Nigeria has been selected as one of six African countries to participate in a pilot programme designed to introduce ultra-affordable 4G smartphones priced at about $40, roughly ₦56,000, as part of a push to expand digital connectivity across the continent.
The initiative, spearheaded by the GSMA through its Handset Affordability Coalition, aims to lower the cost barrier that continues to keep millions of Africans offline despite the availability of mobile broadband coverage.
Under the programme, Nigeria will join the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ethiopia, Rwanda, Tanzania and Uganda as the first markets where the low-cost smartphones will be tested before wider rollout across the region.
The pilot programme was formalised through a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed between the GSMA, a group of leading African telecommunications operators known as the G6, and several original equipment manufacturers (OEM) partners. The agreement sets the stage for the deployment of affordable entry-level 4G devices in selected markets beginning in 2026.
According to the global mobile industry association, the initiative reflects a coordinated effort by network operators, device manufacturers and industry stakeholders to stimulate demand for affordable smartphones, influence manufacturing standards and ultimately reduce the cost of internet-enabled devices across Africa.
The programme builds on earlier efforts launched in October 2025 when the GSMA, working alongside six of Africa’s largest telecom operators—Airtel, Axian Telecom, Ethio Telecom, MTN Group, Orange and Vodacom; introduced a proposal outlining minimum technical requirements for affordable entry-level 4G smartphones.
Those guidelines were first unveiled during the MWC Kigali 2025, where industry leaders agreed on baseline specifications aimed at ensuring that low-cost smartphones could still support essential digital services such as mobile banking, education platforms and e-commerce applications.
The current pilot phase represents a major step toward translating that industry alignment into real-world deployment. By identifying specific markets where the devices can be introduced, the coalition hopes to demonstrate how lower handset prices could significantly expand internet adoption across underserved populations.
The affordability challenge remains one of the biggest barriers to digital inclusion in sub-Saharan Africa. According to findings from the GSMA State of Mobile Internet Connectivity Report 2025, millions of people across the region live within areas covered by mobile broadband networks but remain unable to access the internet because they cannot afford smartphones capable of connecting to those networks.
Globally, the report estimates that more than three billion people reside in locations with mobile internet coverage yet remain offline, largely due to the cost of suitable devices and other affordability constraints.
Industry estimates suggest that reducing smartphone prices to around $40 could enable an additional 20 million people in sub-Saharan Africa to gain access to mobile internet services. If handset prices fall further to about $30, as many as 50 million more users could potentially be connected.
However, achieving such price targets has become increasingly difficult in recent years due to rising global component costs, particularly the rise in the price of memory chips used in smartphones. These cost pressures have narrowed the margin available to manufacturers trying to produce ultra-low-cost devices for emerging markets.
In this context, the GSMA has urged governments across Africa to support the initiative by removing or reducing import duties, taxes and other regulatory charges on entry-level 4G smartphones.
Vivek Badrinath said affordable smartphones represent a critical gateway to economic opportunity and digital participation.
“Affordable smartphones are the gateway to digital and financial inclusion, economic opportunity and innovation.Around 3.1 billion people have mobile network coverage but remain unconnected to the mobile internet. Together with leading African operators, we are sending a clear demand signal to bring low-cost 4G devices to market,” Badrinath said.
He added that in an environment of rising component costs, government policy could play a decisive role in closing the digital divide.
“Removing taxes and import duties on entry-level 4G smartphones will be critical to achieving scale and bridging the usage gap,” Badrinath noted.
The GSMA also emphasised that Africa continues to experience one of the largest mobile internet usage gaps globally. Although broadband infrastructure has expanded rapidly in many markets, adoption levels have not kept pace, leaving millions without access to digital services.
Expanding smartphone access could unlock a wide range of opportunities, including improved access to education platforms, digital healthcare services, mobile financial tools, e-commerce platforms and emerging artificial intelligence applications.
The implications extend beyond connectivity alone. Memory-intensive technologies are becoming increasingly important for on-device artificial intelligence capabilities, language processing tools and the development of local digital ecosystems across the continent.
In response to these evolving needs, the GSMA has also launched an initiative focused on developing African-centric artificial intelligence tools and language models.
At the MWC26 Barcelona, the organisation showcased progress under its AI Language Models Initiative, which aims to develop scalable AI solutions designed specifically for African languages and contexts.
Among the highlights was the launch and live demonstration of the first open Swahili reasoning model, developed in collaboration with MeetKai in Zambia. The model is capable of browsing and translating online content, helping to reduce language barriers that often limit access to digital services across the continent.
The initiative also announced expanded access to computing resources through partnerships with technology firms such as AMD and Cassava Technologies. These collaborations are expected to support African researchers and developers working on local language AI systems.
Additional tools and benchmarks have been introduced to ensure that emerging AI models reflect African cultures, languages and real-world use cases. A continental AI Talent Map has also been developed to highlight the researchers, engineers and institutions driving innovation in local language technologies.
Badrinath noted that while artificial intelligence offers significant opportunities for Africa, its benefits could remain limited without broader access to affordable digital devices.
“AI has the power to amplify Africa’s voices, languages and innovation.But without affordable devices and sustainable component pricing, the benefits risk remaining out of reach for many communities,” he said.
With the pilot markets now identified and partnerships established across the telecom and manufacturing ecosystem, the GSMA believes the groundwork has been laid for a broader expansion of low-cost smartphones across the continent.
However, the organisation stressed that sustained public-sector support will be essential to transform the pilot programme into a large-scale initiative capable of connecting millions more Africans to the digital economy.
The GSMA also disclosed that the conversation around handset affordability and digital inclusion will continue later in the year as industry leaders and policymakers gather to review progress made under the initiative.
According to the association, it will reconvene members of the coalition alongside government representatives and other stakeholders at the MWC Kigali 2026 scheduled for June 16–18, 2026, where discussions will focus on evaluating the early outcomes of the affordable smartphone pilot programme
