Major Mobile Alliance Aims to Slash Smartphone Costs Across Africa

Breaking Down Barriers to Digital Access

In a significant move to advance digital inclusion, the GSMA has partnered with six of Africa’s leading mobile operators to launch an industry-wide initiative targeting smartphone affordability. According to reports, Airtel, Axian Telecom, Ethio Telecom, MTN, Orange, and Vodacom have collectively proposed baseline requirements for affordable entry-level 4G smartphones that could transform connectivity across the continent.

Breaking Down Barriers to Digital Access
The Smartphone Affordability Crisis
Economic Impact of Digital Inclusion
Technical Specifications and Industry Collaboration
Industry Leadership Perspective
Call for Government Support

The Smartphone Affordability Crisis

Industry analysis indicates that smartphone cost remains the primary obstacle to mobile internet adoption in sub-Saharan Africa. The GSMA’s State of Mobile Internet Connectivity 2025 Report reportedly shows that more than three billion people globally who live within mobile broadband coverage areas cannot access the internet, with handset affordability cited as the top challenge.

GSMA Intelligence estimates suggest that a $40 smartphone could bring mobile internet within reach for an additional 20 million people in sub-Saharan Africa, while a $30 device could potentially enable up to 50 million people to get connected. Analysts emphasize that mobile internet connectivity serves as a gateway to essential services including education, healthcare, financial services, and e-commerce, with studies linking it to poverty reduction and improved wellbeing.

Economic Impact of Digital Inclusion

The initiative forms part of the broader GSMA Handset Affordability Coalition, which aims to accelerate digital inclusion across Africa by reducing smartphone ownership costs for millions of unconnected individuals. Research suggests that closing the usage gap in low- and middle-income countries between 2023 and 2030 could generate approximately $3.5 trillion in additional GDP.

Technical Specifications and Industry Collaboration

Over the coming months, sources indicate the GSMA will engage with original equipment manufacturers and technology companies to consult on proposed minimum requirements and build support for affordable 4G devices. The requirements reportedly establish baseline specifications for memory, RAM, camera quality, display size, battery performance, and other features designed to ensure a viable, long-lasting 4G smartphone experience at significantly reduced costs.

Industry Leadership Perspective

“Access to a smartphone is not a luxury – it is a lifeline to essential services, income opportunities and participation in the digital economy,” GSMA director general Vivek Badrinath stated in the announcement. “By uniting around a shared vision for affordable 4G devices, Africa’s leading operators and the GSMA are sending a powerful signal to manufacturers and policymakers.”

Call for Government Support

The mobile industry is also urging governments across Africa to remove taxes on entry-level smartphones priced below $100. Reports indicate that in some countries, VAT and import duties can increase device prices by more than 30%, directly raising costs for citizens. Industry leaders point to South Africa’s recent tax reforms on entry-level smartphones as a model that other African governments should replicate to build momentum for digital transformation.

This coalition represents one of the most significant coordinated efforts to address the digital divide in Africa, with potential to dramatically expand internet access to populations currently excluded from the digital economy.