging and calling apps in the region.

Fiber future

While mobile broadband will make considerable inroads, the importance of Africa’s expanding fiber networks should not be underestimated.

“Full-fiber technology will shape Africa’s fixed broadband market in the future,” Njue explained.

He said Africa’s fixed broadband market has recorded significant growth over the last five years and this growth will continue over the next five.

Total fiber subscriptions grew by 82%, from 23.6 million in 2019 to 42.9 million in 2024.

Njue said fiber technology has remained critical in the growth of the fixed broadband segment in Africa, with subscriptions accounting for 18% of the total in 2024, up from 6% in 2019.

“While fiber deployment in Africa has accelerated, the penetration remains very low compared to other regions. Omdia’s Fiber Development Index 2024 ranks Africa as the least developed region in terms of fiber development,” he explained.

“Fiber is the most future-proof fixed broadband technology due to its capacity to support high-bandwidth applications, better energy efficiency, and low carbon emissions,” he added.

Fiber usage is set to increase tremendously in Africa over the next five years, with the number of broadband fiber subscriptions expected to rise by 131% to 17.5 million between 2024 and 2029.

Omdia believes that to fully reap the benefits of fiber technology, Africa needs to develop a clear roadmap for fiber deployment.

Source: Paula Gilbert (www.connectingafrica.com)

Emerging Cybersecurity Trends to Keep an Eye On in 2025

As digital transformation accelerates across Africa and South Africa, cybersecurity has become a critical concern for governments, businesses, and individuals. The growing adoption of new technologies and the evolving sophistication of cyber threats necessitate proactive and future-proof security measures.

Let’s explore key cybersecurity trends for 2025, highlighting their impact on businesses in Africa, along with notable examples of cybersecurity adoption and the challenges faced by businesses in the continent, including how these trends affect specific sectors.

Rise of ransomware and digital extortion

Ransomware attacks are on the rise across Africa, with cybercriminals increasingly targeting businesses, government institutions, and critical infrastructure. These attacks often demand large ransoms to restore access to critical data, and in some cases, attackers may also steal data and threaten to leak it. Sectors such as healthcare, finance, utilities, and manufacturing are high-value targets for these types of attacks.

Safaricom in Kenya, one of the largest telecom operators, has implemented advanced AI-driven cybersecurity measures to protect its mobile money platform, M-Pesa, which serves millions of users. These measures help safeguard financial transactions from ransomware and other cyber threats. Similarly, in South Africa, Eskom, the country’s largest energy supplier, has invested in robust cybersecurity strategies to protect its critical infrastructure from ransomware attacks and other forms of cyber extortion.

As these threats evolve, businesses must invest in resilient cybersecurity infrastructure, disaster recovery plans, and rapid incident response strategies to mitigate the impact of these increasingly sophisticated attacks.

AI-driven cybersecurity

Artificial intelligence (AI) will play a critical role in shaping cybersecurity for 2025. While AI enhances threat detection, vulnerability identification, and automated responses, it also presents a challenge as cybercriminals use the same technologies to create more sophisticated attacks. AI-driven phishing, deepfake fraud, and social engineering tactics are expected to become increasingly difficult to detect, leading to more significant data breaches and fraud incidents.

In South Africa, organisations such as Standard Bank are already leveraging AI-powered threat detection systems to safeguard their digital banking services. These systems are designed to detect abnormal behaviour and prevent attacks before they can cause harm. In Africa, the rise of AI-driven attacks, including deepfakes and automated phishing, will require businesses to adopt AI-powered security tools to stay ahead of the evolving threat landscape.

In the public sector, AI is used to enhance threat detection and response capabilities. For example, South Africa’s government is investing in AI systems to improve the resilience of public services against cyber threats. As digital transformation continues, these systems are crucial for detecting and mitigating attacks swiftly. Similarly, AI will help optimise infrastructure development and urban planning in Africa, making it imperative for governments to prioritise AI-driven cybersecurity tools to protect sensitive data.

