{
  "id": 15606044,
  "title": "Telecoms group urges cuts to spectrum cost in Africa",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/19/telecoms-group-urges-cuts-to-spectrum-cost-in-africa",
  "topic": "business",
  "section": "Business",
  "published": "2026-10-19T13:20:25.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Semafor",
    "slug": "semafor",
    "url": "https://www.semafor.com/article/10/19/2026/telecoms-group-urges-cuts-to-spectrum-cost-in-africa"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "The GSMA, a global telecoms industry body, has called on African governments to reduce the cost of radio frequency spectrum, arguing that current expenses are hindering investment in faster mobile networks. According to the organization, such reforms could inject more than $120 billion into the African economy by 2035, expand 4G and 5G coverage, and boost productivity. The GSMA highlighted that spectrum charges as a percentage of annual revenue are significantly higher than the global average for African operators, with Botswana, Eswatini, Mozambique, and Zambia among the more expensive countries.\n\nThe call for cheaper spectrum deals comes from GSMA’s research wing, ahead of over $10 billion worth of licenses needing renewal within the next decade. This period coincides with many African governments grappling with revenue generation and debt reduction challenges. In several markets, spectrum auctions have become substantial sources of state revenue, creating tensions between governments' fiscal objectives and telecom operators' demands to utilize them as a connectivity tool.",
  "summary": "Reforms could add more than $120 billion to the African economy by 2035, expand 4G and 5G coverage, and raise productivity, GSMA estimated.",
  "key_points": [
    "GSMA urges African governments to lower spectrum costs",
    "Spectrum charges high for African operators vs global average",
    "Cheaper spectrum could add $120B to African economy by 2035"
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}