In less than ten years, 5G has gone from being a technological privilege to a concrete reality in nearly 30 African countries. A significant advancement that confirms the continent’s foothold in the global digital economy, despite ongoing challenges.

5 G technology is rapidly advancing across Africa, driven by growing momentum throughout the continent. According to the African Telecommunications Union (ATU), 79 telecom operators in 41 African countries were investing in 5G in 2024. Among these, 35 operators had already launched commercial networks in 21 countries. In June 2021, the Global System for Mobile Communications Association (GSMA) reported seven active 5G commercial networks across five African markets. Vodacom Lesotho was the first operator to launch 5G on the continent in 2018.

In 2024, 5G technology accounted for 25% of mobile network coverage in urban areas, compared to 73% for 4G, as per the International Telecommunication Union. Regarding subscribers, 5G had over 26 million users out of approximately 600 million unique mobile subscribers in sub-Saharan Africa in 2024.

Including North Africa, particularly Tunisia and Egypt, where commercial 5G became available in February and June 2025, respectively, these figures would likely be higher for the entire continent. Agence Ecofin data from June 2025 shows 48 telecom operators had already launched 5G in 28 African countries.

Source: Ecofin Agency

Given the high number of telecom operators interested in 5G, notably in Algeria, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Morocco, Côte d’Ivoire, and Cape Verde, new commercial rollouts are expected by the end of the year. However, many obstacles continue to hinder widespread 5G adoption across Africa.

Challenges and Opportunities

The primary barriers to 5G adoption in Africa remain in five key areas: mobile devices, services, infrastructure, spectrum, and policy or regulation. The ATU explains that the high cost of 5 G-compatible phones prevents mass adoption of 5G services. The ATU suggests that while 5G compatible phones are available from vendors starting at $150, many people in African countries cannot afford smartphones at current prices. Therefore, governmental, regulatory, and operator-level interventions will be necessary to make devices more affordable and foster an environment conducive to continued 4G growth and 5G adoption.

The underdeveloped nature of practical 5G use cases also slows the technology’s uptake in Africa. This includes both personal and industrial applications involving emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence, big data, and the Internet of Things, covering smart cities, smart ports, immersive remote learning, health monitoring systems, smart grids and surveillance, and automated production chains. Without concrete applications, the ATU notes that 5G is primarily used to improve internet speeds. The organization warns that if this trend continues, 5G may remain a luxury product reserved for businesses and affluent segments of society.

Furthermore, other challenges limiting the widespread rollout of 5G networks in Africa include the high cost of deploying telecom technology, the unavailability of essential 5G frequency spectrum, the lack of capacity and availability of fiber optic networks, insufficient incentives for inter-industry collaboration, and the absence of standards or guidelines on cross-border data exchange management. The African branch of the ITU emphasizes that appropriately addressing these issues will make 5G a growth lever for African economies.

By 2030, the GSMA estimates that 5G alone could contribute $10 billion to the regional economy, representing 6% of the mobile sector's total economic impact.

Muriel Edjo

In 2023, Orange launched Lead the Future, a new business model driven by responsibility and efficiency. This approach is redefining the boundaries between economic performance and social impact, with visible results multiplying year after year across its markets, especially in Africa.

On June 5, 2025, Orange Middle East and Africa (OMEA) marked the first anniversary of Orange Engage for Change. This program of social and environmental initiatives showcases OMEA's positive impact actions while allowing employees to get directly involved and make a tangible difference in communities and regions. This innovative program, which highlights OMEA’s initiatives through the Orange Foundation, Orange Digital Centers, Orange Villages, and other projects, was simultaneously rolled out across its 17 markets, a first for the continent. The pioneering initiative engages every employee on key societal and environmental issues in the countries where the group operates. Since its 2024 launch, 5,676 employees, nearly a third of the total workforce, have taken part in on-the-ground actions. They have shared their experience, skills, and support in education, digital access, the environment, and social solidarity. Each OMEA employee received three workdays per year from their local entity for community missions. These missions were grouped into over 280 engagement opportunities listed on the program's dedicated platform.

At the 2024 launch, Asma Ennaifer, Executive Director of CSR, ODC and Communications for Orange Middle East and Africa, explained that Orange Engage for Change was born from a desire to empower employees. She emphasized that every initiative and action taken by employees demonstrates their collective ability to bring about significant change. Ennaifer expressed pride in seeing this commitment materialize and witness the positive impact it generates.

