GSMA Calls for Policies to Attract $76B Mobile Investment

The GSM Association (GSMA) has called on African governments to establish favorable fiscal and monetary policies to facilitate a projected $76 billion investment in mobile network infrastructure across Africa from 2025 to 2030. Ms. Caroline Mbugua, Senior Director of Public Policy & Communications at GSMA, stated that the global satellite mobile service is expected to contribute $290 billion to Africa's economy by 2030.

In 2025, the sector contributed $240 billion to the continent's economy, representing about 7.8% of Africa's GDP, supported 13 million jobs, and paid $45 billion in taxes and fees. Mbugua highlighted the importance of revisiting mobile device taxation, noting that $20 billion of the taxes paid in 2025 came from various duties on handsets.

She cited South Africa's removal of a 9% excise duty on entry-level smartphones, which led to an 80% increase in sales. Mbugua also emphasized the need for reliable foreign exchange access and suggested designating telecommunications as critical national infrastructure to enhance investment.