How Mobile is Accelerating Africa’s Digital Transformation: Insights from Africa MBBF Summit 2025

Digital Transformation in Africa: More Than Just a Buzzword

Let’s be honest - you’ve probably heard the term ‘digital transformation’ thrown around so much that it feels a bit worn out. But in Africa, it’s far from just another buzzword; it’s a vital force helping to tackle some of the continent’s most pressing social and economic challenges and giving local businesses the tools they need to participate in the global digital economy.

Across Africa, there’s not only widespread agreement on the importance of digital transformation, but also a real sense of urgency. The digital divide with the rest of the world is getting wider, fuelled by the rapid advances in 5G, AI, and other cutting-edge tech. There’s a clear need to speed things up - and fast.

This sense of urgency was front and centre at the 2025 Huawei Africa Mobile Broadband Summit (MBBF) in Cape Town. Bringing together everyone from policymakers to mobile network experts and civil society, the event focused on the theme ‘Accelerating Digital Transformation in Africa’. After eight thought-provoking presentations, it was obvious: there’s a shared vision for what a digitally empowered Africa could look like and a clear idea of the tech and policies needed to make it happen.

Mobile Technology: The Beating Heart of Africa’s Digital Revolution

If you want to understand digital progress in Africa, look no further than mobile technology. Across Africa, mobile isn’t just the main way people get online—it’s often the only way. That makes mobile tech the backbone of digital transformation across the continent, especially in sectors like financial services, where mobile money has already transformed the way over a trillion dollars move around each year. But it doesn’t stop there. E-commerce, agriculture, healthcare, education, and transport are all getting a digital boost from mobile innovation.

As more countries make the leap to 4G and 5G, the possibilities are huge, with new possibilities for both individuals and businesses. So far, 19 out of 23 countries in Huawei’s Southern Africa region have launched commercial 5G, with three more on the horizon. In 10 of those countries, 5G adoption is expected to surpass 20% by 2030. Mobile operators are also working hard to move people away from 2G and 3G networks, keeping Africa in step with global trends and ensuring everyone can experience the best digital services around.

Unlocking Mobile’s Full Potential: What Needs to Happen?

Of course, there’s still work to do. To make sure everyone benefits from mobile-driven transformation, access must be genuinely inclusive. At the Africa MBBF Summit, experts from across the ecosystem flagged five big issues that need attention. Here’s what stood out:

1. Rural Coverage: About 9% of Africans are still living in places without any mobile broadband signal, meaning they’re left out of the digital revolution. Bridging this gap is vital. Solutions like Huawei’s new RuralCow, designed to bring affordable 4G to villages of 1,000 to 3,000 people, were showcased as promising ways to bridge this gap. It’s already being trialled in countries like Nigeria, where its impact on efforts to address the perennial rural deployment challenge will be closely monitored.

2. Spectrum: Spectrum is the lifeblood of mobile networks. Without enough, or without it in the right bands, rolling out new networks becomes complex and costly. This not only slows the pace of digital transformation but also affects ordinary people who might be priced out of even basic connectivity. Policymakers need to step up, especially when it comes to low- and mid-band spectrum for 4G and 5G and the implementation of tech neutrality to allow operators to refarm spectrum for the advanced networks that will secure Africa’s digital future.

3. Devices: It’s no good having great connectivity if people can’t afford the devices to use it. A GSMA Intelligence study found that device affordability is one of the main reasons some people don’t use mobile internet, even when coverage is available. At the end of 2024, 64% of Africans - over 960 million people - were in this ‘usage gap’. Solutions are needed on both the tech and policy fronts. Cloud phones and affordable sub-$50 smartphones are gaining interest, and tax breaks like South Africa’s removal of luxury tax on cheaper smartphones have made a real difference. The GSMA has called for the removal of taxes on sub-$100 entry level devices.

 Fixed Wireless Access (FWA): 5G FWA is emerging as a strong option for plugging the gap in last-mile broadband, especially where fibre is missing. At the Africa MBBF event, Safaricom Kenya and Airtel Tanzania highlighted the importance of FWA for their overall 5G strategy, including connecting SMEs and using fixed-mobile convergence (FMC) offerings to drive both 5G adoption and usage growth. In Huawei’s region, 19 operators offer 5G FWA alongside mobile 5G, helping to meet the surging demand for reliable connectivity.

4. Sustainability: Power shortages are a real challenge for connectivity in Africa, especially in rural areas. That’s why solutions that improve energy efficiency and use renewables, like solar-powered network sites, are gaining traction and were discussed extensively at the Africa MBBF. For example, Huawei discussed its Single SitePower solution, which enables the network to provide services even during a power failure, making connections more stable and reliable.

Looking Ahead: From Talk to Action

Sure, Africa’s digital journey still has a long way to go. But the 2025 Africa MBBF Summit wasn’t just about sharing ideas - it offered practical steps for governments, mobile operators, and the broader industry. Now, with the presentations and networking in the rear-view mirror, it’s time for action. The opportunity to transform Africa through mobile connectivity is right here, waiting to be seized.