Telecom
5G Remains a Pretty Distant Dream for Majority of Africa’s Mobile Users – Report
In 2020, 3G will still be more popular than 5G. That’s according to mobile analytics company Opensignal in its mobile network experience predictions for next year.
“In the world of telecoms, 2019 will probably be remembered as the year 5G got serious, going from a few initial test networks to reach millions of users in dozens of markets worldwide,” says Peter Boyland, senior analyst at Opensignal.
“So, what can we expect from the next generation, and the rest of the mobile world, in 2020? We’ve had a look into our crystal ball to bring you our top predictions for the coming year,” he says.
Opensignal’s data shows that 27.2% of its global user base has never connected to 4G and instead relies on 3G.
“And this is not just in emerging markets,” Boland says. “Our recent analysis in Germany found that up to half of users don’t connect to 4G networks. 5G adoption is moving too slowly to overtake 3G adoption in just one year, anywhere in the world.”
Distant dream for Africa
Speaking about the African market, Boyland says: “Even in the most advanced African markets, we rarely see 4G availability scores over the 80% mark, meaning that the priority for most operators on the continent remains the roll-out of their 4G networks.
“Nonetheless, some operators in more mature markets, such as MTN in South Africa, are preparing to test 5G networks – suggesting we could see a commercial launch in a major city on the continent as early as 2020. But for the vast majority of Africa’s mobile users, 5G remains a pretty distant dream.”
“As a general rule, we see many more 3G users in less developed countries, where operators are still rolling out 4G networks, while more advanced countries in Europe, Asia and North America have much higher proportion of 4G users,” Boyland says.
“However, in some countries like Germany, for example, they stand out with one of the highest proportions of 3G users – out of our user base – compared to the other developed countries.”
Opensignal’s analysis shows that South Korea is currently leading in terms of 5G subscribers and devices, but it is seeing some of the fastest speeds in the US.
Boyland explains this is a result of widespread US launches using the mmWave spectrum bands, which offer blisteringly fast speeds but limited network propagation.
“The US is in dire need of lower bandwidth spectrum to accelerate 5G coverage, and this issue with spectrum availability is likely to be an ongoing theme globally as 5G becomes more ubiquitous.”
Full experience
Opensignal also predicts 4G will remain an essential foundation for 5G services in 2020.
The mobile analytics firm recently found just 1% of speed tests its US users conducted from 5G New Radio (5G NR) enabled devices used an active 5G connection, compared with 20% of speed tests conducted in early 5G leader South Korea.
Much like the issue with non-standalone 5G networks, this means the user is not getting the full 5G experience, and this issue will continue in 2020 unless more 5G NR devices become available, it says.
The firm also believes spectrum availability will have a huge impact on the 5G experience.
“Our analysis shows that the frequencies used for 4G can have a strong impact on the mobile network experience,” Boyland says.
He points out the majority of early 5G launches have utilised mid-band spectrum, in the two 2GHz to 4GHz ranges.
These bands are ideal for urban roll-out, offering a good mix of data capacity, range and in-building penetration.
“But in some markets, particularly the US, availability of this spectrum is scarce, meaning operators are using higher mmWave bands. Markets using mmWave bands will struggle to offer wide coverage for 5G. Unless both mid-band spectrum and mmWave spectrum is available, the 5G experience will be incomplete,” Boyland says.
Easing congestion
Opensignal also predicts that using 5G to ease congestion on 4G networks will become a key operator use case come next year.
It points out current 5G networks have limited reach, meaning the vast majority of users are still relying heavily on 4G.
“And as data demand continues to rise, we are seeing signs of increased congestion on 4G networks. As 5G networks become more ubiquitous and devices more widespread, operators will look to move their heavy data users onto 5G, to improve the mobile network experience on 4G,” Boyland says.
“The 5G experience will depend on the type of spectrum used. Consumers connecting to 5G on low-band spectrum will not have a dramatically better experience than 4G, but consumers will still see 5G in their phone’s status bar.
“Those using mmWave will see extremely fast speeds, but very little coverage. But all kinds of network experience will be called 5G,” he concludes.
Airtel Africa has announced an agreement with SpaceX to bring Starlink’s high-speed internet services to its customers in Africa. Currently, SpaceX has acquired requisite licenses in 9 out of 14 countries within Airtel Africa’s footprint. Operating licenses for the other 5 countries are under process.
