Telecom sector must be recognized as core economic pillar, says Airtel regulatory chief

The telecommunications industry must be reclassified as a core economic pillar rather than a support sector to drive growth across the continent, according to the chief regulatory officer of Airtel Africa.

Speaking Tuesday at a strategic summit in Kinshasa, Daddy Mukadi, who also chairs the GSMA Africa Policy Group, told government and industry leaders that digital technology has become the foundation for all other sectors, including security, finance, transport and health.

The remarks were delivered during the first edition of the Etats Generaux du Secteur des Postes et Telecommunications, an event attended by President Felix Tshisekedi to establish a roadmap for the digital future of the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Mukadi argued that the current framing of the industry limits its potential. He cited GSMA data showing the mobile sector contributed $220 billion to Africa’s economy in 2024—roughly 7.7 percent of the continent’s gross domestic product—with projections reaching $270 billion by 2030.

Despite the economic impact and the fact that mobile networks cover 95 percent of the population, nearly 75 percent of Africans remain offline. Mukadi identified the high cost of devices and infrastructure as the primary barriers to closing this usage gap.

To address these challenges, the Airtel executive proposed specific policy shifts, including a three-year exemption on import duties for entry-level smartphones and a similar tax holiday for telecommunications equipment. These measures, he said, are essential to expanding coverage and connecting more communities to the digital economy.

Airtel Africa currently provides telecommunications and mobile money services to 173.8 million customers across 14 sub-Saharan countries.