5G FWA in Africa: emerging trends and opportunities

African countries have recorded notable increases in mobile internet connectivity over the past five years, fuelled by investments in 3G, 4G and 5G networks, as well as growing smartphone adoption. However, this mobile broadband connectivity falls short for households and businesses with numerous internet-connected devices. 5G fixed wireless access (FWA) has gained traction as a viable alternative to traditional wired solutions. Some 106 operators in more than 52 markets worldwide had launched commercial 5G FWA services as of June 2023.

In Africa, the 5G FWA opportunity is substantial, considering the addressable market for household broadband and the importance of the MSME sector to the region's GDP. Despite issues with device costs and technical hurdles, 5G FWA holds significant potential if the remaining challenges can be addressed collaboratively by stakeholders.