With this collaboration, Airtel Africa will further enhance its next-generation satellite connectivity offerings and augment connectivity for enterprises, businesses, and socio-economic communities like schools, health centres in even the most rural parts of Africa. Airtel Africa will also explore rural coverage expansion through cellular backhauling.
Airtel Africa and SpaceX will continue to explore other areas to promote digital inclusion in the continent as well as SpaceX’s ability to utilize and benefit from Airtel’s ground network infrastructure and other capabilities in Africa.
Airtel Africa MD and Chief Executive Officer Sunil Taldar said: “We remain deeply committed to our vision to enrich the lives of people of Africa. This partnership with SpaceX is a significant step to demonstrate our continued commitment to advancing Africa’s digital economy through strategic investments and partnerships.
Next-generation satellite connectivity will ensure that every individual, business, and community have reliable and affordable voice and data connectivity even in the most remote and currently under-served parts of Africa.”
SpaceX Vice President of Starlink Business Operations Chad Gibbs said: “We are very excited to work with Airtel to bring the transformative benefits of Starlink to the African people in new and innovative ways.
“Starlink is available in more than 20 African markets and this agreement with Airtel highlights how, once licensed, Starlink welcomes the opportunity to join forces with important industry leaders to ensure as many people as possible can benefit from Starlink’s presence. The team at Airtel has played a pivotal role in Africa’s telecom story, so working with them to complement our direct offering across Africa makes great sense for our business.”
In a world often dominated by corporate profit margins and bottom-line thinking, it’s easy to overlook the quieter revolutions happening behind the scenes.
In Nigeria, one such movement is being quietly driven not by executives in boardrooms, but by employees armed with a powerful sense of purpose to go make a difference.
Each year, MTN Nigeria’s staff volunteers set aside their day jobs to participate in Y’ello Care, the company’s corporate social responsibility initiative. But in 2024, they did more than volunteer — they raised over NGN20 million from their own pockets to renovate a crumbling school block at Iwerekun Community High School, Lakowe.
Iwerekun Community High School, before the intervention, was a picture of broken promise: dilapidated classrooms, leaking roofs, and a lack of basic facilities. Students struggled to learn in an environment that failed to inspire hope. Today, thanks to the hands-on efforts of MTN employees, the school boasts refurbished classrooms, a steady water supply, and even an inverter system to ensure stable electricity. More importantly, it offers a renewed sense of possibility.
Speaking about the 2024 edition, Tobe Okigbo, Chief Corporate Services & Sustainability Officer, MTN Nigeria, said, “Y’ello Care is the MTN Nigeria ecosystem giving back and contributing time, money, and resources to make a positive impact. Last year, we focused on education in remote areas, supporting three projects that will provide access to quality education for young Nigerians. And we are eager for the 2025 edition.”
Beyond renovations, previous editions of Y’ello Care have touched lives across Nigeria. Employees have organised vocational skill workshops, distributed learning materials through the KNOSK Charity Education Initiative, and mentored students to equip them for the future. From building digital libraries to delivering healthcare services through mobile clinics, MTN’s staff-led projects focus on long-term empowerment rather than short-term charity.
For many MTN volunteers, Y’ello Care is personal. Christiana Agyei, a participant in one of MTN’s earlier vocational training programmes, went from an unemployed single mother to a thriving entrepreneur. Today, she employs others in her soap-making business, a ripple effect that began with one employee-led workshop.
Over the past 18 years, Y’ello Care has grown into more than a CSR programme; it has become a culture within MTN, a living, breathing part of the company’s identity. Each initiative is not just a project, but a commitment to building the kind of Nigeria where opportunity isn’t determined by postcode or privilege.
At the commissioning of the Lakowe project, Honourable Jamiu Tolani Alli-Balogun, Commissioner of the Lagos State Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education, summed it up simply: “The education sector worldwide thrives on collaboration and commitment between public and private partners.
“MTN’s generous contribution is truly recognised, and I express my deepest gratitude for its unwavering commitment to supporting education in Lagos State.
“This new facility will provide a conducive environment for teaching and learning, enabling our students to reach their full potential.”
