Africa’s Digital Divide Is Now About Adoption, Says GSMA
GSMA Spokesperson: Caroline Mbugua, Senior Director, Public Policy & Communications, GSMA Africa
87% of Africans are covered by mobile broadband, yet just over a quarter actually use the internet. In your view, what explains the fact that so much has been invested in expanding coverage while the issue of meaningful internet usage has received far less attention?
Coverage is an essential foundation for connectivity, but it is only the first step towards meaningful connectivity. The focus on expanding coverage has been necessary because there are still communities that need access to mobile broadband networks. However, the nature of the challenge has also evolved. The digital divide is no longer primarily about coverage, but about adoption.
As such, the issue of meaningful internet usage needs attention. The focus for most of the stakeholders in the industry has shifted from infrastructure to usage. We recognise that closing the usage gap would unlock productivity, entrepreneurship and economic resilience at scale, making digital adoption one of the continent’s most significant economic growth opportunities.
GSMA research shows that smartphone affordability, digital skills and locally relevant content are significant barriers limiting meaningful internet usage across Africa, particularly in low-income markets. And we are not sitting idle, initiatives such as the GSMA Handset Affordability Coalition, launched with the World Bank, are key to addressing device affordability and unlocking access at scale.
So, the industry is addressing it from a holistic approach that addresses these barriers alongside continued investment in infrastructure. The objective is meaningful connectivity, ensuring that people are not only covered by a network, but have the ability and opportunity to use it to improve their lives and participate in the digital economy.
LEO constellations operate from low Earth orbit with very limited ground infrastructure. The report describes them as “offshore” telecom operators that partially escape traditional regulatory frameworks, including licensing, data localisation and taxation. Faced with operators that have little or no physical presence on the ground, what levers do African governments realistically have to regulate them?
The starting point should be establishing a clear and predictable regulatory framework for satellite providers offering telecom services directly to consumers. This includes appropriate requirements around local legal presence or representation, spectrum authorisation, national security, data protection and cybersecurity.
Governments can also use market access and spectrum rights as important regulatory tools. Where appropriate, local gateways and other ground infrastructure can further support regulatory oversight and ensure that services are integrated effectively into national communications ecosystems. At the same time, regulation needs to be proportionate and technology-neutral. Satellite connectivity can play an important role in extending coverage, particularly in hard-to-reach and underserved areas, and we should avoid regulatory frameworks that unintentionally discourage investment or innovation.
The objective should be to ensure that operators providing comparable connectivity services are subject to appropriate and transparent obligations, while creating an environment that encourages investment and helps advance meaningful connectivity across the continent.
Europe has chosen to strengthen its own satellite capabilities through IRIS² and Eutelsat. The report argues that, over the medium term, Africa will also need to develop its own satellite infrastructure. In your view, how can the continent achieve greater space sovereignty?
For Africa, greater space sovereignty should not be defined solely by whether the continent owns and operates its own satellite constellations. It should mean having the capabilities, infrastructure and policy frameworks needed to make strategic choices about how satellite technologies are deployed in support of Africa’s connectivity and development priorities.
This requires investment across the wider ecosystem – from ground stations, gateways and terrestrial backhaul to technical skills, research and innovation, spectrum management and cybersecurity. It also means ensuring that satellite and terrestrial networks develop as complementary parts of an integrated connectivity ecosystem. Satellite can play an important role in extending coverage to remote and underserved communities, strengthening network resilience and supporting services such as emergency communications, but it is not a substitute for continued investment in terrestrial mobile infrastructure.
Partnerships will remain essential. Collaboration with global satellite operators and technology providers can accelerate deployment and bring valuable expertise, particularly in the near term. Wherever possible, these partnerships should also build lasting African capacity through local investment, knowledge transfer, skills development and greater participation by African companies and research institutions.
Regional cooperation will be equally important. No single country needs to develop every capability independently. Greater coordination among governments, regulators, regional institutions and industry can create scale, support viable investment and encourage consistent approaches to licensing, spectrum and cross-border operations. Clear, predictable and technology-neutral regulation will be critical to encouraging innovation while protecting existing services and ensuring the efficient use of spectrum.
Ultimately, greater space sovereignty is about giving Africa greater agency: the skills, infrastructure, partnerships and regulatory capacity to shape how satellite technologies are used, strengthen the resilience of its communications networks and advance its own digital transformation.
The Telecoms Offshored report proposes a roadmap: treating satellite providers as fully-fledged telecom operators, requiring local gateways, harmonising licensing at the regional level, and making market access conditional on technology transfer. In your view, which of these actions should be the highest priority?
The first priority should be establishing regulatory parity through a clear, transparent and technology-neutral regulatory framework for satellite providers offering direct-to-user connectivity services. This is important because regulation needs to keep pace with technological change. Satellite and terrestrial networks are complementary, and consumers should be able to benefit from both. At the same time, governments need to have clarity around who is providing these services and what regulatory obligations must apply.
From there, regional harmonisation can play a very important role. Africa’s fragmented regulatory environment can increase complexity for operators and slow investment, so greater alignment between markets would help create scale and regulatory certainty. Local gateways and infrastructure can then be considered where they are proportionate and support national objectives.
Find more insights through our report.
