Ralph Mupita champions $30 smartphone initiative to empower millions in Africa
- Nhlanhla Muthe
- Oct 24
- 2 min read
MTN CEO Ralph Mupita has hailed the GSMA’s new affordable smartphone initiative as a “game changer” for Africa, urging governments and OEMs to make 4G devices accessible to all. The digital leap could bring tens of millions of Africans online and accelerate the continent’s digital economy.
By Nhlanhla Muthe , Senior Writer
MTN Group President and CEO Ralph Mupita has thrown his weight behind a new GSMA-led industry initiative that could transform Africa’s digital landscape by making affordable 4G smartphones available to millions still offline.
Speaking at MWC25 Kigali, Mupita said the move marks a game changer for the continent, where the majority of citizens remain excluded from the digital economy despite widespread network coverage.
“A lot of progress has been made to extend wireless communication across sub-Saharan Africa. But with a 64% usage gap, there is still a massive job to be done and that job is an opportunity. Affordable smartphones priced between $20 and $30 will be a game changer across the region,” said Mupita.
According to GSMA’s 2025 State of Mobile Internet Connectivity Report, over 3 billion people globally live within broadband coverage but do not use the internet, with handset affordability identified as the main barrier. To address this, the GSMA, together with Airtel, Axian Telecom, Ethio Telecom, MTN, Orange, and Vodacom, has set out a new baseline for entry-level 4G smartphones that balance cost, durability, and performance.
The GSMA says a $40 device could bring mobile internet access to 20 million more Africans, while a $30 handset could connect 50 million. GSMA Director General Vivek Badrinath supported Mupita when he said access to a smartphone should not be a luxury.
“It is a lifeline to essential services, income opportunities, and participation in the digital economy,” he declared.
Mupita urged governments to support the initiative by removing taxes and import duties on low-cost smartphones and called for global OEMs to stop shipping 2G and 3G-only devices to Africa. “We cannot bridge the digital divide if we don’t make the pivot. This is the foundation for Africa’s participation in the AI revolution and a future where no African is left behind,” he said.
