Africa’s 5G map: South Africa is probably having its ‘proud mama’ moment as the leader of Africa’s 5G rollout with 10 million subscribers and counting. Nigeria’s adoption is crawling at 3% and Kenya has over 500,000 5G subscribers. In Ethiopia, Ethio Telecom launched its 5G network in 2024.
Zoodlabs, a local telco, has teamed up with CrossBoundary Energy, an energy service provider, to power the country’s first 5G towers. The initial towers, which will be powered by solar energy, are set to be launched in Freetown and will be funded by CrossBoundary Energy.
With the new 5G network Sierra Leone is well on its way to improved internet connectivity—think faster network, no network lag. The country is also set to see advancements such as smart cities, remote healthcare, and the application of Internet of Things (IoT).
Why is this a big deal? By combining technology with clean energy, Sierra Leone isn’t just catching up, it’s standing out. With this move, the country has positioned itself as a pioneer in sustainable digital infrastructure and might just inspire a regional copycat effect.
If more countries follow Sierra Leone’s blueprint, we could see a continent where digital transformation doesn’t come at the environment’s expense. The real question now is: who’s next?
