Universal service funds in Africa
Please complete the form below or register for a free public account to access this report.
Policy reforms to enhance effectiveness
Governments around the world have introduced policies to incentivise internet infrastructure rollout in underserved locations and stimulate demand for services among consumers. In Africa, 51 of the 54 countries in the region have introduced or are in the process of introducing the universal service fund (USF) mechanism as a means to deploy mobile broadband infrastructure in commercially unviable areas.
To understand the performance of USFs in Africa, the GSMA conducted an extensive study. This entailed a survey of stakeholders, including USF authorities, government ministries and service providers from 40 countries across the region. Results from the study highlight structural and operational challenges requiring urgent attention from policymakers and USF authorities.
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.
Related research
5G in Africa 2025: market status, trends and outlook
5G momentum continues to build in Africa. As of September 2025, 53 operators in 29 markets across the region had launched commercial 5G mobile services, while 25 African operators have launched 5G fixed wireless access commercial services. To capitalise on the promise of 5G, operators require enabling policy environments. This report highlights key policy imperatives to drive the development of 5G in Africa.
The State of Mobile Internet Connectivity 2025: Affordability of Internet-Enabled Handsets and Data
The final report in this series explores how affordability of entry-level, internet-enabled handsets and various data bundles have changed over time, and how affordability impacts different segments of the population.
Digital Nations 2025: Towards digital sovereignty in India
In India, government initiatives and policy objectives reflect the country's increasing focus on digital sovereignty, with an emphasis on self-reliance in digital technologies. These build on the progress made by Digital India and prioritise the development of digital technologies for social and economic growth.
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
5G in Africa 2025: market status, trends and outlook
5G momentum continues to build in Africa. As of September 2025, 53 operators in 29 markets across the region had launched commercial 5G mobile services, while 25 African operators have launched 5G fixed wireless access commercial services. To capitalise on the promise of 5G, operators require enabling policy environments. This report highlights key policy imperatives to drive the development of 5G in Africa.
The State of Mobile Internet Connectivity 2025: Affordability of Internet-Enabled Handsets and Data
The final report in this series explores how affordability of entry-level, internet-enabled handsets and various data bundles have changed over time, and how affordability impacts different segments of the population.
Digital Nations 2025: Towards digital sovereignty in India
In India, government initiatives and policy objectives reflect the country's increasing focus on digital sovereignty, with an emphasis on self-reliance in digital technologies. These build on the progress made by Digital India and prioritise the development of digital technologies for social and economic growth.
- 200 reports a year
- 50 million data points
- Over 350 metrics