Delayed 5G Adoption in Tunisia: A Regional Challenge
If you think the official launch of 5G in Tunisia is delayed, you're partially right. A report by the GSMA predicts that 4G adoption will reach 50% by 2030 in sub-Saharan Africa, where 3G remains the primary technology. Meanwhile, 5G adoption is only just beginning, limited to 17% of total connections by 2030.
As of 2023, 4G accounted for 31% of all mobile connections in sub-Saharan Africa, while 3G accounted for approximately 54% of subscriptions. There is a significant usage gap in this region, representing millions of people living within network coverage but facing obstacles such as financial accessibility of devices, lack of digital skills, and online security concerns.
Globally, 3.1 billion people are affected by this usage gap, with sub-Saharan Africa being the least connected region. In addition to these connectivity issues, the region faces high operating costs, inflationary pressures, and energy price volatility.
The GSMA believes that mobile technology is essential for supporting development goals in key sectors such as healthcare, education, and finance, and that it stimulates economic growth by expanding access to the internet and digital services. Smartphone penetration in the region is expected to increase from 51% in 2023 to 81% by 2030. The number of unique mobile subscribers in sub-Saharan Africa will grow from 527 million in 2023 to 751 million by 2030.
The mobile industry in the region is expected to contribute $170 billion to the GDP by 2030, with $10 billion attributed to 5G. This makes it an absolute priority.
