https://en.sputniknews.africa/20251219/africas-5g-moment-and-the-promise-of-digital-leapfrogging-1081612908.html
Africa’s 5G Moment and the Promise of Digital Leapfrogging
Africa’s 5G Moment and the Promise of Digital Leapfrogging
Sputnik Africa
Across Africa, 5G is opening a fresh chapter in the continent’s digital journey. Beyond faster internet, it represents an opportunity to strengthen services... 19.12.2025, Sputnik Africa
2025-12-19T14:41+0100
2025-12-19T14:41+0100
2025-12-19T14:41+0100
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Africa’s 5G Moment and the Promise of Digital Leapfrogging
Sputnik Africa
Across Africa, 5G is opening a fresh chapter in the continent’s digital journey. Beyond faster internet, it represents an opportunity to strengthen services, expand innovation, and unlock new economic possibilities, building on Africa’s long history of adapting technology in ways that respond to local needs and ambitions.
From mobile money to digital health, Africa has repeatedly shown how connectivity can be reimagined to fit everyday realities. As 5G gradually enters the picture, attention is turning to how policy, infrastructure, and skills can help translate technical capacity into real gains for communities, businesses, and public services across the continent.In a conversation with Global South Pole, Dr. Uchenna Jerome Orji highlighted that 5G should be seen as a continuation of Africa’s pattern of technological leapfrogging. He noted that while rollout is still evolving, the technology has strong potential to deepen progress already made with earlier networks, especially by supporting innovation that reflects African contexts rather than copying external models.However, the telecommunications expert pointed out that for 5G to deliver its full value, it must be supported by steady investment in foundational systems, especially electricity, skills development, and local capacity. In his view, strengthening these basics alongside network rollout ensures that 5G growth is sustainable and broadly shared rather than uneven.To find out more, tune in to the Global South Pole podcast, brought to you by Sputnik Africa.In addition to the website, you can also catch our episodes on Telegram.► You can also listen to our podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Deezer, Castbox, Pocket Casts, Afripods, Podcast Addict, Overcast, and Mave Stream.► Check out all the episodes of Global South Pole
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podcasts, africa, 5g, network, technology, digital technology , information and communications technology (ict), telecommunications, telegram, аудио
podcasts, africa, 5g, network, technology, digital technology , information and communications technology (ict), telecommunications, telegram, аудио
Africa’s 5G Moment and the Promise of Digital Leapfrogging
Aliyu Bello
Correspondent, Podcast Host
Across Africa, 5G is opening a fresh chapter in the continent’s digital journey. Beyond faster internet, it represents an opportunity to strengthen services, expand innovation, and unlock new economic possibilities, building on Africa’s long history of adapting technology in ways that respond to local needs and ambitions.
From mobile money to digital health, Africa has repeatedly shown how connectivity can be reimagined to fit everyday realities. As 5G gradually enters the picture, attention is turning to how policy, infrastructure, and skills can help translate technical capacity into real gains for communities, businesses, and public services across the continent.
In a conversation with Global South Pole, Dr. Uchenna Jerome Orji highlighted that 5G should be seen as a continuation of Africa’s pattern of technological leapfrogging. He noted that while rollout is still evolving, the technology has strong potential to deepen progress already made with earlier networks, especially by supporting innovation that reflects African contexts rather than copying external models.
“What we've been able to achieve with 3G is massive, actually. You have mobile money and mobile health platforms. You have lots of mobile technologies that have been deployed through 3G and 4G. Now, 5G is something that could scale this up and enable us to create our own kind of smart cities—not the kind you have in Europe, but the African smart cities we want. So, I see 5G doing the same thing, and even going beyond what 3G and 4G achieved,” Dr. Orji said.
However, the telecommunications expert pointed out that for 5G to deliver its full value, it must be supported by steady investment in foundational systems, especially electricity, skills development, and local capacity. In his view, strengthening these basics alongside network rollout ensures that 5G growth is sustainable and broadly shared rather than uneven.
To find out more, tune in to the Global South Pole podcast, brought to you by Sputnik Africa.
In addition to the website, you can also catch our episodes on
Telegram.► Check out all the episodes of Global South Pole 
