The GSMA, working with six of Africa’s largest mobile operators, Airtel, Axian Telecom, Ethio Telecom, MTN, Orange and Vodacom, has proposed a baseline set of minimum specifications for an affordable entry-level 4G smartphone, in a bid to accelerate digital inclusion by lowering the cost of device ownership.
Smartphone affordability remains the biggest obstacle to mobile internet adoption in Sub-Saharan Africa. The GSMA’s State of Mobile Internet Connectivity 2025 Report finds that more than 3 billion people globally live within mobile broadband coverage but do not use the internet, with the cost of devices cited as the leading barrier. GSMA Intelligence estimates that a $40 phone could bring mobile internet within reach for 20 million additional people in Sub-Saharan Africa, and a $30 handset could connect up to 50 million.
The proposed minimum requirements cover memory, RAM, battery life, camera, display and other core features to ensure a viable 4G experience at significantly reduced retail price points.
Vivek Badrinath, Director General of the GSMA, said, “Access to a smartphone is not a luxury, it is a lifeline to essential services, income opportunities and participation in the digital economy. By uniting around a shared vision for affordable 4G devices, Africa’s leading operators and the GSMA are sending a powerful signal to manufacturers and policymakers. This is an important step towards bridging the digital divide and ensuring that millions more people can reap the benefits of mobile connectivity.”
In the coming months, the GSMA will consult original equipment manufacturers and technology companies on the proposed baseline to secure support for ultra-low-cost 4G devices. In parallel, the industry is urging African governments to remove taxes on smartphones priced below $100. In some markets, VAT and import duties add more than 30% to device prices, directly raising the cost to citizens and slowing digital inclusion. South Africa’s recent removal of taxes on entry-level smartphones is being held up as a policy template.
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Mobile internet access is tied to gains in education, health, financial inclusion and e-commerce. Closing the usage gap in low- and middle-income countries between 2023 and 2030 could generate $3.5 trillion in additional GDP. The GSMA and the Handset Affordability Coalition argue that affordable smartphones are the foundation for capturing that upside.
