The adoption of 5G technology in Africa is poised for significant growth over the next five years, according to a recent regional outlook report by technology research and advisory group Omdia. The report projects that 5G penetration on the continent will rise from 1.4% in 2024 to 25.6% by 2029
Omdia, a sister company of Connecting Africa, estimates that 5G subscriptions in Africa will grow from 20 million in 2024 to 427 million in 2029. This surge in adoption is expected to drive cellular data traffic, with 5G accounting for 38.2% of total cellular data traffic by 2029, compared to just 1.9% in 2024, noted Danson Njue, Omdia’s senior research analyst for the Middle East and Africa.
Despite the rapid growth in deployment, Omdia highlights significant barriers to 5G adoption, including the lack of spectrum and the high cost of 5G devices. “Governments should focus on spectrum allocation and increasing 5G device and service affordability to promote 5G development in Africa,” Njue advised.
Currently, fixed-wireless access (FWA) remains the primary application of 5G in Africa. Telecommunications companies are leveraging FWA to provide fiber-like wireless broadband speeds at lower costs, especially in regions with limited fiber infrastructure. “To enhance 5G monetization, telcos must explore additional use cases for 5G, focusing on private networks for enterprise services,” Njue added.
South Africa, Africa’s pioneer 5G market, has made significant strides in 5G development. Omdia predicts that the country’s 5G subscriptions will grow tenfold, reaching 51.9 million by 2029 and accounting for 36.2% of total subscriptions.
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In North Africa, Egypt is expected to launch 5G services in 2025. The government issued its first 5G license to Telecom Egypt in January 2024, followed by additional licenses for Vodafone Egypt, Orange Egypt, and e& Egypt in October 2024, paving the way for nationwide rollout.
Mobile Subscriptions on the Rise
Africa’s status as a mobile-first continent will continue to drive overall growth in mobile subscriptions. Omdia forecasts that mobile subscriptions will reach 1.78 billion by the end of 2029, marking a 23.6% increase from 2024. The data and digital services segments are expected to underpin this double-digit growth.
By 2029, 4G and 5G technologies combined will account for over 80% of total mobile subscriptions, highlighting the growing adoption of mobile broadband services across the continent. Mobile broadband subscriptions are projected to constitute up to 97% of all mobile subscriptions by the end of the decade.
