Representatives from Africa’s mobile industry are calling on governments across the continent to swiftly eliminate taxes on entry-level smartphones priced below $100, in an effort to promote greater digital inclusion.
The appeal was made during the ongoing Mobile World Congress Kigali in Rwanda, where industry leaders emphasised that reducing costs is essential for expanding mobile internet access to millions of unconnected Africans.
The GSMA, in partnership with six leading African operators — Airtel, Axian Telecom, Ethio Telecom, MTN, Orange, and Vodacom — has proposed a set of baseline specifications for affordable 4G smartphones. These specifications aim to ensure devices are capable of providing a reliable, long-lasting mobile internet experience at a substantially lower price point, including minimum requirements for memory, RAM, camera quality, display size, and battery life.
The industry body highlighted that affordability remains the biggest barrier to mobile internet adoption in sub-Saharan Africa. According to the 2025 State of Mobile Internet Connectivity Report, over 3 billion people worldwide live within mobile broadband coverage but do not use the internet, primarily because devices are too expensive. GSMA Intelligence estimates that a $40 smartphone could connect an additional 20 million people in the region, while a $30 device might bring online up to 50 million more.
“Access to a smartphone is not a luxury – it is a lifeline to essential services, income opportunities, and participation in the digital economy. 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. This is an important step towards bridging the digital divide and ensuring that millions more people can reap the benefits of mobile connectivity,” said Vivek Badrinath, GSMA Director General.
Looking ahead, the GSMA plans to engage with original equipment manufacturers and technology companies to refine and promote the proposed minimum specifications for affordable 4G devices. The industry is also urging African governments to act quickly in removing taxes — such as VAT and import duties — that can inflate device prices by over 30%, thereby hindering efforts to increase digital access. The industry pointed to South Africa’s recent tax reforms on entry-level smartphones as a positive example and called for similar policies across other nations to accelerate digital transformation and economic inclusion.
