Bridging the connectivity gap and delivering on the Sustainable Development Goals
Our infrastructure-sharing model reduces physical and environmental impacts, as well as allowing our MNO customers to rollout their networks more quickly and cost-effectively.
By growing our business and increasing access to mobile connectivity, we are driving digital inclusion across Africa and the Middle East. Mobile is helping to connect individuals and communities to a range of life-enhancing services in areas such as education, healthcare and jobs – in some cases, for the very first time.
We are tackling a vast infrastructure and connectivity gap in our markets. In fact, Sub-Saharan Africa would need an additional one million towers to match the same density per person seen in Europe and the US.
There is also a major mobile penetration gap – with less than half of the population being mobile subscribers.
In addition, the deployment of mobile broadband infrastructure (3G and 4G) can play a significant role in increasing household welfare and reducing poverty in Africa. We have huge growth and development opportunities to work with MNOs to rollout 3G, 4G and in the future, 5G technologies for our communities.
(1) GSMA database, UN World Population Prospects, TowerXchange, Statista
(2) GSMA database (accessed November 2021), UN World Population Prospects
(3) GSMA The Mobile Economy 2021, GSMA The Mobile Economy, North America 2021