The Global System for Mobile Communications Association (GSMA) and six of Africa’s largest mobile operators – Airtel, Axian Telecom, Ethio Telecom, MTN, Orange and Vodacom – have proposed a groundbreaking baseline set of minimum requirements for an affordable entry-level 4G smartphone.
The initiative, which is part of the GSMA Handset Affordability Coalition, is designed to accelerate digital inclusion across the continent by lowering the cost of smartphone ownership for millions who remain unconnected. Smartphone affordability remained the single largest barrier to mobile Internet adoption in Sub-Saharan Africa.
According to the GSMA’s State of Mobile Internet Connectivity 2025 Report, more than three billion people globally live within mobile broadband coverage but do not use the Internet, with affordability of handsets cited as the top challenge. GSMA Intelligence estimated that a $40 smartphone could bring mobile internet within reach for an additional 20 million people in Sub-Saharan Africa, while a $30 handset could enable up to 50 million to get connected.
The requirements propose baseline specifications for memory, RAM, camera quality, display size, battery performance and other features to ensure a viable, long-lasting 4G smartphone experience at a significantly reduced cost. Director-General of the GSMA, Vivek Badrinath, 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.
