The International Telecommunications Union (ITU) has highlighted that as of December 2023, Africa’s 5G coverage stands at a mere 6%, the lowest globally, according to the ‘Mobile Network Coverage Facts and Figures 2023’ report. The report underscores Africa’s lag in adopting the latest technology, as many countries worldwide phase out older networks like 2G and 3G.
The ITU disclosure aligns with current data from Nigeria, revealing a meager 0.83% 5G coverage as of August, despite three telecom companies launching commercial 5G. Additionally, the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) reported that 60.3% of subscribers were still on 2G in August 2023.
The global organization expounded on the situation: “Since commercial deployment began in 2019, 5G coverage has expanded, encompassing 40% of the world population by 2023. However, the distribution remains highly uneven. Despite 89% of the population in high-income countries being covered by a 5G network, low-income countries experience limited coverage.
“Europe leads in 5G coverage, with an extensive 68% population coverage, followed by the Americas region at 59%, and the Asia-Pacific region at 42%. Notably, the Arab States region records 12% coverage, while the CIS region and Africa region report less than 10% (8%) and 6% coverage, respectively,” as noted by the ITU.
The international organization mentioned: “However, in some countries, the path is less clear, mainly because 2G and 3G networks retain a significant presence. This is the case notably in lower-income countries, where both technologies remain an important means of communication. In these countries, the main obstacles to 5G deployment and adoption include high infrastructure costs, device affordability, and regulatory barriers.”
In conclusion, the report highlighted the ongoing transition from older-generation mobile networks like 2G and 3G to newer technologies such as 4G and 5G in many countries. Additionally, the ITU emphasized the transformative potential of 5G in developing a digital ecosystem, connecting machines, objects, and devices with ultra-low latency and offering opportunities to enhance energy efficiency.
Notably, it pointed out that major European operators have outlined plans to phase out 3G networks by December 2025, a trend also observed among operators in the Asia-Pacific region.
