The GSMA, in collaboration with six of Africa’s largest mobile operators, Airtel, Axian Telecom, Ethio Telecom, MTN, Orange, and Vodacom, this week announced a groundbreaking baseline set of minimum requirements for an affordable entry-level 4G smartphone.
Launched at MWC Kigali on Tuesday, the initiative, part of the GSMA Handset Affordability Coalition, is designed to accelerate digital inclusion across the continent by lowering the cost of smartphone ownership for millions who remain unconnected.
The move comes as operators across the continent push to migrate users from legacy 2G and 3G networks to more efficient and capable 4G services. However, smartphone affordability remains the single largest barrier to mobile internet adoption in Sub-Saharan Africa.
While 4G network coverage has expanded rapidly, the high cost of compatible devices leaves millions “covered but unconnected.” Many are still using older 2G/3G feature phones, unable to access the data-rich services that define the modern digital economy. Furthermore, the lowest-priced 4G devices currently available often suffer from poor performance, such as insufficient memory (RAM), low-quality cameras, and short battery life, leading to a frustrating user experience that discourages internet adoption.
According to the GSMA’s State of Mobile Internet Connectivity 2025 Report, this creates a significant “usage gap”: more than 3 billion people globally live within mobile broadband coverage but do not use the internet, with handset cost cited as the top challenge.
This new initiative aims to solve that problem directly. The GSMA estimates that a $40 smartphone could bring mobile internet within reach for an additional 20 million people in Sub-Saharan Africa, while a $30 handset could enable up to 50 million to get connected.
The proposed requirements outline baseline specifications for memory, RAM, camera quality, display size, and battery performance. The goal is to ensure manufacturers can produce a viable, long-lasting 4G smartphone experience at a significantly reduced cost.
Vivek Badrinath, Director General of the GSMA, said: “Access to a smartphone is not a luxury, it is a lifeline to essential services, income opportunities and participation in the digital economy. By uniting around a shared vision for affordable 4G devices, Africa’s leading operators and the GSMA are sending a powerful signal to manufacturers and policymakers. This is an important step towards bridging the digital divide and ensuring that millions more people can reap the benefits of mobile connectivity.”
The coalition is launching a two-pronged attack on the affordability barrier.
In the coming months, the GSMA will engage with original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) and technology companies to consult on the proposed minimum requirements and gain support for producing these affordable 4G devices at scale.
At the same time, the mobile industry is calling on governments across Africa to act swiftly to remove taxes on entry-level smartphones priced below $100. In some countries, VAT and import duties can increase device prices by more than 30%, directly raising costs for citizens and hindering national digital inclusion efforts.
Earlier this year, South Africa introduced tax reforms on entry-level smartphones – a policy the industry urges other African governments to replicate to build momentum for digital transformation.
Mobile internet connectivity underpins access to education, healthcare, financial services, and e-commerce, and is directly linked to poverty reduction and higher wellbeing. Closing the usage gap in low- and middle-income countries between 2023 and 2030 could generate $3.5 trillion in additional GDP.
The GSMA and the Handset Affordability Coalition believe that access to affordable, quality smartphones is the foundation of this opportunity.
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