Wamola emphasized that connectivity alone is not enough. While broadband access has expanded, millions of Africans remain offline. "We have a 69 population coverage with 3G and 4G, yet many have never gone online," she noted. Efforts to close the usage gap must consider not only infrastructure but also the demand side: relevant services, content, and practical applications that encourage people to engage with digital tools.
"In 2017, the coverage gap the portion of the population not covered by mobile broadband, was 35. Today, it is 9, showing remarkable progress in a very short time. But there is still a 9 gap, mostly in hard-to-reach areas, mountainous regions, or conflict-affected zones that still need coverage. This is where partnerships with satellites, solutions, and technologies become essential, because the ability to cover the broadest and most difficult terrains is necessary. These are the partnerships we need now to ensure no one is left behind, moving from countries that have near-universal coverage with just a 1-2 gap to the wider ones. Leveraging these technologies can help bridge the coverage gap in the shortest possible time." - Angela Wamola, Head of Africa, GSMA
Affordable Smartphones: A Catalyst for InclusionA key takeaway from MWC Kigali was the role of affordable entry-level smartphones in bridging the divide. Through initiatives such as the Handset Affordability Coalition, Wamola explained that the goal is to ensure devices are available for under 40 while meeting quality standards. She highlighted the example of South Africa, which removed the 9 luxury tax on low-cost devices, making it easier for operators to bundle devices with data services for underserved populations.
