Africa’s Telecom Sector Confronts Inclusion Gap in Push for Universal Connectivity

Africa’s telecommunications industry is positioned to play a central role in the continent’s social and economic transformation. Yet despite rapid technological advances, much of the population remains offline.

In Sub-Saharan Africa, only 27% of people use mobile internet, according to the GSMA, leaving a 60% usage gap and a 13% coverage gap. The consequence is widespread digital exclusion, particularly in rural and underserved communities.

Addressing this divide will take more than network expansion. Systemic issues, ranging from affordability and digital literacy to gender inequality, continue to limit access. Integrating Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) into telecoms operations is emerging as a critical pathway to bridging these gaps and delivering meaningful progress.

Economic Costs of Digital Exclusion

The case for inclusion is compelling. The GSMA estimates that extending connectivity to unconnected populations could add $3.5 trillion to the global economy by 2030, with 90% of those gains concentrated in low- and middle-income countries. Achieving this, however, will require over $400 billion in infrastructure investments, much of it in sparsely populated areas with limited commercial viability.

Device affordability remains a major barrier to access in many African markets. Financing models that allow users to pay for smartphones in instalments over six to twelve months are helping to ease the cost burden. Still, ownership alone does not guarantee meaningful use.

Women remain significantly underrepresented in digital spaces. In Sub-Saharan Africa, they are 37% less likely than men to use mobile internet. This gender gap compounds existing inequalities and limits economic participation. Youth unemployment further complicates the picture, with the majority of Africa’s population under the age of 25 facing a constrained labour market and limited digital skills.

Extending Access Through Inclusive Models

Telecoms companies are investing in rural infrastructure to close the coverage gap, often through partnerships with specialised network providers. These initiatives support access to basic mobile services while also enabling broader use of mobile-based tools, such as digital payments, health services, and learning platforms.

Stakeholder engagement is increasingly informing how these investments are deployed. In some cases, telecoms firms are aligning their strategies with local development goals to ensure services address real needs, rather than just expanding network reach.

Building Capacity for a Digital Economy

Skills development is central to closing the usage gap. Programmes that train youth in areas such as app development, coding, and data analysis are helping to bridge the divide between access and participation. In addition, mobile-based financial literacy programmes are equipping users, especially women and youth, with tools to manage money and grow small businesses.

Mobile money continues to be a key driver of financial inclusion. By enabling users to save, send, and receive funds without a formal bank account, it has expanded access to financial services across informal economies.

Supporting Women and Small Enterprises

Targeted support for women entrepreneurs is helping to address barriers to participation in the digital economy. In Ghana, tailored service bundles provide small businesses with internet access, business toolkits, market platforms, and financing support. These offerings reflect a growing recognition that women-led businesses often face unique challenges in accessing digital services and capital.

Broader initiatives have focused on funding, mentorship, and technical training for women in tech. In South Africa, women-led businesses that participated in support programmes used the resources to expand operations and create community-based training platforms, extending the benefits beyond individual enterprise growth.

At the leadership level, greater representation of women in executive roles signals a shift in organisational culture. Appointing women to CEO positions in markets such as Cameroon, Rwanda, and Uganda reflects an industry-wide acknowledgment of the value of diverse leadership.

Overcoming Structural Barriers

Despite progress, usage gaps remain the most stubborn challenge. While mobile coverage is expanding, large segments of the population still lack the skills, resources, or motivation to engage fully with digital tools. Device costs, literacy levels, and socio-cultural norms all contribute to this exclusion.

For telecoms companies, closing this gap is not just a social responsibility but a business imperative. Unlocking new users also means unlocking new markets, spurring growth and innovation.

DEI as a Growth Strategy

Inclusion and business growth are not mutually exclusive. Companies with diverse leadership and inclusive operations are often more innovative, better at solving complex problems, and more responsive to evolving customer needs. Inclusive hiring practices also help build resilient teams equipped to manage technological disruption.

The Role of Policy and Partnership

Progress toward universal connectivity requires coordinated action. Governments, regulators, and industry actors must work together to remove barriers. Policy harmonisation across the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), for example, could encourage cross-border investment and infrastructure deployment.

Public investment in education and device subsidies can complement private-sector efforts, while consistent regulatory environments can accelerate rollout timelines and reduce investment risk.

Africa’s digital divide remains wide, but it is not insurmountable. Telecoms companies are beginning to show how inclusive, targeted strategies can drive both economic and social returns. With sustained investment, coordinated policy, and a commitment to equity, the sector can help build a connected, inclusive, and competitive digital economy across the continent.

The future of Africa’s telecoms industry will be defined by how effectively it brings everyone online, not just in coverage, but in real, transformative participation.

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