Zambia Mobile Sector Revenue Climbs 13.9% to ZMW 13.2 Billion in 2025

Zambia’s mobile telecommunications sector recorded significant financial growth in 2025, with revenues rising to ZMW 13.2 billion, representing a 13.9 percent increase from ZMW 11.5 billion in 2024.

The performance was driven by rising demand for mobile data services, increased adoption of value-added services such as subscription-based entertainment, and expanding usage of mobile money platforms. Operators also benefited from a surge in bulk SMS traffic, which grew by 24.3 percent to 22.4 billion messages, as businesses and government agencies increasingly relied on SMS for mass communication.

Higher consumer engagement across digital platforms contributed to an increase in average revenue per user (ARPU), which rose by 12.4 percent to ZMW 501.58 by the end of 2025. This reflected growing usage of bundled services and a shift toward higher-value digital offerings.

The sector also experienced strong subscription growth, with active mobile users reaching 26.2 million in 2025, up from 23.2 million the previous year. Mobile penetration rose to 127.4 subscriptions per 100 inhabitants, highlighting the continued expansion of connectivity across the country.

Investment in infrastructure also increased, with the total number of telecommunications sites growing by 8.8 percent to 15,802. Notably, 5G sites recorded a sharp expansion of 86.4 percent, reflecting ongoing network upgrades by operators.

Beyond telecom performance, the ICT sector played a major role in Zambia’s broader economy, contributing 2.5 percentage points to the country’s overall 3.6 percent GDP growth in the third quarter of 2025.

However, the sector continues to face structural challenges, including high corporate taxation levels and a 17.5 percent excise duty on electronic communication services, which continue to impact affordability and long-term market efficiency.