Nigeria’s smartphone affordability blocks mobile internet use despite 80% 4G coverage

Africa’s mobile networks now reach over 80% of Nigerians, yet millions stay offline because smartphones remain too expensive. The GSMA’s 2026 report shows 906 million Africans live within 3G/4G/5G coverage but do not use mobile internet, with Sub-Saharan Africa’s usage at just 25%. In Nigeria, an entry-level internet-enabled phone costs about ₦40,000 (≈$30), which is more than half of the ₦70,000 monthly minimum wage, forcing households to choose between connectivity and essentials like food, rent, or medicine. Component costs—especially memory chips—have surged, pushing the average African smartphone price to $202 and cutting shipments of sub‑$100 devices by 34%. High handset prices also hurt operators: networks built with billions in investment generate little return when few can afford to use them, creating a cycle that threatens future expansion. The GSMA argues that solving the affordability gap requires action beyond manufacturers, including lower taxes on entry‑level phones, spectrum‑fee reforms, reduced energy costs for towers, and device‑financing schemes. For Nigerians, the policy question is clear: can government and industry make a capable smartphone cheap enough to unlock the digital economy, or will coverage remain an underused asset?

SOURCE: https://techcabal.com/2026/09/24/africas-30-smartphone-goal-is-becoming-harder-to-achieve/