Free Reads Mobile Coverage Reaches 91% Of Africans Yet 1 Billion Remain Offline, GSMA Finds By Staff Reporter  |  June 18, 2026 Mobile technologies contributed USD 240 B to Africa’s economy in 2025, equivalent to 7.8% of the continent’s GDP, according to a report released this week by the GSMA, the industry body representing mobile operators globally. The sector supported roughly 13 million jobs and generated USD 45 B in public revenues through taxes, spectrum fees and license payments. The mobile industry’s economic contribution is expected to reach USD 290 B by 2030 as digital adoption deepens. But the report also highlights a striking disconnect. While mobile broadband networks now reach most of the continent, nearly 1 billion Africans who live within coverage areas do not use mobile internet. Only about 9% of Africans live outside mobile broadband coverage. The challenge, the GSMA said, has shifted from expanding networks to ensuring people can afford and use them. The usage gap Affordability is the primary…