As Nigeria faces ever-evolving economic and social challenges, initiatives like Y’ello Care offer a template for how corporations can genuinely transform the communities they serve, not with slogans, but with sleeves rolled up and boots on the ground.
In the end, it’s not about NGN20 million or refurbished buildings. It’s about faith restored, dreams reignited, and the simple, radical idea that change begins with care.
Beyond Education: MTN Y’ello Care’s Broader Impact
While education is a major focus, Y’ello Care has also transformed healthcare and economic opportunities across Nigeria through critical initiatives such as:
Healthcare Interventions: Through the Y’ello Doctor Mobile Medical Intervention Scheme, MTN provided free primary healthcare services to individuals across communities. Since its inception, the initiative has impacted thousands of Nigerians.
Vocational Training & Entrepreneurship Support: In collaboration with partners, MTN facilitated skill acquisition workshops that enabled over 500 Nigerians—including women and persons with disabilities—to launch small businesses. Over 65% of participants actively applied their new skills, and 50% successfully started businesses.
Scholarships & Digital Libraries: MTN Y’ello Care has established digital libraries and awarded scholarships to students, ensuring that quality education is accessible to as many young Nigerians as possible.
As Y’ello Care continues to grow, MTN remains dedicated to expanding its impact, especially in underserved areas. By investing in education, healthcare, and economic empowerment, the initiative is building a brighter future for Nigeria, one project at a time.
Zoho Corporation, a global technology company, today announces the launch of new services and features within Zoho Creator, the company’s low-code application development platform.
This milestone reflects Zoho’s commitment to investing in AI capabilities that offer real-time, practical, and secure advantages to business users.
Zoho Creator’s new AI assistant, CoCreator, facilitates faster, simpler, and more intelligent app building by using voice and written prompts, process flows and business specification documents. Powered by Zia, Zoho’s AI assistant, CoCreator drives shorter go-to-market timeframes and democratises app creation for users of varying skill levels—all without requiring add-ons to a customer’s existing subscription.
Zia has served as a bridge across Zoho’s entire product suite, including Creator, since its launch in 2015. As artificial intelligence becomes increasingly central to business operations, Zoho’s complete ownership of its tech stack and deep AI integration provides customers with a higher level of contextual AI across all company workflows compared to competitors.
This empowers users with a system that truly understands their data and anticipates its usage.
“Since we introduced Creator in 2006, our mission has been to make app development simpler and faster, without compromising on functionality,” said Kehinde Ogundare, Country Head, Zoho Nigeria. “AI now takes us to the next level, shortening the time from an idea to an app. Today’s announcement significantly raises the baseline on speed of quality app creation with deep capabilities, without adding costs.”
Among the newly-launched capabilities is the Idea-to-App Generation feature, allowing businesses to utilise ZohoAI or OpenAI to develop full-fledged applications including contextual integrations, automations, permission sets and insightful dashboards.
By using text or voice prompts, process flow diagrams, or systems documentations like software requirement specifications (SRS), Creator will provide domain-specific suggestions, ideas for relevant fields, and modules tailored to a customer’s business
Contextual component generation AI enhances existing applications by offering prompt-based form generation.
Zia also proactively suggests contextual fields within forms, a functionality missing from many low-code development platforms.
Developers of all skill levels can generate and optimise code blocks contextually within apps using Zia’s prompter and also annotate existing code blocks for future maintenance.
Further advancing business capabilities, users can rapidly transform unstructured data from various file types and databases into custom applications and remove inconsistencies using the AI-driven data cleansing and modelling feature.
Additionally, the newly-introduced AI Skills enables businesses to build apps with specialised skills that interpret natural language instructions in the business context and automate complex chains of actions intelligently. This feature is currently available in early access and will be widely available from June 2025.
Additional enhancements now available include document uploads that allow extraction of relevant information into an application that can then be queried easily; voice-based app generation from mobile devices; and deploying custom AI models for deploying capabilities like OCR, prediction, and object detection.
Zoho Artificial Intelligence Differentiation
Zoho remains steadfast in its commitment to AI innovation guided by principles of customer privacy and delivering true customer value.
Its generic AI models across contextual, assistive, and agentic categories are not trained on consumer data, nor do they retain customer information, ensuring responsible AI use.
Zoho focuses on practical AI tools that assist workers by right-sizing models and without inflating customer costs unnecessarily.
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