The education sector proved the most dynamic, offering 123 engagement opportunities to staff, with 54 specifically dedicated to digital skills development. Regarding OMEA’s investment in skills development, the telecom company highlighted digital inclusion as a powerful lever for reducing inequality and empowering individuals. Orange stated its belief that digital technology should foster equal opportunity, not division, making it a core priority within Orange Engage for Change, its solidarity engagement program. The company affirmed that acting for digital inclusion means acting concretely for shared, sustainable progress, fully aligning with its mission as a responsible operator. Meanwhile, the environmental field provided 53 engagement opportunities for Orange employees in Africa and the Middle East.

Local Initiatives, Global Impact

The success of Orange Engage for Change heavily relies on its local roots. Orange missions are tailored to needs identified by subsidiaries and partner non-governmental organizations, ensuring maximum relevance. In Côte d’Ivoire, 150 volunteers collaborated with a local partner to reforest 30 hectares in the Azaguié forest. In Mali, 350 volunteers planted 1,000 trees and supported efforts to create an urban park for children. In Madagascar, 240 volunteers raised climate change awareness among 1,200 students across each of the country's 24 regions. Overall, the actions span a wide range of fields, including education, culture, digital inclusion, environment, and health, illustrating the program’s rich and broad impact. This diversity is part of a broader vision: to use digital technology as a tool for inclusion and to promote societal responsibility at every level.

Millions of Lives Touched

Orange’s social initiatives across Africa and the Middle East impacted the lives of over 18 million people, either directly or indirectly, in just one year. Through hundreds of missions, thousands of children and youth attended coding workshops at Orange Digital Centers. Project leaders gained skills through mentorship sessions, and hundreds of rural women participated in skills training workshops in digital homes. Urban sanitation drives included trash collection, gutter cleaning, electronic waste recycling, construction of modern school toilets, installation of community drinking water points, and distribution of medications in detention centers.

In the Democratic Republic of Congo, for example, the Kisenso General Referral Hospital in Kinshasa received water and electricity storage equipment to improve working conditions for medical staff and patient care. In Guinea, Senegal, Burkina Faso, and Cameroon, digital kits were donated to schools in rural or underprivileged areas to improve students' access to richer learning resources. In Botswana, Madagascar, and Guinea-Bissau, several initiatives were launched at Digital Homes to help women develop entrepreneurial skills and build greater autonomy.

Hélène Ndogmo, a housekeeper and member of the Widows’ Association of Douala 5th, was among the women who discovered digital crafts through workshops organized by Orange Cameroon. She learned to design creations using a drawing program and produce them with a laser cutting machine. Ndogmo expressed great pride in her training, recalling that she previously thought computers were only for college students, not for older mothers like herself.

In the Central African Republic, Noelle Jessica Gandou, a senior-year student in the G2 track at the Technical High School of Bangui, benefited from a sanitation operation led by Orange Centrafrique. After the campaign, which involved removing paper and plastic waste, clearing brush, maintaining green spaces, and cleaning up areas to combat malaria and harmful insects, the teenager expressed her delight. She looked forward to seeing their playground clean and gathering area beautified with flowers, anticipating a lovely view in a few months.

Transformed Employees

One of the key anticipated effects of this program is the transformation observed among the employees themselves. Taking part in field missions provided them with a new perspective on their role in the company and strengthened their sense of social purpose.

Jacqueline Diomandé, an Orange Côte d’Ivoire customer, views Orange Engage for Change as essential. She called it a fantastic initiative, noting the difficulty for office workers to find time to get out and give back to humanity, which everyday habits often inadvertently harm.

In Madagascar, where 563 employees participated, Domoina Randriamananoro, PMO for Technical Logistics, joined colleagues in preparing and delivering care packages to children in hospitals. She explained her involvement as a way to find personal joy through helping and showing solidarity. Randriamananoro spoke of the pleasure of giving and receiving satisfaction in return, expressing pride in making her small contribution and working alongside people who share the same values in the company's varied and far-reaching humanitarian work.

Prisca Mihanta Randrianarisoa, an advertising manager at Orange Madagascar, participated in a digital education workshop for students at a public school in Ambohidratrimo. She happily recounted teaching them how to use tablets, which she believes will benefit their studies and prepare them for the future.

Omar Al-Majali of Orange Jordan added that participating in the reforestation was a unique experience. He noted that it strengthened the bond among colleagues and deepened their commitment to the environment.

Toward a Scaling Up of the Program

Buoyed by the success of this second edition, Orange plans to expand and intensify the program. The goal is to involve one out of every two employees in Orange Engage for Change, increasing team participation in high-impact societal actions. With this new social engagement initiative, OMEA is no longer simply supporting causes; it is actively engaging its people in a process of social transformation. This model is built on the belief that large corporations have a vital role to play in building more just and resilient societies. However, one of the main challenges facing OMEA as it scales up the initiative will be ensuring that the supported projects continue to thrive after employee involvement ends.