Telecoms Add $220bn to Africa’s GDP – Report
The telecommunications sector contributed $220bn to Africa’s economy in 2024, equivalent to 7.7% of GDP, according to the GSMA Mobile Economy Africa 2025 report.
Speaking at a telecoms policy event in Kinshasa attended by President Félix Tshisekedi, Airtel Africa’s Chief Regulatory Officer Daddy Mukadi urged governments to treat telecoms as a core economic pillar, not just a support sector.
“The telecoms sector can no longer be considered merely as a support sector. It is now a core sector,” he said.
Mukadi, who also chairs the GSMA Africa Policy Group, argued that every sector, from security to finance, transport, and health, depends on digital technology for growth.
Despite mobile networks covering 95% of Africa’s population, nearly 75% of people remain offline, with device affordability identified as the biggest barrier to digital inclusion.
Mukadi proposed a two-to-three-year exemption on import duties and taxes for entry-level smartphones priced between $40 and $150, to make devices more affordable and bridge the usage gap.
He also called for a three-year removal of import duties on telecom equipment, to support network expansion and improve coverage across underserved regions.
The GSMA projects that the telecom sector’s contribution will rise to $270bn by 2030, but only if governments adopt policies that encourage investment, reduce costs, and expand access.
Mukadi concluded that treating telecoms as a foundational pillar of development would accelerate Africa’s digital transformation, create jobs, and strengthen economic resilience.