GSMA Partners with Africa’s Leading Operators to Tackle Smartphone Costs

The Global System for Mobile Communications Association (GSMA) has teamed up with six of Africa’s top mobile operators Airtel, Axian Telecom, Ethio Telecom, Orange, Vodacom, and MTN to develop minimum standards for low-cost smartphones.

The announcement came during the Mobile World Congress Africa in Kigali, Rwanda, as part of the GSMA Handset Affordability Coalition. The initiative aims to deliver smartphones priced at $30 (R520) or less to millions of consumers across the continent.

Bridging Africa’s Digital Divide

Vivek Badrinath, Director-General of the GSMA, said that access to smartphones is no longer a luxury but a lifeline to essential services, jobs, and the digital economy. He noted that by joining forces, Africa’s major operators are sending a clear message to manufacturers and policymakers to prioritize affordable 4G devices.

The partnership’s main goal is to close the digital gap by helping more Africans gain access to mobile connectivity. Although broadband coverage has expanded widely, millions still remain offline because they cannot afford smartphones.

Addressing Affordability Barriers

The GSMA identifies smartphone affordability as the biggest obstacle to mobile internet use in sub-Saharan Africa. Around three billion people worldwide live in areas with broadband coverage but cannot connect due to the high cost of internet-enabled devices.

To change this, the GSMA and its partners have outlined minimum technical standards for affordable handsets. These include specific benchmarks for memory, RAM, camera quality, display size, and battery performance to guide manufacturers in creating functional yet low-cost devices.

According to GSMA Intelligence, a $40 smartphone could connect an additional 20 million people, while a $30 device could help up to 50 million people in the region get online.

Tackling Tax Barriers in South Africa

Efforts to reduce handset costs are also progressing in South Africa. In February, Communications Minister Solly Malatsi met with the GSMA, the World Bank, and telecom stakeholders to explore strategies for lowering prices. One of the key proposals was to remove ad valorem taxes on affordable smartphone imports.

A month later, Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana announced that ad valorem excise duties  previously 9% of a device’s import value would no longer apply to phones priced R2,500 or below.

While industry leaders praised the decision, experts believe more policy reforms are needed to make smartphones accessible to low-income consumers and accelerate digital inclusion across Africa.

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