5G in Africa (2025) — Which countries already use 5G and what it means for business & users

Discover which African countries had commercial 5G networks in 2025, leading operators, regional trends, and what 5G means for businesses, consumers and digital transformation across the continent.

Why 5G in Africa matters?

5G is more than “faster mobile internet.” In Africa it’s being positioned as a catalyst for industrial automation, smart cities, low-latency cloud services, and improved fixed wireless access (FWA) for homes and businesses that lack fibre. While the pace of 5G adoption on the continent is slower than in richer regions, adoption accelerated through 2024–2025 as major operators and regulators moved from trials to commercial launches. Recent industry data shows dozens of operators had launched 5G commercially across a growing number of African markets by mid–late 2025.

How many African countries had 5G in 2025?

Different industry trackers report slightly different counts depending on how they classify “commercial launch” versus “trial.” By mid-2025 roughly around 25–29 African countries had seen at least one commercial 5G deployment; industry trackers reported ~27 countries in June 2025 and later tallies continued to rise. This means commercial 5G was no longer limited to a handful of markets — instead it was spreading across Southern, East, West and North Africa.

Countries with commercial 5G in Africa (selected list & examples)

Below are notable African countries where commercial 5G services were available or being actively rolled out in 2025. This list emphasizes markets where operators publicly launched 5G or where multiple reputable industry reports referenced commercial service.

Southern Africa

• South Africa — One of the earliest and largest African markets for 5G. Major operators (MTN, Vodacom, Rain and Telkom in different forms) led commercial 5G availability and network expansion across cities. South Africa remains a reference market for 5G coverage and performance testing in Africa.

North Africa

• Egypt — 5G deployments and network upgrades by the country’s big operators have boosted mobile performance in North Africa. Egypt has been an early adopter in the region.

• Tunisia — Commercial 5G activity and launches have been reported, making Tunisia one of the North African markets with 5G presence.

• Morocco — Announced commercial launches and operator commitments to expand 5G coverage in 2025 (operator rollouts planned across major cities and airports).

East Africa

• Kenya — Safaricom and other major players have trialled and launched 5G services, and Kenya continued to be a leading East African 5G market in 2024–2025.

• Tanzania — Vodacom and Airtel/Telco activity has been recorded with 5G NR showing up in operator portfolios.

West Africa

• Nigeria — Major operators in Africa’s largest market accelerated 5G rollouts; commercial 5G in Nigeria was being expanded by leading groups (MTN, Airtel and others) often focusing on key cities and industrial zones.

• Ghana — Reported commercial 5G availability with operators and trials moving to live service in selected areas.

Central & Island Markets

• Mauritius — Small but advanced market where operators introduced commercial 5G services.

• Congo (Brazzaville) / DR Congo — Operators including MTN and others were deploying or announcing 5G services in parts of Central Africa in 2024–2025.

Additional markets with 5G activity

Industry reports and news coverage in 2025 highlighted Senegal, Somalia, Rwanda, Zambia, Uganda, Mozambique and several other countries as either having launched commercial 5G or moved from trials into initial commercial stages. Coverage and scope varied widely — in many countries 5G began in capital cities and industrial corridors rather than nationwide.

Note: exact lists differ between data providers because: (1) some trackers count pre-commercial or city-limited launches; (2) others require nationwide commercial availability to count the country. Always check the latest regulator or operator statements for country- and city-level coverage.

Who are the main African 5G players?

The continent’s 5G expansion is driven by a mix of pan-African groups and local operators:

• MTN Group — active across many markets (South Africa, Nigeria, Ghana, etc.) and central to regional 5G rollouts.

• Vodacom / Vodafone — major 5G activity especially in South Africa and Tanzania.

• Airtel Africa — rolling out upgrades and partnering in shared network deals to accelerate 5G reach.

• Local incumbents & regional operators — in North Africa and island states, national incumbents and smaller carriers also launched 5G, often in partnership with global vendors.

Network-sharing agreements (e.g., between MTN and Airtel in certain markets) and tower/fiber partnerships have become common strategies to reduce capex while expanding 5G footprint.

Typical 5G use cases emerging in African markets

1. Fixed Wireless Access (FWA): Delivering high-speed home and SME broadband where fiber penetration is low — a fast route to monetise 5G spectrum.

2. Enterprise & industrial connectivity: Low-latency links for manufacturing, mines, ports and logistics hubs.

3. Mobile broadband for consumers: Faster speeds in urban centres and events; however device affordability remains a barrier for mass consumer 5G adoption.

4. Edge/cloud services and private networks: Partnerships with cloud providers and local data centres to host edge workloads closer to users, especially in business-sensitive sectors.

Challenges slowing 5G scale-up in Africa

• Device affordability: Many users still rely on 2G/3G/4G devices; operators are running device-subsidy or low-cost smartphone programmes to avoid creating a digital divide.

• Spectrum allocation & regulation: Timely, transparent spectrum auctions and allocations are critical; delays slow operator deployments.

• Capex & infrastructure: Building dense 5G sites is expensive; network-sharing and tower deals are being used to lower costs.

• Backhaul & power: 5G requires robust fiber backhaul and reliable power — both of which remain spotty in parts of the continent.

What to expect next (late 2025 and beyond)

Industry analysts expected the number of African markets reporting commercial 5G to continue increasing through 2025 and into 2026, with operators focusing on more affordable consumer devices, expanded FWA, and enterprise solutions to justify investment. Regulatory reforms, increasing fibre builds and shared infrastructure agreements will also shape how quickly 5G moves from city pilots to meaningful national coverage.

Short FAQ

Q: Is 5G nationwide in African countries listed above?
A: Not generally — most commercial 5G launches in 2025 focused on cities, industrial zones and high-traffic corridors; nationwide coverage remains a multi-year effort.

Q: Which operator leads 5G speeds in Africa?
A: Performance varies by market; independent speed reports in 2025 highlight strong 5G performance in South Africa with certain operators ranking high in median 5G speeds.

Q: How can businesses benefit from 5G today?
A: Immediate benefits include FWA for remote offices, private 5G for factories/mines, and lower-latency cloud access for critical applications — especially where fibre is limited.

By 2025 5G in Africa had moved decisively beyond proofs of concept — dozens of operators and some two-dozen-plus countries reported commercial activity, with strong pockets of coverage in Southern, North, East and West Africa. The rollout pattern is pragmatic: cities and enterprise sites first, then gradual expansion. For businesses and policymakers the priority is clear: lower device costs, smarter spectrum management and shared infrastructure will unlock the real economic potential of 5G across the continent. For readers who need a country-by-country, regulator-verified map of coverage, check operator press releases and national telecom regulators for the most precise, city-level updates.