BARCELONA, Spain, March 3, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- The today announced that the have been identified by the for initial pilots to introduce affordable 4G smartphones.
The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the GSMA, the G6 African operators and original equipment manufacturers (OEMs), formalises collaboration to pilot affordable entry-level 4G smartphones in Africa in 2026. The pilots build on the minimum requirements for low-cost 4G devices unveiled at MWC Kigali in 2025.
The GSMA Handset Affordability Coalition aims to lower the cost of entry-level smartphones worldwide and accelerate digital inclusion in markets where affordability remains a key barrier.
However, the current surge in the global cost of memory prices is making it increasingly difficult to attain a range required to unlock mass adoption. Against this economic context it has become even more important to reduce or eliminate taxes and import duties on entry-level 4G smartphones.
, said:
Africa has one of the world's largest mobile internet usage gaps. Millions live within broadband coverage but remain offline, with handset affordability consistently cited as the biggest barrier to adoption. Affordable 4G smartphones at scale could bring .
The impact of rising memory costs extends beyond connectivity. Memory-intensive technologies are essential for on-device AI, local language processing and the growth of regional tech ecosystems.
Against this backdrop, the is advancing scalable, locally relevant AI models. The Africa Pavilion at MWC26 will showcase a , capable of browsing and translating online content to reduce language barriers to digital services.
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