The number of mobile subscriptions in Sub-Saharan Africa is projected to surpass 1.1 billion by the end of 2029, with 5G subscriptions experiencing the fastest growth at a rate of 60% annually between 2023 and 2029, according to a recent report.

Fixed Wireless Access (FWA) is identified as a crucial technology to meet the growing broadband demands in Africa.

Key markets such as South Africa, Angola, Nigeria, Kenya, Zambia, and Zimbabwe have already launched 5G FWA services due to its cost-effectiveness, rapid deployment capabilities, and inherent flexibility.

Hossam Kandeel, Vice President and Head of Global Customer Unit MTN and Customer Unit MTN Africa at Ericsson Middle East and Africa, emphasized the significance of this shift.

"In the latest edition of the Ericsson Mobility Report, it is found that Sub-Saharan Africa is poised to remain the region with the highest growth in total mobile data traffic in the forecast period. This growth will be driven by the expansion of 4G network coverage across the continent and the increasing affordability of data and smartphones."

Ericsson's report predicts a substantial surge in global 5G subscriptions, projecting an increase of over 330% from 1.6 billion to 5.3 billion between the end of 2023 and 2029.

The forecast also anticipates that 5G coverage will be accessible to more than 45% of the global population by the close of 2023, with a significant expansion to reach 85% by the conclusion of 2029.