Effective Spectrum Pricing in Africa
Download the Report
Complete the form below to get instant access to this report. For easier access in the future, you can register for a free account here.
Please sign in or register for a free public account to access this report.
How successful awards can help drive mobile connectivity
Spectrum licensing and pricing can play a crucial role in accelerating the adoption of mobile services and providing better networks and services for consumers. The amount of spectrum assigned by governments in Africa is approximately half the average amount assigned around the world. This gap in spectrum assignments has emerged and expanded over the last decade, making it difficult for operators to offer fast mobile broadband speeds. African countries also account for a large proportion of the highest spectrum prices globally.
The latest report from GSMA Intelligence explains how licensing more spectrum earlier and at affordable prices can pay dividends for consumers, presenting the arguments regulators and governments need to implement policies that help improve mobile capacity and expand connectivity. The research is unprecedented in scope and depth, tracking spectrum assignments across nearly 50 African countries for the period 2010-2019.
Related research
The impact of spectrum pricing in Bangladesh
At around 16%, Bangladesh’s spectrum-cost-to-revenue ratio exceeds the Asia Pacific median (10.4%) and is twice as high as the global median (7.7%). High spectrum cost has been shown to negatively impact consumer outcomes, such as network coverage and speeds. Reducing prices by 50% would align spectrum costs closer to the Asia Pacific median at about 12% by 2035, boosting 4G speeds by 17% and enabling 99% 5G coverage, yielding a cumulative $34 billion GDP boost. Aligning costs to the global median of 8% of operators’ revenue would increase 4G speeds by 22% and accelerate 5G rollout further, generating a $45 billion GDP boost.
Network Sunsets, Q2 2025
This quarterly series leverages GSMA Intelligence data on network sunsets to identify the key trends and understand the future. The report outlines the latest developments in network sunsets. The data provided here covers network sunsets by year, technology and region. The report also spotlights the momentum in 2G/3G network sunsets in the context of total active 2G/3G networks globally.
Digital Foundations: The Path to People-Centred Smart Cities
Many local governments are turning to digital solutions to fill critical data gaps, advance climate action and enhance the accessibility, affordability and reliability of essential urban services. This report takes stock of the trends shaping smart city deployments in Africa, South Asia and Southeast Asia.
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
The impact of spectrum pricing in Bangladesh
At around 16%, Bangladesh’s spectrum-cost-to-revenue ratio exceeds the Asia Pacific median (10.4%) and is twice as high as the global median (7.7%). High spectrum cost has been shown to negatively impact consumer outcomes, such as network coverage and speeds. Reducing prices by 50% would align spectrum costs closer to the Asia Pacific median at about 12% by 2035, boosting 4G speeds by 17% and enabling 99% 5G coverage, yielding a cumulative $34 billion GDP boost. Aligning costs to the global median of 8% of operators’ revenue would increase 4G speeds by 22% and accelerate 5G rollout further, generating a $45 billion GDP boost.
Network Sunsets, Q2 2025
This quarterly series leverages GSMA Intelligence data on network sunsets to identify the key trends and understand the future. The report outlines the latest developments in network sunsets. The data provided here covers network sunsets by year, technology and region. The report also spotlights the momentum in 2G/3G network sunsets in the context of total active 2G/3G networks globally.
Digital Foundations: The Path to People-Centred Smart Cities
Many local governments are turning to digital solutions to fill critical data gaps, advance climate action and enhance the accessibility, affordability and reliability of essential urban services. This report takes stock of the trends shaping smart city deployments in Africa, South Asia and Southeast Asia.
- 200 reports a year
- 50 million data points
- Over 350 metrics