African 5G Device Market Projected Toward Growth
The market for 5G-capable devices in Africa is expected to see steady annual growth reaching 910 million units by 2031.
Updated on Oct. 1, 2026 in Consumer Electronics
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Mordor Intelligence projected that the African 5G device market will record an average annual shipment growth of 12.72% through 2031. This expansion follows a period where shipments are expected to grow from 500 million units in 2026 to 910 million units.
Why it matters
High device prices relative to consumer income levels currently limit 5G adoption, while uneven spectrum allocation across the continent slows the development of a coherent ecosystem. Financing programs and local assembly are emerging as critical strategies to reduce costs and improve accessibility for consumers.
The 5G device market is expected to grow to 910 million units by 2031 from 500 million units in 2026. Meanwhile, sales of smartphones priced below $100 fell 34% year over year in the second quarter of 2026.
The players
Mordor Intelligence
This is a market research and consulting firm that provides data and insights on various industries and regional trends.
MTN Mobile Money
This financial services division of the multinational mobile telecommunications company MTN Group offers mobile payment and credit solutions.
Vodacom
This major African mobile communications company provides voice, messaging, data, and converged services to millions of customers.
The details
Financing programs like lease-to-own models and local device assembly initiatives are being used to lower upfront costs and bypass import duties. Despite these efforts, African smartphone shipments saw an overall decline of 7% year over year in the second quarter of 2026.
Timeline
In July 2025, MTN Mobile Money launched a device program in South Africa.
By May 2025, Vodacom Easy2Own connected 18.8 million smartphones.
In the second quarter of 2026, low-end smartphone sales fell 34%.
By mid-2026, 35 African countries had allocated spectrum for 5G.
The target date for reaching 910 million 5G device shipments is 2031.
The Tech Race
The push for 5G adoption mirrors the broader evolution of mobile connectivity, where infrastructure rollout must be matched by affordable hardware accessibility. This shift positions the continent to move beyond legacy systems as 40 commercial networks now offer Fixed Wireless Access.
Consumers are increasingly relying on lease-to-own programs to bridge the gap between high device costs and income levels. These financing options allow more users to access high-speed data services that would otherwise be financially out of reach.
The takeaway
The transition to 5G in Africa is heavily dependent on the success of local assembly and flexible financing models to offset hardware costs. Readers should monitor regional regulatory developments, as these policies directly determine the availability and affordability of newer mobile technologies.
Further reading
For more information on the evolving hardware landscape, visit Consumer Electronics.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Ecofin Agency.
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