Recent data shows that the usage of 4G and 5G traffic is dramatically increasing, while this may be an intuitively predictable trend, the scale of change is interesting. The global coverage of 4G networks (per capita) has reached over 85 percent and is forecasted to expand to 95 percent by 2028. Today, there are 816 operational 4G networks globally, of which 336 have been upgraded to LTE-Advanced, and 62 have Gigabit capabilities.

The expansion of 5G networks is ongoing, with approximately 240 networks already launched worldwide. As of the end of 2022, global 5G coverage reached roughly 35 percent of the population, and it is expected to surge to approximately 85 percent by 2028.

In this ever-changing digital landscape, the journey towards seamless connectivity continues, promising a future where the world is more connected and accessible than ever before. Salience is delighted to be part of this transformation and our work for the World Bank, Africa 50, ECOWAS and the EBRD is contributing significantly to help direct investment and optimise networks.