The State of 5G 2026

GSMA Intelligence has launched the 5G Connectivity Index to help enable increased coverage, adoption, usage and market development. The index provides a comprehensive assessment of 5G in 39 markets, offering insights for informed decision-making and investment by the mobile ecosystem and policymakers. This findings from the first edition of the index are presented in this report.

This quarterly review of global 5G developments provides a concise, tracker-style deliverable, presenting key metrics and forecasts in an easy-to-access and engaging way. GSMA Intelligence has aggregated the latest data on 5G connections and adoption, as well as information on network trials/launches and spectrum assignments.

5G is beginning to make inroads in Africa, though its overall impact remains uneven and limited. With the technology now in its seventh year of deployment, this is a critical juncture for stakeholders to take immediate and coordinated action to accelerate deployment, deepen adoption and maximise the impact of 5G in the region. This includes addressing bottlenecks to spectrum availability and introducing policy incentives to stimulate both consumer and enterprise demand, particularly in markets where operators have already invested heavily in network rollouts.