A significant portion of African smartphone users still rely heavily on 3G networks, limiting their access to the fast, reliable connectivity essential for modern, data-rich applications.
In an analysis by Opensignal, it was found that in 11 of the 27 African markets studied, users spend more than 20% of their time on 3G, an aging technology that struggles to support seamless experiences for streaming, social media, and digital services.
In some countries, such as Mali and Zimbabwe, users are even connected to 2G for more than 6% of their time, further restricting their ability to use data-intensive services effectively.
According to Hardik Khatri of Opensignal, this dependence on outdated technology is a major obstacle to digital growth across the continent.
“The gap in network quality is a clear sign that there’s an urgent need for a shift to more advanced networks like 4G and 5G,” says Khatri. “3G just doesn’t offer the speed or capacity necessary for today’s digital applications, which significantly limits user experience.”
Another key challenge impacting mobile connectivity in Africa is the amount of time users experience no signal at all.
In Tunisia, for example, users report no connectivity for over 5% of their time, with similar issues seen in Mali, Morocco, and the Democratic Republic of Congo. By contrast, South Africa and Rwanda maintain minimal no-signal time, with less than 1%.
“These connectivity gaps are a direct result of economic and infrastructure challenges that many markets face,” Khatri explains.
“Infrastructure improvements are costly but essential if we want to bridge the digital divide.”
These infrastructure constraints, including the high costs of upgrading backhaul networks, powering remote sites, and maintaining backup generators to counter power cuts, are compounded by security issues such as vandalism and theft. Further barriers to modern connectivity include the high cost of 4G/5G-enabled devices and low digital literacy rates, which hold back mobile internet adoption in the region.
Despite these challenges, several African governments and telecom companies are making strides toward expanding 4G and 5G coverage while phasing out 2G and 3G.
Airtel Nigeria, for instance, has started reallocating resources to 4G, while South Africa’s Department of Communications and Digital Technologies has extended the deadline to retire 2G and 3G networks to December 2027.
Telecom providers in South Africa have launched campaigns offering upgrade incentives and educational programs to ease this transition.
However, the phase-out process is not without risks, as Khatri points out. “For many users, mobile networks are their only source of internet access. Moving away from older networks too quickly could cut off essential services.”
Transitioning to more advanced networks holds transformative potential, opening the door to faster connectivity and enabling applications that drive digital inclusion and economic participation, from mobile financial services to e-commerce, digital government, education, and healthcare.
However, Khatri emphasizes that relying on outdated networks restricts these opportunities, limiting productivity and blocking access to vital digital resources.
“To bridge Africa’s digital divide, a multi-faceted approach is needed,” says Khatri. “Investment in infrastructure, efficient spectrum allocation, supportive regulation, and broader 4G and 5G adoption are critical. Together, these efforts can empower users with the connectivity they need to fully participate in a digital world.”
With sustained collaboration among operators, policymakers, regulators, and international institutions, Africa can achieve rapid digital transformation. This progress will help realize Africa’s Agenda 2063 and drive broad socio-economic development across the continent.
South Africa is setting the benchmark for mobile network quality across Africa, delivering a level of consistency that keeps applications running smoothly and without interruption. With robust infrastructure and reliable connectivity, South African mobile networks are enabling users to enjoy seamless performance, solidifying the country’s reputation as a leader in digital connectivity on the continent.
A new analysis by Opensignal, assessing mobile network experiences across 27 African markets, highlights South Africa as a leader in Consistent Quality, achieving a score of 58.6%, just slightly ahead of Tunisia. By contrast, more than half of the African countries analyzed scored below 30% in Consistent Quality, revealing connectivity challenges that impact stable performance for basic digital services, particularly in markets like Mali, Guinea, Côte d’Ivoire, Cameroon, and Ethiopia, where scores fall below 10%.
