South Africa, June 17 -- Mobile technologies and services contributed $240bn (about R4.3tn) to Africa's economy in 2025, accounting for 7.8% of GDP, according to the GSMA's Mobile Economy Africa 2026 report.

The mobile ecosystem also supported around 13 million jobs and generated $45bn (about R808bn) in public revenues, highlighting the growing economic role of mobile connectivity across the continent.

The report suggests Africa's mobile industry is entering a new phase of development, shifting focus from expanding network access towards unlocking greater value through digital services, artificial intelligence (AI) and enterprise transformation.

From connectivity to digital adoption According to the report, operators are increasingly ...