Zero Trust security models: trust no one, verify everything

With the rise of remote and hybrid work environments across Africa, the Zero Trust security model, where access requests are continuously verified, will gain more prominence in 2025. Zero Trust ensures that no user or device is trusted by default, and each access request is verified based on user identity, device health, and access permissions.

For example, the South African Revenue Service (SARS) has adopted a Zero Trust architecture to protect sensitive taxpayer information. This approach ensures that every request to access or process data is verified, reducing the risk of internal and external breaches. Similarly, as businesses face increasing cybersecurity challenges, adopting Zero Trust will become essential to securing their networks and data.

In the retail sector, AI-driven Zero Trust security models will be essential in protecting sensitive customer information from cybercriminals. As e-commerce platforms continue to grow, companies will need to ensure that each user, transaction, and device is thoroughly verified to safeguard data. In financial services, Zero Trust will become critical for preventing fraud, ensuring that only trusted devices and users are allowed access to financial services and sensitive customer data.

Quantum-resistant cryptography

As quantum computing evolves, it presents a potential risk to traditional encryption methods. Many businesses, particularly those in sectors like finance and healthcare, rely on cryptography to protect sensitive personal and financial data. The development of quantum-resistant encryption methods will become increasingly important as businesses look to future-proof their security strategies.

Forward-thinking organisations will need to begin preparing for the transition to quantum-safe algorithms to safeguard their data long after quantum computing becomes mainstream.

This is a critical step for industries handling highly sensitive information, such as banking, telecommunications, and healthcare.

The healthcare industry will be particularly affected by this trend. AI in diagnostics and patient care relies heavily on the security of sensitive health data. Implementing quantum-resistant encryption will protect patient records and ensure that data remains secure even as quantum computing evolves. Similarly, manufacturing sectors focusing on industrial IoT and AI-driven supply chains will need to adopt quantum-resistant encryption to secure their operations.

Business Email Compromise (BEC) and phishing scams

Business Email Compromise (BEC) and phishing attacks remain significant threats. Cybercriminals use sophisticated tactics to impersonate trusted individuals, tricking employees into transferring funds or revealing sensitive information. These scams are particularly prevalent in large organisations and government sectors, where communication and trust are pivotal.

In South Africa, a leading bank has implemented AI-driven cybersecurity measures to counter such attacks, ensuring that their financial transactions and sensitive customer data remain protected. Across Africa, social media platforms are also becoming a popular vector for phishing campaigns, with cybercriminals using these platforms to distribute malicious links and steal personal information. Businesses must continue to enhance their security posture to prevent these attacks and educate employees on how to recognise and avoid phishing scams.

In the financial services industry, BEC and phishing scams are a major concern, with cybercriminals attempting to steal sensitive customer data or manipulate employees into transferring funds. The implementation of AI-driven fraud detection systems can help financial institutions protect their customers and prevent financial losses. In retail, AI analytics will also be crucial for identifying fraudulent activities before they lead to significant financial damage.

Third-party risk management

The interconnectedness of today’s business ecosystem means that third-party vendors pose a significant risk to cybersecurity. Cybercriminals increasingly target the supply chain, and a breach in a third-party system can have devastating consequences for an organisation. In 2025, businesses must focus on third-party risk management, ensuring that their vendors and partners meet stringent cybersecurity standards.

Kenya’s Safaricom and South Africa’s Standard Bank provide excellent examples of organisations that have prioritised third-party risk management. Both companies work. For the mining sector, third-party risk management is crucial to prevent disruptions in operations, especially as mining companies adopt AI-driven remote monitoring and predictive maintenance systems. Ensuring that third-party providers also meet stringent security standards will help avoid supply chain disruptions. In manufacturing, third-party risk management becomes essential for securing smart factory systems, especially as AI and IoT technologies become more integrated into production processes.

Human-Centric Security

Despite the growing sophistication of cybersecurity technologies, human error remains one of the biggest vulnerabilities in any security system. As cyber threats become more advanced, organisations will focus more on human-centric security, emphasising employee training and awareness to mitigate risks such as phishing and weak password practices.

