Africa’s connectivity challenge is changing. For years, the focus was on expanding network coverage and connecting communities beyond the reach of broadband services. Today, the greater opportunity lies elsewhere.
According to a recent GSMA and Partnership for Digital Access in Africa (PDAA) roadmap, around 906 million people across Africa already live within mobile broadband coverage but do not use mobile internet, compared to approximately 122 million who remain outside broadband coverage altogether.
The report argues that the next phase of digital growth will depend not only on expanding networks but also on enabling more people to use them meaningfully.
The implication is significant.
Accelerating migration from legacy 2G and 3G connections to smartphone-based participation on 4G and 5G networks has emerged as one of the most important priorities for Africa’s digital future.
The roadmap estimates that more than 600 million legacy mobile connections across the continent could be converted into meaningful internet use through smartphone adoption and access to broadband services.
In Kenya, this transition is already underway.
The Communications Authority of Kenya has reported a continued decline in 2G and 3G subscriptions as customers migrate to 4G and 5G technologies, while smartphones now account for 63.7percent of all devices connected to mobile networks in the country.
The trend is reflected across the broader digital ecosystem. Data shows smartphone connections have surpassed 52 million, while mobile broadband subscriptions have exceeded 64 million. More than 85percent of mobile internet traffic now runs on 4G and 5G networks, reflecting growing demand for faster, more capable broadband connectivity and digital services.
These developments point to a broader reality: the next phase of digital growth will be driven not simply by network availability, but by helping more people adopt smartphones and make full use of broadband services.
This is why connectivity must be viewed as an ecosystem. Affordable devices, reliable energy, digital skills, online safety and relevant digital services all influence whether people can participate meaningfully in the digital economy. In many communities, the challenge is no longer access to a network, but the barriers that prevent people from fully embracing digital opportunities.
Overcoming these barriers will require continued investment across the broader digital infrastructure ecosystem. For instance, fibre networks are a foundational component of digital connectivity. Beyond connecting homes, businesses and institutions, fibre serves as the backbone of mobile networks, linking thousands of 4G and 5G sites across the country.
As digital connectivity becomes increasingly important to economic activity, access to public services and everyday life, there is a strong case for recognising fibre as critical national infrastructure.
Disruptions caused by fibre cuts, vandalism and accidental damage can affect communities, businesses and essential services, with impacts extending far beyond the telecommunications sector. Protecting fibre infrastructure should therefore be a shared priority for industry, policymakers and other stakeholders.
However, networks are not an end in themselves. Their value lies in the opportunities they create, from access to information and financial services to education, healthcare and economic participation.
Progress should be measured not only by the infrastructure deployed, but by the opportunities it creates for people and businesses. This belief is reflected in Safaricom’s purpose of transforming lives, recognising that the true value of digital infrastructure lies not in what is built, but in what it makes possible.
Africa’s next phase of digital growth will require investment in 4G, 5G, fibre and emerging technologies, alongside collaboration among governments, operators, technology providers and development partners.
Success will not be measured by coverage alone, but by how effectively connectivity improves lives, strengthens businesses and expands opportunity.