PAYG financing looks to unlock smartphone affordability in Africa
This report is available to those subscribed to the Mobile Operators and Networks module.
Smartphone affordability has constrained mobile broadband adoption in Sub-Saharan Africa, particularly 4G, which at just 8% lags the global average (46%) by a considerable margin. At the recent GSMA Mobile 360 – Africa event, two initiatives aimed at bringing affordable smartphones to consumers were showcased: a $22 entry-level smart featurephone running on KaiOS; and a high-spec $150 Android smartphone offered on a pay-as-you-go finance basis by startup Maraphone. While both look to unlock smartphone affordability, payment plans that enable better specifications and experience may in the long term be the key for Africa’s youthful and aspirational population.
Related research
Mobile Investment Gaps: Pacific Islands
By 2030, a significant investment gap will remain in the Pacific Islands unless reform is implemented to unlock investment, improve returns and affordability, and remove the barriers hindering adoption and digital inclusion.
Extended reality: developing a successful B2C strategy requires work in five important areas
Extended reality (XR) technology, which comprises augmented reality, mixed reality and virtual reality, has been around for a while, but it still suffers from a low adoption rate. Only 5% of consumers on average own an XR headset, according to the latest GSMA Intelligence consumer survey, conducted across 12 major mobile markets worldwide. In this report, we discuss the five key areas that XR companies need to focus on for developing a successful consumer strategy, which include identifying the prime consumer segments to target and widening consumer access to XR experiences.
Towards a digital nation: addressing the scam economy in Asia Pacific
The rapid expansion of digital technologies, and mobile connectivity in particular, has profoundly impacted scam techniques and their reach. All individuals with a mobile subscription – approximately 5.8 billion people – are potential targets for scams. Rises in the volume, frequency, sophistication and success rate of scams in recent years are having a significant financial impact on victims and the global economy.
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
Mobile Investment Gaps: Pacific Islands
By 2030, a significant investment gap will remain in the Pacific Islands unless reform is implemented to unlock investment, improve returns and affordability, and remove the barriers hindering adoption and digital inclusion.
Extended reality: developing a successful B2C strategy requires work in five important areas
Extended reality (XR) technology, which comprises augmented reality, mixed reality and virtual reality, has been around for a while, but it still suffers from a low adoption rate. Only 5% of consumers on average own an XR headset, according to the latest GSMA Intelligence consumer survey, conducted across 12 major mobile markets worldwide. In this report, we discuss the five key areas that XR companies need to focus on for developing a successful consumer strategy, which include identifying the prime consumer segments to target and widening consumer access to XR experiences.
Towards a digital nation: addressing the scam economy in Asia Pacific
The rapid expansion of digital technologies, and mobile connectivity in particular, has profoundly impacted scam techniques and their reach. All individuals with a mobile subscription – approximately 5.8 billion people – are potential targets for scams. Rises in the volume, frequency, sophistication and success rate of scams in recent years are having a significant financial impact on victims and the global economy.
- 200 reports a year
- 50 million data points
- Over 350 metrics