Tech firms collaborate in Kigali to boost Africa's surging mobile user base

By NhlaNhla Muthe

The event wiill examine ways to improve Africa's growing position in the global digital economy.

Africa's mobile market is predicted to grow to 700 million unique customers by the end of the decade, and technology leaders and industry experts are visiting Rwanda this week for MWC Kigali 2025.

The summit, held by the GSMA from October 21 to 23 at the Kigali Convention Centre and inaugurated by Rwandan President Paul Kagame tomorrow, will examine ways to improve Africa's growing position in the global digital economy.

The ceremony takes place just a few days after MTN became the first African mobile operator to achieve 300 million users, a remarkable milestone that highlights the scale and speed of Africa's connectivity revolution.

MTN Group President and CEO Ralph Mupita, who will be one of the keynote speakers, with his topic Africa’s Future First, Determining the Path to a Digital Future, said the history-making milestone marks more than just growth in numbers

“It’s about digital and financial inclusion that ensures every African can access the benefits of connectivity. Our vision remains clear: to lead digital solutions for Africa’s progress,” he said.

Vivek Badrinath, Director General of the GSMA, stressed that this year’s MWC Kigali is about unlocking Africa’s next growth frontier. “With mobile penetration deepening and technologies like 5G and AI taking root, Africa is ready to shape its own digital destiny,” he stated.

Badrinath also emphasized that as President Kagame officially opens the summit, Rwanda once again positions itself as Africa’s innovation capital. “This is a fitting stage for the continent’s most important tech dialogue of the year,” he said.