How 5G connections in Sub-Saharan Africa are expected to grow 11x to 370 million by 2031

5G connections in Sub-Saharan Africa have been tipped to reach 370 million connections, a 1,133% growth from the current 30 million subscriptions. This is according to an industry report by Ericsson, the Swedish telecoms giant.

The projection comes at a time when 5G growth in Africa is still crawling, due to a significant share of mobile connections that rely on 2G/3G. Also, coverage and infrastructure gaps continue to prevent most 5G-enabled devices from connecting to 5G networks, thereby dropping to 4G or 3G. 

In fact, a recent report by GSMA revealed that only 12% of Africa’s 416 million internet users are connected to 5G networks, revealing the present struggles by operators and the industry to spread the fifth-generation network in Africa. 

However, Ericsson‘s report is a response to pressures emanating from increased smartphone penetration and demand for fast-paced internet connections by Africans.

With fears that demand for quality networks might outstrip supply, putting more pressure on infrastructure, the report shows that Sub-Saharan Africa awaits a certain limelight. 

Also Read: Data from Africa’s top 5 economies shows 4G still drives Africa’s internet adoption.

How the 370 million connections will work out 

Not only are 5G connections in Sub-Saharan Africa expected to increase to 370 million over the next five years, but the region is also projected to experience the fastest 5G subscription growth globally.

While this sounds doubtful on paper, the report stressed that the transition comes when the region is witnessing a rapid growth from legacy networks to advanced connectivity. This is attributed to investment in network expansion and the digital economy ambitions across private and public institutions. 

Firstly, the 5G connections will be fueled by the continued migration from 2G/3G to 4G/5G networks, powered by their eventual switch-off by operators and increased demand for data usage. 

“Legacy 2G and 3G networks are expected to shrink significantly as 4G and 5G become the dominant technologies,” part of the report reads, adding that LTE (4G) subscriptions will grow from 490 million in 2025 to 610 million by 2031, and are expected to account for 46% of all subscriptions. 

Secondly, aside from the old network switch-off, the combination of voice calls, text messages, and mobile internet is also a determinant. The report noted that total mobile subscriptions in Sub-Saharan Africa are expected to reach 1.31 billion in 2031, up from 1.05 billion in 2025.

In the same frame, 5G is expected to reach 28% of all mobile subscriptions by the end of 2031.

Thirdly, rising demand for more internet and lengthy presence across social media platforms is a top driver. In fact, average monthly data consumption in Sub-Saharan Africa is forecasted to grow from 5.3 GB in 2025 to 12 GB in 2031. 

The growth is not just due to increased internet usage; rather, a larger percentage is driven by new smartphone interfaces that require more data to load quality images and videos. At that rate, total mobile data traffic in the region is forecasted to grow from 2.8 Exabytes (EB) per month in 2025 to 9.7 EB per month in 2031.  (1 billion GB = 1 EB).

Fourthly, with digital transformation comes AI, which is expected to influence 5G adoption. Specifically, the rise of AI and uplink-heavy applications, such as XR and autonomous devices, will fundamentally change traffic patterns. 

The report pointed out that African telecom operators must be ready to deliver high-performing, programmable networks needed to meet these new demands and support Africa’s innovators and enterprises.

With the deployment of Fibre-to-the-home (FTTH), Fixed Wireless Access (FWA), and 5G-supported towers, African telcos are showing the potential to address the continent’s rising demand for reliable broadband and mobile internet.

5G: Africa is closing in

GSMA, in its March 2026 report titled “The Mobile Economy 2026”, noted that around 382 million (21%) African telecom subscribers are projected to be connected to the 5G network by 2030, from approximately 12% in 2025. 

The rising status corroborates Ericsson’s prediction for Sub-Saharan Africa, a region that holds 49 out of the 54 African countries. It shows Africa is no longer behind in internet usage patterns, but only needs the right infrastructure with proper funding to bring the projection to reality.

Reacting to the forecast, Majda Lahlou Kassi, Vice President and Head of Ericsson West and Southern Africa, noted that “The acceleration of 4G and 5G is a defining opportunity for Africa to leapfrog into the AI era.” 

She added that “With the right collaborative investments in spectrum and policy frameworks, Africa is positioned to fully participate in, and benefit from, the AI boom.”

Internet adoption is rising in Africa, and the report further cements this notion. This is significant for a region known to be grappling with smartphone adoption due to affordability issues.