The shortage of skilled cybersecurity professionals in South Africa and other parts of Africa further exacerbates the challenge of securing organisations against human error. To address this, companies must invest in continuous employee training, providing resources to help workers identify and avoid common social engineering tactics. By fostering a culture of security, where every employee plays a role in protecting the organisation’s assets, businesses can significantly reduce their exposure to cybersecurity risks.

In the public sector, human-centric security will be critical to ensuring that government employees and contractors are well-trained to recognise and prevent phishing attacks, especially as AI-driven systems become more prevalent in public service delivery. Similarly, the healthcare sector will need to focus on training staff to securely handle patient data and protect against social engineering attacks, ensuring the privacy of health records remains intact.

Challenges in implementing cybersecurity measures

Limited resources: Many organisations across Africa face financial constraints, making it difficult for them to invest in advanced cybersecurity tools and hire qualified professionals. Smaller businesses, in particular, struggle to implement comprehensive security measures due to budget limitations.
Evolving threat landscape: Cybercriminals are continuously adapting their tactics, necessitating ongoing investment in updated security technologies and employee training. This rapid evolution of threats presents a significant challenge for businesses looking to stay one step ahead.
Regulatory compliance: As regulatory frameworks like the Protection of Personal Information Act (POPIA) in South Africa become more stringent, organisations must ensure compliance with evolving data protection laws. Navigating these complex requirements can be both resource-intensive and costly.
Skills gap: The shortage of qualified cybersecurity professionals remains one of the most significant barriers to effective cybersecurity implementation. Without enough skilled experts, organisations are vulnerable to cyberattacks.

Cybersecurity is an urgent concern for organisations across Africa as they face a rapidly evolving threat landscape. From the rise of ransomware and digital extortion to the adoption of AI-driven security tools and Zero Trust models, businesses must remain proactive in securing their digital infrastructure. The integration of quantum-resistant cryptography and a focus on third-party risk management will also play a critical role in safeguarding data.

Despite the challenges—such as limited resources, a skills gap, and regulatory complexity—organisations can enhance their cybersecurity posture by leveraging advanced technologies, fostering a security-focused culture, and collaborating with trusted cybersecurity partners. By staying ahead of these emerging trends, businesses across Africa and South Africa can ensure they are not only secure but also resilient in the face of evolving cyber threats.

By Garith Peck, Managing Executive: Cloud & Cybersecurity at BCX

Source: itnewsafrica.com

GSA sets up taskforce to combat social media incitement in Bawku

The Cyber Security Authority of Ghana has launched a Special Cybersecurity Taskforce to address and take decisive action against individuals using social media to incite conflict in the Bawku area.

The task force is mandated to receive reports, investigate incidents, and prosecute those employing digital platforms to promote violence in the region.

In a statement issued on January 22, the Cyber Security Authority urged citizens to report any content related to incitement, including audio recordings, photos, Facebook accounts, or other evidence. Reports can be submitted via WhatsApp to 050 160 3111 for immediate investigation and action.

To enhance its operations, the task force will collaborate with foreign Ambassadors and High Commissioners to identify social media instigators residing outside Ghana.

Efforts will be made to report such individuals and pursue their extradition, in line with Ghana’s adherence to international law and anti-terrorism conventions, particularly concerning genocide and violence incitement.

President John Dramani Mahama has directed the Cyber Security Authority to work closely with National Security to intensify efforts to curb the misuse of social media in provoking armed conflict and violence in Bawku (Upper East Region) and Walewale (North East Region).

This directive underscores the government’s commitment to maintaining peace and ensuring security in the affected areas.

Source: Patricia Boakye ( CitiNewsroom)

Digital and wealth gaps have no place in the Intelligent Age. Here’s how everyone can benefit from AI

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This article is part of:World Economic Forum Annual Meeting

Artificial intelligence (AI) is set to transform the economy, as well as the lives of people around the world, ushering in the Intelligent Age.
It’s important to pay attention to the disruption that AI could cause, particularly to those already left out of the digital economy.
To fully harness AI, everyone needs access to the technology, as well as the tools, education and infrastructure that underpin it.

