Sub-Saharan Africa will remain the world's fastest-growing mobile region over the coming years, with millions of young African consumers expected to become mobile users for the first time.

This is according to research released by GSMA, which reveals that over 160 million new unique mobile subscribers will be added across the region by 2025, bringing the total to 623 million, representing around half of the region's population, up from 456 million (44%) in 2018.

Subscriber additions will be concentrated in high-growth markets such as Nigeria and Ethiopia, the report says.

Head of Sub-Saharan Africa, GSMA Akinwale Goodluck said, "A new generation of youthful 'digital natives' across Sub-Saharan Africa are set to fuel customer growth and drive adoption of new mobile services that are empowering lives and transforming businesses. With mobile technology at the heart of Sub-Saharan Africa's digital journey, it is essential for policymakers in the region to implement policies and best practices that ensure sustainable growth in the mobile industry, and enable the transition to next-generation mobile networks."

The study calculates that the mobile ecosystem across Sub-Saharan Africa generated almost US$150-billion in economic value last year - equivalent to 8.6% of the region's GDP.

It is forecast to generate almost US$185 billion (9.1% of GDP) by 2023.

The 2019 Sub-Saharan Africa edition of the GSMA's Mobile Economy report series is being published at the 'Mobile 360 – Africa' event this week in Kigali, Rwanda.

Speakers scheduled to present at the event include:

* Daddy Mukadi Bujitu, Chief Regulatory Officer, Airtel

* Toyin Adeniji, Executive Director, Bank of Industry of Nigeria

* Eunice Ntobedzi, CEO, EmPowered FinTech

* Princess Sikhanyiso, Dlamini, Minister of ICT, Eswatini

* Frehiwot Tamiru, CEO, Ethio Telecom

* Reine Mbang Essobmadje, Founder and CEO Evolving Consulting and Chair of Digital Economy Committee, GICAM

* Daisy Zhu, 5G Chief Marketing Officer, Huawei

* Simon Karikari, Managing Director, Millicom (Tigo) Tanzania

* Tawanda Sibanda, Partner, McKinsey

* Bart Hofker, CEO, MTN Rwanda

* Victor Alagbe, Chief Operating Officer and Blockchain Strategist, OneWattSolar

* Patrick Nyirishema, Director General, Rwanda Utilities Regulatory Authority (RURA)

* Stephen Chege, Chief Corporate Affairs Officer, Safaricom

* Debra Mallowah, Chief Development Officer, Safaricom

The new report also reveals that:

·         Around 239 million people, equivalent to 23% of the region’s population, use the mobile internet on a regular basis.

·         Smartphones accounted for 39% of mobile connections[ii] in Sub-Saharan Africa in 2018, forecast to increase to two thirds of connections by 2025.

·         3G will overtake 2G to become the leading mobile technology in Sub-Saharan Africa this year.

·         4G will account for almost one in four connections by 2025. However, 4G uptake is being dampened in some markets by the high cost of 4G devices and delays in assigning 4G spectrum.

·         The region’s mobile operators are increasing investment in their networks and are expected to spend US$60-billion (capex) on network infrastructure and services between 2018 and 2025 - almost a fifth of this total being invested in new 5G networks.

·         Sub-Saharan Africa’s mobile ecosystem supports around 3.5 million jobs, directly and indirectly, and last year contributed almost US$15.6-billion to the funding of the public sector through consumer and operator taxes.