Epanding Telecom Reach: Profitably Connecting Rural Africa
This article is part of a series explaining how telecom companies can profitably expand Internet services into underserved rural communities with minimal infrastructure investment. Discover how satellite connectivity, Guest Internet technology, and unlicensed wireless connectivity can enable affordable community WiFi and Fixed Wireless Access (FWA) services that integrate with telecom subscriber management systems and support prepaid access, subscriptions, and Mobile Money payments.
Part 1: The Gap Between Internet Supply and Demand in Africa
The Predicted Growth of Internet Demand
The strongest demand for community WiFi Internet access comes from Africa’s rural populations.
The growth of Internet demand in African markets has been researched by several organizations, and expectations for growth are well documented. The market research firm Statista published research in 2025 showing that demand for Internet access is expected to rise from 645 million users in 2023 to 1.1 billion potential users in 2029. This calculation includes mobile 4G/LTE services and landline connections. Currently, demand is not being met because the expansion of telecommunications infrastructure is limited by telecom companies’ ability to invest in infrastructure development.
Statista’s research states that, in 2025, 70% of Internet traffic originated from mobile smartphones, while 30% originated via landlines. Statista also noted that, in 2025, fewer than 50% of mobile phones were smartphones capable of accessing the Internet. Although Internet use in Africa is growing, the continent’s Internet penetration rate remains below the global average. Statista predicts that Africa could add 250 million new Internet users from 2026 to 2029 and that Internet use will continue to increase during the 2030s. The graph below shows the predicted demand for Internet access in Africa.
Market Internet demand growth information published by Statista. Copyright © Statista, 2025.
The Projected Expansion of 4G/5G Mobile Data Services in Africa
The expected growth in the number of Internet users will have to be accommodated by 4G/5G mobile services. Investment in landline expansion is more expensive than investment in 4G/5G systems and can only be justified in densely populated urban areas.
GSMA, the mobile operator association, provides very reliable market information based on data obtained from mobile carriers. In 2024, there were 416 million mobile subscribers, and this number is expected to increase to 576 million in 2030. The projected increase in mobile Internet users from 2024 to 2030, based on the expansion of 4G/LTE infrastructure, is 160 million new subscribers.
Infographic published by GSMA Intelligence. Copyright © GSMA Intelligence, 2025.
The Internet Market Demand Gap
There is a discrepancy between the projected growth in Internet supply and demand in Africa. Statista predicts that there could be 250 million new Internet users from 2026 to 2029. This equates to a potential increase of 62.5 million new Internet users per year. GSMA’s forecast for network infrastructure expansion indicates capacity for 22.8 million new Internet users per year via 4G/LTE.
Therefore, each year, an additional 39.7 million people in Africa will require Internet access that cannot be provided by 4G/5G infrastructure.
This additional demand for Internet access can only be met through community WiFi services using satellite connectivity. This is the approach that community leaders, ISP entrepreneurs, and some telecom companies are taking to address the demand for Internet access.
Telecom Companies Can Meet Internet Demand with Minimal Investment
The following articles in this series will explain the business models and technology that telecom companies can adopt to accelerate the delivery of Internet services to rural communities.
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