The rise of artificial intelligence (AI) and generative AI (GenAI) has been stunning in its speed and impact. AI could add $2.6 trillion to $4.4 trillion to the global economy annually, according to McKinsey. And while we often hear about the promise of AI, we also need to pay attention to the careers, lives and communities it will disrupt – including those who have already been left out of our global digital economy.

In the US, for example, Black Americans are 10% more likely to be working in jobs slated for AI automation. AI is anticipated to disrupt 4.5 million jobs for Black people and affect jobs in sectors that employ many women such as administration, retail and customer service. This would impose billions of dollars of economic harm on both groups.

Further, biases in the data used to train AI models can proliferate existing prejudices, including by reinforcing discriminatory housing, lending, hiring and pay practices. Economic gaps between nations are also projected to widen as a result of AI because wealthier countries are better equipped to more immediately adopt and benefit from it.

Our urgent task, therefore, is to prevent new social and economic gaps from appearing in the Intelligent Age. This can be achieved by empowering all people to participate and lead in AI. That includes building infrastructure that supports AI enablement for everyone, including education on AI tools and access to the internet and computing power.

Closing the digital divide

At a minimum, we must eliminate the existing digital divide. Despite the rapid proliferation of the internet across the globe, over 2.5 billion people still lack access to it. Nearly a third of the world’s population cannot take advantage of online services that are essential in today’s digital world such as finance and banking, education and healthcare.

Divides exist within developed countries, too. In the US, nearly 24 million people still lack access to high-speed internet. This prevents millions of Americans from accessing the services only broadband can provide and from fully participating in the economy.

Closing these gaps will give the next generation of leaders the resources, education and technical access needed to master evolving technologies. We must also double our efforts to provide education around these tools. A combination of critical thinking and technical skills is essential for interacting effectively with GenAI.

One model for closing the digital broadband divide in Black communities in the US, for example, is the work being done by Student Freedom Initiative (SFI) at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) – 82% of which reside in broadband deserts.

In partnership with Stats Perform, an AI solutions provider for the sports industry and a portfolio company of Vista Equity Partners, SFI launched an “AI in Basketball” course at Morehouse College in 2023. This has since expanded to other HBCUs. These courses provide hands-on instruction in AI-use cases, preparing diverse students to be leaders in this field.

Another notable example is the work being done at internXL, which offers opportunities such as free training and certifications in AI, data science and machine learning, including access to over 500 AI courses. It also connects highly-qualified HBCU students with AI experts and employers for internships, enabling them to gain practical experience in the field. This work is bridging access gaps and ensuring that underrepresented talent thrives in the rapidly growing and in-demand field of AI.

It is critical that we do even more to close these access gaps in the US and across the globe, so that everyone can take advantage of AI’s benefits. But we must also ensure widespread access to compute, or processing power, to run these new tools and their applications.

Using the example of smartphones, compute was made possible thanks to telecommunication companies updating their infrastructure to handle 4G, 5G and LTE. But many communities did not receive these investments, and now lack equitable access to these resources.

To fully harness AI, communities need to have access to the tools and infrastructure that underpin the technology: computing power, requisite energy sources, and large language models and other machine learning and reasoning tools. This would also enable more diverse inputs to be included in the data on which GenAI systems are trained, enriching the models.

Equitable development of GenAI

The racial wealth gap will cost the US economy $1-1.5 trillion between 2019 and 2028, and it is estimated that gender discrimination costs the global economy up to $12 trillion.

Instead of becoming a new economic wedge, AI could become a prolific source of generational wealth. So long as we take appropriate steps to prevent these tools from mimicking and reinforcing racial and gender biases, the innovation and economic growth AI would spur has the potential to generate prosperity for all.

With AI’s current trajectory, there will be three distinct waves of opportunity through which value will be captured. We are already seeing the first wave of value creation benefiting hardware vendors. The second wave will go to super scalers like Microsoft, Google, Oracle and other large companies that have the ability to broadly offer connectivity to compute. The third wave will benefit enterprise software vendors who provide AI and GenAI solution sets on top of their existing products.

These are the three distinct verticals on which we must focus efforts to enable equitable development and deployment of GenAI.

