GSMA: African operators pay 24% more for less spectrum

A GSMA Intelligence report found African operators held about 570MHz of sub-7GHz spectrum on average at the end of 2025 versus 750MHz elsewhere, paying 0.82% of revenue per 100MHz against 0.66% globally. The GSMA urges lower auction reserve prices, 20-year licences and published spectrum road maps.

• African operators hold about 570MHz of sub-7GHz spectrum versus 750MHz globally
• Spectrum costs 0.82% of revenue per 100MHz in Africa versus 0.66% elsewhere
• In Benin, coverage obligations add 66% to direct spectrum costs
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