Mobile Data Traffic to Surge by 1200% in Sub-Saharan Africa

Mobile Broadband Subscriptions to Account for 72% of Mobile Subscriptions

Rising mobile subscriptions in Sub-Saharan Africa is expected to bolster mobile data traffic by 1200 percent of current figures by 2025, according to Ericsson Mobility report.

Accordingly, average traffic per smartphone is expected to increase to 7.1 GB over the same period.

Ericsson further explained that LTE which accounted for around 11 percent of mobile subscriptions in 2019 in Sub-Saharan Africa will see its market share increase by 30 percent while LTE subscriptions will increase by 300 percent from 90 million to 270 percent by the end of the forecast period.

Also, mobile broadband subscriptions are expected to increase to 72 percent.

President of Ericsson Middle East and Africa, Fadi Pharaon, says: “Technology brings an unprecedented opportunity to address the challenges of sustainable economic development and improve the livelihood of people in Africa. The latest edition of Ericsson’s Mobility Report highlights Africa as one of the fastest-growing mobile markets and reiterates the need for a more efficient technology, higher data rates and availability of ample spectrum. The Report highlights as well the importance of mobile and fixed networks as key components of critical national infrastructure to sustain and evolve emerging economies during remote work times.”

“Driving factors behind the growth of mobile broadband subscriptions include a young and growing population with increasing digital skills, and more affordable smartphones. Over the forecast period, discernible volumes of 5G subscriptions are expected from 2022, reaching 3% by 2025.”