The good news is, unlike the digital revolution, we have the luxury of foresight. As AI evolves and established companies and new start-ups scale products, develop features and capture value at each stage, we must commit ourselves to ensuring everyone in every nation has access to the internet, AI education and tools, and processing power.

As we stand at this crossroads, we must think expansively and act decisively to ensure we unlock GenAI’s full potential.

(Source: www.weforum.org)

E-Levy removal will enhance our business operations – MoMAG

The Mobile Money Advocacy Group Ghana (MoMAG) has expressed optimism that the removal of the e-levy will significantly enhance their business operations.

Finance Minister-Designate Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson, during his recent vetting, announced plans to abolish the E-levy in the government’s first budget.

Speaking to Citi Business News at the induction ceremony for the association’s new executives, MoMAG President, Edward Ofori Agyemang said that scrapping the e-levy would encourage deposits from customers, which had previously declined due to the levy.

“Now that the government has said it is going to abolish it[e-levy], it is a happy moment for us and it is going to enhance our business. When there wasn’t E-levy, people used to come to the agents to deposit money and they will send it through their wallet . But when they introduced E-levy, when people come they say, we the agents should send the money straight because they want to avoid E-levy

“We are fighting that the government should take off the E-levy and we thank God the government is going to take off E-levy and it will help us. We also encourage more consumers to deposit money on their wallet, ”he added.

The E-levy, which was introduced as a tax on electronic financial transactions, sparked widespread criticism from citizens and businesses alike.

It was seen as a deterrent to the adoption of digital payment systems, especially among the unbanked population who relied heavily on mobile money services.

Industry stakeholders believe that eliminating the levy will not only boost mobile money usage but also contribute to broader economic activities, as more people will be inclined to use digital platforms for transactions.

The Bank of Ghana has meanwhile charged stakeholders in the mobile money sector to prioritise safeguarding the industry and ensuring its sustained growth.

Director of Fintech and Innovation at the Central Bank, Kwame Oppong, stressed that mobile money services are critical to advancing financial inclusion and expanding access to financial services for underserved populations.

“The lessons that I learnt from her [Mrs Eli Ohene Adu] all the way back to even those who even dreamt of this happening in Ghana and those who have walked this journey is that we collaborate and make sure we can carefully build a regulatory framework that ensures that as a Central Bank, no matter what we do a regulator is a regulator. We have to protect individuals and the sector first then we also have to figure out within that equation how we help you grow,” he said.

Kwame Oppong further disclosed that Ghana has been ranked as the best in the world for Mobile Money regulation, according to the 2024 GSMA Mobile Money Regulatory Index (MMRI).

Source: Citinewsroom

Meta retains fact-checkers abroad after US policy shift

Meta Platforms will maintain its use of third-party fact-checkers across Instagram, Facebook and Threads outside the US despite scrapping the programme domestically earlier this month.

During the World Economic Forum in Davos, Meta Platforms’ head of global business Nicola Mendelsohn told Bloomberg Television that international fact-checking arrangements would remain in place while the company assesses the impact of the US rollback.

“We’ll see how that goes as we move it out over the years. So, nothing is changing in the rest of the world at the moment, we are still working with those fact checkers around the world.” she explained.

The tech giant recently replaced its US fact-checking system with a community-driven notes feature across its social media platforms, with CEO Mark Zuckerberg justifying the decision by criticising fact-checkers as “politically biased”. The Meta Platforms owner also cited the recent US elections as a “cultural tipping point” towards freedom of speech.

However, stricter international laws make such changes abroad more challenging; under the European Union’s Digital Services Act, major platforms face heavy penalties if they fail to effectively combat political disinformation.

Source: Mobile World Live

Telcos Unite to Challenge Starlink in Rural African Markets

(By Chinomso Sunday)

As Elon Musk’s Starlink quickly grows in popularity and expands across Africa, major telecommunications companies are joining forces to reduce the high costs associated with setting up and maintaining mobile base stations in the continent’s rural areas.

These mobile network operators are now forming joint ventures that will allow them to share expenses for the deployment and management of cell towers in these regions. This collaboration signals the next phase of competition between traditional telcos and internet service providers.

