5G FWA in Africa: emerging trends and opportunities
Please sign in or register for a free public account to access this report.
African countries have recorded notable increases in mobile internet connectivity over the past five years, fuelled by investments in 3G, 4G and 5G networks, as well as growing smartphone adoption. However, this mobile broadband connectivity falls short for households and businesses with numerous internet-connected devices. 5G fixed wireless access (FWA) has gained traction as a viable alternative to traditional wired solutions. Some 106 operators in more than 52 markets worldwide had launched commercial 5G FWA services as of June 2023.
In Africa, the 5G FWA opportunity is substantial, considering the addressable market for household broadband and the importance of the MSME sector to the region's GDP. Despite issues with device costs and technical hurdles, 5G FWA holds significant potential if the remaining challenges can be addressed collaboratively by stakeholders.
Related research
Industry Checkpoint: fixed broadband and FWA, Q3 2025
This edition of the Industry Checkpoint series focuses on fixed broadband and FWA, highlighting how the market has changed in the last six months and its implications. The report considers four major developments: increased corporate development activity, such as M&A and strategic investments; more widespread launches of Wi-Fi 7–certified CPE; growing interest in satellite home broadband services; and the increasing availability of AI-powered fibre network deployment solutions from vendors.
Connectivity trends in robotics: 5G and cellular IoT are only just emerging
From a telecoms perspective, robotics was recognised early on as a key future use case during the planning and rollout of 5G around seven years ago. With 5G-Advanced now commercially deployed in early-adopter countries, it is timely to evaluate 5G’s real-world impact on robotics. We also explore how complementary technologies such as edge computing, IoT and eSIM are shaping the connectivity landscape.
The 5G-Advanced era revs up: Asia Pacific and MENA show the highest interest in commercialisation
GSMA Intelligence's Chart of the Month is a visual way of telling an important story in the mobile and broader tech ecosystem. From the shape and size of markets to trends in consumer behaviour, we aim to provide food for thought through informative visuals designed to bring colour and clarity to complex issues facing the industry. This edition looks at announced launches and plans for 5G-Advanced networks.
Authors
How to access this report
Annual subscription: Subscribe to our research modules for comprehensive access to more than 200 reports per year.
Enquire about subscriptionContact our research team
Get in touch with us to find out more about our research topics and analysis.
Contact our research teamMedia
To cite our research, please see our citation policy in our Terms of Use, or contact our Media team for more information.
Learn moreRelated research
Industry Checkpoint: fixed broadband and FWA, Q3 2025
This edition of the Industry Checkpoint series focuses on fixed broadband and FWA, highlighting how the market has changed in the last six months and its implications. The report considers four major developments: increased corporate development activity, such as M&A and strategic investments; more widespread launches of Wi-Fi 7–certified CPE; growing interest in satellite home broadband services; and the increasing availability of AI-powered fibre network deployment solutions from vendors.
Connectivity trends in robotics: 5G and cellular IoT are only just emerging
From a telecoms perspective, robotics was recognised early on as a key future use case during the planning and rollout of 5G around seven years ago. With 5G-Advanced now commercially deployed in early-adopter countries, it is timely to evaluate 5G’s real-world impact on robotics. We also explore how complementary technologies such as edge computing, IoT and eSIM are shaping the connectivity landscape.
The 5G-Advanced era revs up: Asia Pacific and MENA show the highest interest in commercialisation
GSMA Intelligence's Chart of the Month is a visual way of telling an important story in the mobile and broader tech ecosystem. From the shape and size of markets to trends in consumer behaviour, we aim to provide food for thought through informative visuals designed to bring colour and clarity to complex issues facing the industry. This edition looks at announced launches and plans for 5G-Advanced networks.
- 200 reports a year
- 50 million data points
- Over 350 metrics