The GSMA has announced the launch of pilot projects for low-cost 4G smartphones in six African countries in 2026: Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ethiopia, Nigeria, Rwanda, Tanzania, and Uganda. The initiative was unveiled on March 3 during the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona.
The project is part of a $30–$40 handset initiative led by GSMA in partnership with six major African operators: Airtel, Axian Telecom, Ethio Telecom, MTN, Orange, and Vodacom.
GSMA has also signed a memorandum of understanding with multiple original equipment manufacturers to oversee production of devices meeting minimum technical specifications defined at the 2025 MWC Kigali. The goal is to scale distribution across the selected markets.
However, organizers face challenges due to rising global memory prices, a critical component in smartphone manufacturing, which complicates achieving the original $30 target. GSMA has urged governments to reduce or eliminate taxes and customs duties on entry-level smartphones to maintain affordability.
Despite growing 4G network coverage in sub-Saharan Africa, adoption lags behind because many mobile users still rely on 2G and 3G devices. Data from the World Bank show that an entry-level smartphone represents roughly 18% of an adult’s monthly income in low- and middle-income countries, rising to 73% for the poorest 40% of households in the region.
Operators see device affordability as key to converting voice and SMS users to data subscribers, enabling revenue growth and better returns on 4G infrastructure investments.
Beyond connectivity, the initiative aims to expand access to advanced digital services, including artificial intelligence applications in African languages such as Swahili. GSMA plans demonstrations at the 2026 Mobile World Congress in Barcelona.
At scale, affordable 4G smartphones could transition tens of millions of users to mobile internet services, boosting sectors like online education, digital financial services, connected health, and e-commerce across sub-Saharan Africa.