Recently, Vodacom and Orange announced they are collaborating to create a “rural tower partnership” in Africa – that will see them jointly build, own, and operate solar-powered mobile base stations in underserved areas, starting with DR Congo.

“The initiative will extend network coverage and enable access to telecommunications and mobile financial services to up to 19 million people in less densely populated rural communities, reinforcing their commitment to bridging the digital divide and driving inclusive growth,” the telcos said in a joint statement.

Entry of internet providers like Starlink have upended competition landscape for telcos – on higher internet speeds, prices and coverage base because of their reliance on satellite – a competitive advantage over traditional telecom operators – allowing them to extend network coverage to remote areas without the need for a base station.

Cost of putting up base stations and sustainability powering and running them in rural areas has been particularly a major headache for the operators.

GSMA’s recent report titled “Rural Renewal: Telcos and Sustainable Energy in Africa” lists low population density, rising energy costs, expenses related to backhaul infrastructure, and the necessity for strong towers as key factors that strain the operators financially, hindering many from expanding coverage in rural areas.

“A base station in a remote rural area costs, on average, 35–40% more to run than one in a city, and this can be even higher in some countries,” according to the GSMA report.

According to the report, Africa has around 300,000 mobile sites. of these, 68% of base stations are on-grid, 7% are powered by mini-grids, 9% are on bad grids and 16% are off-grid. This means 32% of mobile base stations – approximately 96,000 – are either off-grid or on bad grids.

Across Africa, 40% of the mobile base stations are in rural or remote areas.

In rural Africa, mobile network services are either too expensive or unreliable- two key aspects that are making Starlink become a choice for internet service provision.

To navigate the rural network challenges, Vodacom and Orange have pledged to jointly construct up to 2,000 new solar-powered base stations in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), one of Africa’s largest countries, over the next six years, using 2G and 4G technologies.

The two rival companies have initially committed to putting up 1,000 sites, after which Orange and Vodacom may scale the project by a further 1,000 towers.

“The completion of this joint venture remains subject to the approval of administrative, regulatory, and competition authorities,” according to the joint statement.

Their first joint base station is expected to start operating in 2025, where the two telcos will be sharing active and passive equipment owned by the joint venture as anchor tenants for an initial term of 20 years.

As part of the agreement, the joint venture will open up the passive cell towers for other mobile network operators to ramp on.

“Collaborating with Vodacom by sharing both passive and active infrastructure is the most effective approach to fulfilling our commitment to accelerating connectivity access for everyone, including rural areas, while minimizing our environmental footprint,” said Orange Middle East and Africa Chief Executive Officer, Jérôme Hénique.

Orange operates in 18 countries across Africa and the Middle East and had 160 million customers by the end of September 2024 while Vodacom’s operations in South Africa, the DRC, Egypt, Ethiopia, Kenya, Lesotho, Mozambique, and Tanzania have attracted a customer base of 210 million.

Starlink, which also relies on satellites to bridge the continent’s connectivity gap, has grown significantly in popularity in Africa since its launch in 2019. By 2024, it was forced to pause new subscriptions across five out of the 16 countries where it operates, due to network overload, especially in major cities and urban centres.

As of November 2024, Starlink had sold out its service in major cities across Nigeria, Kenya, Madagascar, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.

Starlink is also advancing its entry into the Direct-to-Cell network and plans to launch a constellation of hundreds of satellites to enhance this initiative.

The satellite internet provider targeting to connect users through standard LTE/4G protocols on their existing phones, without requiring new devices, upgrades, or special apps, has confirmed significant investments in this project for 2025.

“We look forward to expanding our testing to include greater coverage; launching hundreds of satellites to enable our text constellation; working toward our voice, data, and IoT constellation in 2025; and expanding our global footprint,” said Starlink in a statement on its website.

Mobile network operators Vodacom and MTN Group are also in the race to make a foray into the Direct to Cell network to enhance their terrestrial mobile networks – for rollout to remote areas.

