Mobile data traffic in Sub-Saharan Africa is estimated to grow by 12 times the current figures, with total traffic increasing from 0.33 Exabytes (EB) per month to 4EB by 2025. Meanwhile, average traffic per smartphone is expected to reach 7.1GB over the forecast period. These forecasts are included in the June 2020 edition of the Ericsson Mobility Report, along with projections for data traffic growth, and regional subscriptions.
In Sub-Saharan Africa,
LTE accounted for around 11% of subscriptions in 2019. Over the forecast
period, mobile broadband subscriptions are predicted to increase,
reaching 72% of mobile subscriptions. LTE share
will reach around 30% by the end of the forecast period, and LTE
subscriptions are set to triple, increasing from 90 million in 2019 to
270 million in 2025.
Fadi Pharaon, President
of Ericsson Middle East and Africa, says: “Technology brings an
unprecedented opportunity to address the challenges of sustainable
economic development and improve the livelihood of people
in Africa. The latest edition of Ericsson’s Mobility Report highlights
Africa as one of the fastest growing mobile markets and reiterates the
need for a more efficient technology, higher data rates and availability
of ample spectrum. The Report highlights
as well the importance of mobile and fixed networks as key components of
critical national infrastructure to sustain and evolve emerging
economies during remote work times.”
Driving factors behind
the growth of mobile broadband subscriptions include a young and growing
population with increasing digital skills, and more affordable
smartphones. Over the forecast period, discernible
volumes of 5G subscriptions are expected from 2022, reaching 3% by 2025.
Value of Digital Infrastructure
The spread of COVID-19
during the first part of 2020 impacted all parts of society globally,
including the telecommunications sector. The Ericsson Mobility Report
takes an incisive look at the role of networks
and digital infrastructure in keeping societies running in Africa, and
families connected during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The COVID-19 pandemic has
had a substantial impact on people in many countries and their daily
lives, but consumers see resilient networks as a vital help in coping
with everyday life. In a recent study conducted
by Ericsson Consumer Lab, 83% of the respondents from 11 countries
around the world claim that ICT helped them a lot to cope with the
lockdown. The results show an increased adoption and usage of ICT
services, such as e-learning and wellness apps, that have
helped consumers adapt to new realities, underpinned by connectivity.
FWA takes an expanded role
Around half of all
households in the world – over 1 billion – do not have a fixed broadband
connection. Given the current speed and capacity of cellular networks
with LTE, there are opportunities for African service
providers to deliver broadband services to homes and small and
medium-sized enterprises economically using Fixed Wireless Access (FWA).
FWA
delivered over 4G or 5G is a cost-efficient alternative to
providing broadband in areas with limited access to fixed broadband
services such as DSL, cable or fiber. Several factors are driving the
FWA market in Africa and beyond: demand from consumers
and businesses for digital services along with government-sponsored
programs and subsidies.
FWA
connections are forecast to reach nearly 160 million by end of 2025 –
generating about 25% of global mobile network data traffic. At the end
of 2019, global FWA
data traffic was estimated to have been around 15% of the global total.
It is now projected to grow nearly 8 fold to reach 53 exabytes in 2025,
representing 25%of the global total mobile network data traffic.
The report also includes
forecasts on data traffic growth, regional subscriptions plus insights
into cloud-based gaming as well as in-depth articles on private
dedicated networks and Verizon’s millimeter wave strategy
for targeted metropolitan areas.
