MWC 2026: High Costs Hinder Africa's Internet Growth

The Challenge of Smartphone Affordability in Africa

The cost of a smartphone remains a significant barrier for hundreds of millions of Africans, standing between mobile coverage and internet access. This issue was highlighted during the Mobile World Congress (MWC), where cutting-edge technologies were showcased, yet the fundamental challenge of affordability persisted.

Marina Madale, group executive for sustainability and shared value at MTN, emphasized the importance of devices during the Tech Cares Forum, a digital inclusion event hosted by Huawei at MWC. She stated, “Coverage without the device is exclusion. Nothing is possible without the device.” Her comments underscored the critical role smartphones play in enabling digital access.

GSMA Launches Initiative to Address Smartphone Affordability

In response to this challenge, the GSMA, which organizes MWC and represents mobile network operators globally, launched the Handset Affordability Coalition. This initiative aims to pilot smartphones priced around $40 in six African markets: the Democratic Republic of Congo, Ethiopia, Nigeria, Rwanda, Tanzania, and Uganda.

The coalition includes major operators such as MTN, Airtel, Orange, Vodacom, Axian Telecom, and Ethio Telecom, along with handset manufacturers and development organizations. Their goal is to bridge the gap between mobile network coverage and actual internet use.

Infrastructure Expansion and the Next Obstacle

Operators have spent years expanding network infrastructure into rural regions, with towers now serving areas that previously had no signal. However, the economics of the handset has emerged as the next obstacle. Vivek Badrinath, director general of the GSMA, noted that affordable smartphones enable digital and financial inclusion, economic opportunity, and innovation. He pointed out that 3.1 billion people have mobile coverage but are not connected to the mobile internet.

Madale added that in many communities, the network is present, but income is not. She explained that devices are often shared within households, and electricity supply can be unstable, making data a luxury.

Alternative Approaches to Rural Connectivity

To address these challenges, operators have adopted alternative approaches to rural connectivity. Madale mentioned that they simplify fiber, use microwave, and solar panels for electricity, allowing transmission over distances of up to 30 kilometers. This approach helps reach remote areas like farms and villages.

However, even with expanded infrastructure, the device determines who can use it. Madale argued that affordability must be considered beyond the initial purchase price. It involves the total cost of ownership, including charging, repairs, and replacement when devices are lost or broken.

The Role of the GSMA Coalition

The GSMA coalition aims to address this barrier through scale. By aligning demand across several operators, the group encourages manufacturers to design smartphones specifically for entry-level markets. These devices must meet minimum requirements for modern connectivity, including battery life, memory, and processing capability, especially in regions with inconsistent electricity supply.

The coalition has worked with operators and manufacturers to define baseline specifications for these smartphones. They must support 4G connectivity, run mainstream applications, and allow users to access messaging platforms, digital payments, and basic online services.

Cloud-Based Solutions for Affordability

At the Huawei stand at MWC, the company demonstrated a cloud-based smartphone concept called Cloud Phone 2.0. This platform expands access to digital services on low-cost hardware and was initially developed through a partnership between Huawei, MTN Zambia, and Muen Network. It has also been launched in Kenya, with handsets priced as low as US$20.

Five “Simplified Android” phones were on display, supporting Wi-Fi and offering dual SIM support for 2G, 3G, and 4G networks. They can stream short-form video, optimize cloud gaming for 4G networks, and provide secure cloud storage for file transfers. These services are bundled with low-cost data packages to help users transition from legacy 2G and 3G devices to modern smartphones.

Expanding Access to the Digital Economy

For operators, smartphone adoption opens access to the broader digital economy. Financial services, education platforms, e-commerce, and government services increasingly depend on smartphone interfaces. Mobile banking services, agricultural information platforms, and online learning tools have already begun to reshape daily life across parts of the continent.

Beyond Infrastructure: The Meaning of Digital Inclusion

The discussion at the Tech Cares Forum expanded beyond infrastructure to the wider meaning of digital inclusion. Sylvia Cadena, senior gender and youth advisor to the secretary-general of the International Telecommunication Union, highlighted a shift in how connectivity progress is measured. She said, “The shift is from getting people online to ensuring that people are thriving online.”

Advanced technologies like artificial intelligence (AI) also play a role. Madale noted that AI can act as an online translator for communities not operating in dominant languages. However, she warned that if AI systems are trained mainly on data from outside African markets, they will not reflect local realities.

AI Language Models for Local Relevance

The GSMA is leading an AI Language Models Initiative to advance locally relevant AI models. The Africa Pavilion at MWC showcased a live demonstration of the first open Swahili reasoning model, developed in collaboration with MeetKai Zambia. This model can browse and translate online content, aiming to reduce language barriers to digital services.

Conclusion: Access Begins with the Device

Ultimately, the initiative to develop $40 smartphones addresses more than just the hardware price point. It determines who enters the digital economy and who remains outside it. Madale concluded, “If people do not have the device, they cannot benefit from connectivity, they cannot benefit from AI, they cannot benefit from digital services. Inclusion begins with access that works for the individual.”