(Source: newscentral.africa)

Internet NCA Satellite Starlink

Nigeria’s Telecoms Regulator Approves 50% Tariff Increase

Nigeria’s telecommunications regulator, the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), has approved a 50% increase in tariff rates for telecom services. This decision follows a request from operators, who had initially proposed a 100% hike to address mounting operational costs.

The NCC stated that the tariff adjustment, the first since 2013, aims to bridge the gap between increasing operational expenses and revenue while maintaining service quality. The regulator noted that the approval was made with consideration for ongoing industry reforms to ensure long-term sustainability.

The decision comes as Nigeria faces economic challenges, including high inflation driven by currency devaluation and subsidy removal policies implemented by President Bola Tinubu in 2023. Although inflation began to stabilize mid-2024, subsequent petrol price hikes reignited cost pressures, further straining businesses.

The NCC emphasized that the tariff increase reflects the economic realities affecting the telecommunications sector, ensuring that operators can continue delivering reliable services without compromising quality.

Nigeria’s mobile market

Nigeria has the largest mobile market in Africa, with nearly 140 million mobile subscriptions recorded by the end of 2024, according to statistics from the market research firm Omdia. This figure reflects a decline over the past two years due to the deactivation of millions of unregistered SIM cards to comply with regulatory requirements.

In comparison, Egypt had 128.5 million mobile subscriptions in 2024, South Africa had approximately 114 million, Ethiopia had around 88 million, Ghana had about 39 million, and Kenya surpassed 69 million subscriptions by the end of last year. Omdia forecasts that Nigeria will exceed 292 million mobile subscriptions by 2029. The Nigerian mobile market is served by four major operators.

The largest operator is MTN, with an estimated 78.1 million mobile users at the end of 2024. Airtel follows with 52.1 million users, Glo Mobile has nearly 8.6 million, and 9Mobile accounts for just 1.1 million users, according to Omdia’s market intelligence.

NCC nIGERIA Tariff

Samuel Nartey George nominated as Minister of Communication, Digital Technology, and Innovations

In his third round of ministerial appointments, President john Dramani Mahama has nominated Samuel Nartey George (MP) to head the Ministry of Communication, Digital Technology and Innovations.

This is contained in a statement issued and signed by the Spokesperson of the President Felix Ofosu Kwakye on Tuesday (21 January).

The nomination of the former Deputy Ranking Member of Parliament’s Communications Committee, follows weeks of speculation about who will become the sector minister for the critical telecommunications sector.

The Road Ahead

When confirmed as Minister of Communication, Digital Technology, and Innovations, Sam George is expected to lead initiatives that will drive Ghana’s digital transformation. Key priorities will likely include:

Building a conducive and supportive policy and regulatory environment.

Championing the review of the tax regime especially as it pertains to smartphones, industry-specific taxes, VAT and levies on imported services among others.
Championing the protection of industry infrastructure.
Implementation of measures to reduce the cost of doing business and ease of doing business in the telecommunications industry.
Tackling the indebtedness of government to industry players.
Etc.

Ghana Chamber of Telecommunications congratulates Samuel Nartey George

The leadership of the Ghana Chamber of Telecommunications, having worked with the former Deputy Ranking Member, has congratulated him and expressed hope of a collaborative and harmonious working relationship that will lead to the growth of the entire industry for the benefit of mother Ghana.

Sam George Telecoms Chamber

Beyond the Hype: How AI Will Shape Telecom Infrastructure in 2025

While many focus on AI’s role in customer service chatbots or network monitoring capabilities, the underlying changes run deeper: AI will help alter how telecom services are structured, delivered and optimized. Here are our predictions for 2025.

#1: AI Will Enhance Network Intelligence

Traditional telecom networks generate massive amounts of data, but this information remains trapped in silos, limiting its utility. In 2025, a significant shift will start to occur as Large Language Models (LLMs) begin integrating across the entire telecom stack, changing how networks operate and adapt

LLM-powered systems will enhance network management through conversational interfaces, allowing administrators to interact naturally with their data. By recognizing patterns across previously disconnected data points, these systems will enable proactive maintenance and help predict network failures, reducing service interruptions. The technology will also optimize network resources automatically, using real-time usage patterns and predicted demand to improve capacity allocation and cost management.

