Speaking before over 4,000 participants from government, business, and technology sectors, the GSMA, representing six leading mobile operators, reiterated its call for African governments to remove import duties and value-added taxes on entry-level smartphones priced below $100.
“A smartphone is not a luxury – it is a lifeline to services, jobs, and opportunities in the digital economy,” GSMA Director General Vivek Badrinath told delegates in Kigali.
The coalition has proposed new technical standards to guide manufacturers in producing reliable 4G smartphones that meet minimum quality requirements for memory, battery, display, and camera performance, all while keeping prices between $30 and $40.
The GSMA argues that removing these taxes would make a tangible difference in affordability and access, enabling millions to join the digital economy.
South Africa recently set a precedent by removing taxes on budget smartphones earlier this year, a move the GSMA says should inspire other governments across the continent.
Rwanda’s model of inclusion
Rwanda’s Minister of ICT and Innovation, Paula Ingabire, shared how government reforms have rapidly transformed digital access in her country.
“Behind these numbers are real lives that have been transformed. With the 1 Million Coders programme, we are nurturing a generation ready to build Africa’s digital products of the future,” Ingabire said.
During the same period, MTN Rwanda launched 5G services, while the government expanded broadband access to 1,000 health facilities and 4,000 schools, training over 4 million citizens in digital literacy through its Digital Ambassadors Programme.
Rwanda’s experience, Ingabire noted, shows how connectivity can evolve from an infrastructure challenge to a human capital opportunity.
Private sector drive
Axian Telecom Group CEO Hassan Jaber announced plans to expand 4G coverage to 95% of Africa’s population by 2027, supported by major financing, including $100 million from the European Investment Bank and $160 million from the African Development Bank for projects in Madagascar and Tanzania.
He described Africa’s youth as the continent’s “greatest advantage,” predicting that the number of mobile subscribers would hit 700 million by 2030, with women driving much of the growth.
Yet, despite advances in coverage and policy, affordability remains the biggest barrier to universal digital access.
The State of Mobile Internet Connectivity 2025 Report found that more than 3 billion people worldwide live within mobile broadband range but remain offline, largely because they cannot afford smartphones.
