South Africa sees massive rise in cellphone penetration

South Africa has seen a massive shift in telecommunications connectivity, with cellphone penetration rising significantly since 2002. Data from Stats SA indicates that by 2025, only 3.7% of households—approximately 740,000—remain without a phone, compared to nearly 55% in 2002.

Mobile technology has revolutionized access to government services, job platforms, mobile banking, and informal trade through e-wallets. While 91% of people had smartphones as of 2019 according to ICASA, the rise in connectivity has also brought challenges, including increased cybercrime, scams, and significant spending on online gambling.

The transition from fixed landlines to mobile services was driven by the accessibility of prepaid mobile connectivity, which bypassed the need for expensive copper cabling and subscriptions. This shift followed the decline of Telkom’s landline dominance, which was impacted by copper cable theft and the inability of many households to maintain traditional subscriptions.