These systems will convert raw telecom data into actionable business intelligence. Network operators will gain new insights into customer lifetime value and identify service opportunities that were previously hidden and uncorrelated in siloed data environments.

However, this advancement comes with important caveats. Network operators must carefully validate AI-generated insights, as LLMs can hallucinate with a high degree of inaccuracy. The challenge of 2025 will be striking the right balance between AI automation and human oversight in critical network operations.

#2: AI Will Enable Autonomous Network Operations

Self-healing networks will emerge in 2025 as AI takes on a larger role in network operations and performance management. Telecom providers are moving beyond basic automation toward autonomous networks that can predict, prevent and resolve issues with minimal human intervention.

The addition of AI systems, such as Agentic AI, that interact with a combination of other AI technologies including machine learning, natural language processing and automation technologies, allows decisions around network optimization and performance to be made autonomously without constant human guidance and attention. Agentic AI will make decisions and adapt to changes autonomously based on predictions and human behavior, learning and improving from these interactions as it goes to proactively solve complex network problems independently.

These types of systems mark an important shift in network management, analyzing network data to prevent potential issues or resolving issues faster and more efficiently. From identifying signaling storms to adjusting for bandwidth spikes from new device launches or fraudulent network usage, AI will optimize network performance while determining cost-effective operational strategies.

The industry acknowledges the risks in this transition. As telecom providers expand their AI capabilities, they must balance automation with transparent, unbiased decision-making that meets regulatory requirements.

#3: AI Will Reshape Telecom Economics

AI will enable new approaches to telecom pricing and delivery in 2025. Static pricing and service models are shifting toward dynamic, AI-driven systems that align with network capabilities and customer needs.

This change is evident in how telcos are adapting to bandwidth-intensive applications. Gaming illustrates the trend: as 5G networks mature, providers need pricing models suited to low-latency, high-throughput scenarios. The implications extend beyond gaming to XR (Extended Reality), enterprise services, private 5G networks, cross border plans, IoT and V2X (Vehicle to everything) deployments.

AI will guide this economic evolution by helping carriers implement responsive pricing strategies. These systems will adjust pricing based on capacity demands, service quality metrics and usage patterns, identifying revenue opportunities while optimizing network resources.

The transition moves telecoms from fixed service tiers toward flexible, value-based models. AI systems will analyze market conditions, customer behavior and network performance to spot and act on new revenue opportunities.

#4: AI Will Advance Customer Experience

AI’s role in telecommunications customer service will expand in 2025, moving beyond today’s basic chatbots. AI assistants will act as problem-solvers, analyzing usage patterns and suggesting plan adjustments based on individual needs.

These systems will graduate to addressing complex issues, including billing discrepancies, device troubleshooting and service disruptions more efficiently than current solutions. By connecting with autonomous network operations, these assistants can identify and resolve problems in a contextual, conversational, human-like interface and in most cases resolve them before customers notice them.

Mobile Virtual Network Operators (MVNOs) will introduce AI co-pilots that change how customers interact with their providers. These assistants, available through mobile devices, will offer immediate support without requiring traditional customer service channels. They’ll function as service advisors, using network data and economic insights to customize service recommendations.

Looking ahead

While these changes won’t fully mature by 2025, the year will mark AI’s shift from experimental to established technology in telecom infrastructure, alongside a paradigm shift from AI assisting Humans to Humans assisting AI. Success will come to organizations that grasp AI’s broader potential: moving beyond automation to reshape how telecom services are delivered.

This evolution brings challenges, from privacy concerns to data governance and AI validation requirements. Yet the benefits—improved network efficiency and personalized services—make adoption necessary.

As we approach 2025, the question becomes not whether AI will alter telecom infrastructure but how organizations will adapt to and use these capabilities to drive better business performance.

Source: www.thefastmode.com

Author: Adil Belihomji

Adil Belihomji is the chief technology officer at OXIO, where he leads the technology vision and strategy for the company’s global telecom-as-a-service (TaaS) platform. He plays a pivotal role in driving product innovation while overseeing the development and implementation of technology solutions.

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