The GSMA's Mobile Economy Africa 2026 report highlights South Africa's removal of a 9% excise duty on entry-level smartphones as a model policy for the continent. The reform, effective April 2025, triggered an immediate rebound in entry-level smartphone sales, a decline in feature phone usage, and a surge in 4G/5G adoption. The GSMA argues Africa's main digital barrier is now affordability rather than network coverage, with entry-level handsets costing an average of 24% of monthly income in sub-Saharan Africa. The GSMA's Handset Affordability Coalition is using South Africa as a template to push other African governments to remove taxes on devices priced below $100. Mobile technologies contributed $240 billion (7.8% of GDP) to Africa's economy in 2025, with projections reaching $290 billion by 2030.
