5G Connection to Hit 70 mn in Sub-Saharan Africa by 2026: Report

5G connections across Sub-Saharan Africa will account for 70  million subscriptions by 2026, according to a report by telecom company Ericsson.

Globally, 5G mobile subscriptions will exceed 580 million by the end of 2021, driven by an estimated one million new 5G mobile subscriptions every day according to the ‘Ericsson Mobility Report 2021’ released on Tuesday.

The report features breakout statistics from Sub-Saharan African markets where around 15 per cent of mobile subscriptions were for 4G at the end of 2020. 

Mobile broadband subscriptions in Sub-Saharan Africa are predicted to increase, reaching 76 per cent of mobile subscriptions by 2026.  However, 5G volumes are not expected to grow in the region for 2021 but are likely to reach around 70 million 5G subscriptions in 2026.

Todd Ashton, Vice President and Head of Ericsson South and East Africa says the sustained growth in mobile broadband, driven by its youthful population, affordable smartphone devices and improved coverage.

“By 2025, we will be looking at a new normal with online activities becoming more common daily. 4G will become more pervasive and 5G will start to grow. As a result, we will definitely see increased economic growth and an acceleration in Africa’s digital inclusion,” he notes.

Ericsson’s recent two reports feature data on 5G in Sub-Saharan Africa and around the world.

The report says Mobile phone penetration in Sub-Saharan Africa is projected to hit 76 per cent over the next five years.

The Global Telecom Market Report (GTM) says consumers in Africa will increase the time they spend online by 10 hours a week by 2025. 

Further, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, online activities such as education shopping have been on the rise. These activities are expected to remain high even after the pandemic has passed.