North African countries are rapidly pulling ahead in the race for fifth-generation (5G) connectivity, creating a Mediterranean digital corridor that is setting the pace for the rest of the continent.
From Tunisia to Libya, the region has become a practical model of how clear policies, strong investment and concentrated urban demand can accelerate Africa’s digital transformation. Industry analysts say the speed of deployment seen across North Africa over the past year shows what is possible when regulators and telecom operators move in sync.
“What we have seen in the past year in that region is a result of early regulatory clarity and disciplined investment, which has allowed 5G to scale quickly,” said Mark Mokoka, a South African connectivity analyst and lecturer at the Durban University of Technology.
Libya’s Almadar Aljadid switched on commercial 5G services in central Tripoli in late January 2026, marking the latest step in a regional wave that began in Tunisia and extended through Egypt, Morocco and Algeria. For now, Libya’s rollout is concentrated in key districts of the capital, with phased expansion planned nationwide in the coming months.
A Region Pulling Ahead
By contrast, much of sub-Saharan Africa is still struggling to move beyond pilot phases and limited city deployments. Projections indicate that by the end of 2025, Africa had roughly 54 million 5G connections — just 3.8 per cent of total mobile subscriptions. The vast majority of users remain on 4G and older networks, despite operators investing over $28 billion in mobile infrastructure over the past five years.
North Africa’s advantage has been built on city-first strategies. Morocco’s rollout initially focused on Casablanca, Rabat and key industrial zones, backed by partnerships with major network vendors. Algeria followed a similar path, targeting dense population centres to maximise early returns. Tunisia and Egypt also prioritised major urban hubs where data demand is highest and returns on investment are quicker.
The result is a continuous belt of live commercial 5G networks stretching across Africa’s Mediterranean coastline.
Residents in Tripoli and other North African cities are already reporting noticeably faster streaming, smoother video calls and lower latency for gaming and business applications. Startups in these markets are beginning to test cloud-based services and mobile platforms that were previously constrained by 4G limitations.
Policy as the Game Changer
Regulators have played a decisive role. In Morocco, spectrum licences came with strict coverage obligations that pushed operators to move quickly in urban areas. Egypt’s spectrum auctions attracted heavy investment from major telecom firms, while Tunisia and Algeria structured licensing around phased but predictable city-first deployments.
This policy consistency has allowed operators to plan long-term and compress rollout timelines — a luxury not available in many other African markets where spectrum delays, regulatory uncertainty and high licence costs have slowed progress.
Another quiet driver of growth has been 5G fixed wireless access (FWA), which uses mobile networks to deliver home and business broadband. In urban North African markets where fibre penetration is limited, FWA is emerging as an early commercial use case, helping operators monetise their networks while expanding high-speed internet access.
Nigeria’s Struggle with Coverage Gaps
The contrast is particularly stark in Nigeria, Africa’s largest mobile market. Data from recent quality-of-experience assessments show that average 5G coverage gaps remain wide, with more than half the time 5G-enabled devices unable to latch onto a 5G signal.
In Lagos and Abuja, average 5G availability has hovered below one-third, meaning most compatible smartphones still operate on 4G networks. Although Nigeria launched 5G services in 2022, rollout has been slowed by infrastructure challenges, unreliable power supply, fibre cuts and the high cost of expanding base stations.
As a result, only a small fraction of Nigeria’s mobile subscribers actively use 5G, while 4G continues to dominate overall connections.
Urban Density Makes the Difference
Analysts say dense urban populations have made it easier for North African operators to demonstrate immediate impact. In rural-heavy markets elsewhere on the continent, high deployment costs, device affordability issues and power constraints remain major barriers.
While other African countries can learn from the North African model, experts warn that success depends on coordinated spectrum planning, affordable 5G devices and sustained capital investment.
Looking ahead, projections show 5G could account for more than one-fifth of Africa’s mobile connections by 2030 — nearly 390 million users. For now, however, North Africa has taken an early lead, offering a glimpse of what a fully connected African digital economy could look like if policy, investment and demand align.
