Malgré le rythme rapide de la numérisation mondiale, l' Afrique reste à la traîne, due to deficiencies in the infrastructure of people living in rural areas of Africa.

The Union internationale des télécommunications (UIT) has declared in November 2024, only 38% of the African population used the Internet, compared to a global average of 68%. Cell phones have become indispensable for accessing health care, education, and other social services. However, last year, around 43% of the African population still did not have access to a smartphone, which is astounding given the importance of connectivity. A situation that accentuates social inequalities and widens the poverty gap. One of the barriers to accessing smartphones is their cost. The cost of a smartphone for the average African is nearly 30% of their salary, making the transition from 2G phones to 4G or 5G devices difficult. Also, the cost of data is an additional expense that prevents low-income people from accessing these devices.

One of the barriers to accessing smartphones is their cost. The cost of a smartphone for the average African is nearly 30% of their salary, making the transition from 2G phones to 4G or 5G devices difficult. Additionally, the cost of data is an additional expense that prevents low-income individuals from accessing these devices. For example, the cost of 1GB of data in South Africa is $1.17, in Kenya it averages $0.59, while in Nigeria it is $0.38. Another challenge lies in regulatory and policy guidelines. The transition from 2G to 5G in most African countries has left many countries in the lurch, with governments banning or phasing out 2G phones

Par ailleurs, selon l' UIT, By the end of the year, Africa will have 500 million mobile phone users. The mobile phone penetration rate reaches 65% per year, mainly thanks to the dynamism of social media and the growing number of digitised services. Countries where mobile phone access is growing rapidly include Kenya, Nigeria, Nigeria, South Africa, Nigeria, South Africa, Egypt and Ethiopia