Africa’s $30 smartphone goal is becoming harder to achieve
Africa has built the networks. The bigger challenge now is getting affordable smartphones into people’s hands. As component prices rise, the push for a $30 smartphone is getting harder—and so is closing the continent’s mobile internet gap.
Across Africa, mobile internet penetration has expanded, yet millions remain disconnected due to affordability issues. While networks have been built, the devices to use them remain prohibitively expensive for many. The GSMA's 2026 State of Mobile Internet Connectivity report highlights that even though 906 million Africans live within reach of mobile broadband, only about 60% of the population uses mobile internet.
In Sub-Saharan Africa, the figure drops to a mere 25%. A key factor holding people back is the cost of smartphones - the GSMA's goal of a $30 smartphone might be challenging to achieve. Memory prices have surged recently, making it harder for manufacturers to keep costs low. As a result, smartphone prices have risen by $41 year-on-year in Africa.
With shipments of sub-$100 devices falling by 34%, the industry faces a hurdle in making devices affordable for those who need them most. The challenge goes beyond building networks; it requires making smartphones affordable enough for people to use them.
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