EP.05 | GSMA’s Angela Wamola on Africa’s Path to Inclusive Connectivity
In this episode of the TechAfrica News Podcast, Chief Editor and Founder, Akim Benamara, sits down with Angela Wamola, Head of Sub-Saharan Africa at the GSMA, for a deeply insightful conversation on where Africa is, where it’s headed, and what it will take to unlock its full digital potential.
From the critical role of the mobile sector and the urgency of youth empowerment to the inefficiencies of policy implementation and the underutilization of Universal Service Funds, Wamola speaks with candor, clarity, and conviction.
- 0:26Passion for Mobile & Africa's Development
- 5:59Government Partnership & Affordability
- 13:065G & Sector Digitalization
- 15:47Impact vs. Technology & Mobile Money
- 24:13Implementation vs. Policy
- 33:34Wamola's Wish List
Africa stands at a pivotal point in its digital journey. With a young population, a growing tech scene, and widespread mobile access, the potential is huge. Yet, 710 million Africans remain offline despite signal coverage. Why did mobile money soar while internet adoption lags? And who’s responsible for the policies, taxes, and outdated mindsets holding progress back?
Telecoms with Purpose: Laying the Digital Tracks for Africa’s Future
Wamola’s passion for Africa’s digital transformation is personal and strategic. At GSMA, she drives collaboration among operators, device makers, and policymakers to unlock the continent’s potential through connectivity.
Mobile Sector: The Underrated Economic Engine
Despite over 150 mobile operators and heavy investment, 710 million Africans with mobile internet access don’t use it—mainly due to high device costs, expensive data, and restrictive regulations. Wamola calls for shifting from a scarcity mindset to a growth mindset: treating digital infrastructure not as a commodity to tax, but as a tool to expand access and productivity across key sectors like agriculture and health.
Rethinking 5G: It’s Not (Yet) About the Speeds
She challenges the 5G hype, asking how much speed consumers really need. Instead, 5G’s value lies in enabling industry automation and digital governance, calling for focused investment on sectors that drive real impact.
Policy Paralysis: Too Much Paper, Not Enough Action
The problem isn’t policy scarcity but weak implementation. Wamola urges governments to shift focus from endless drafting to action, backed by data tools like GSMA’s Digital Africa Index. She also stresses transparency for Universal Service Funds to avoid them becoming just another tax.
“I think in Africa, we have a lot of policies and paperwork sitting in corridors or closets. The real challenge is implementation. We don’t need to spend 80% of our time creating more policies and strategies. Instead, we should spend 80% of our time implementing those policies, enforcing them, and providing resources to agencies and institutions so they can do their work and create the right environment.”
– Angela Wamola, Head of Sub-Saharan Africa, GSMA
Wamola’s Wishlist for Africa’s Digital Leap
Her top priorities as she highlighted are affordable smartphones for all within reach, repositioning devices as productivity tools, and digitizing agriculture, education, and health to uplift Africa’s most vital sectors.
Angela Wamola, Head of Sub-Saharan Africa at GSMA, leads efforts to advance the mobile industry in the region. Formerly a senior leader at Safaricom, she helped deliver Kenya’s undersea cable and modernize networks. She also founded Women in Technology, supporting women’s growth in tech. Her work focuses on inclusive progress and using technology to drive social change.
