Airtel Zambia has called for a national drive to provide 10 million citizens with access to smartphones by 2031, arguing that affordable devices are essential to expanding digital inclusion and ensuring more people benefit from the country’s digital transformation.
The proposal was presented by Airtel Zambia Managing Director, Hussam Baday, during a high-level meeting with Zambia’s Minister of Technology and Science, Felix Mutati.
Baday reaffirmed the telecommunications operator’s commitment to supporting the government’s Grow Zambia agenda, stressing that access to smartphones should be treated as a national development priority rather than an objective for the information and communications technology sector alone.
According to Airtel, expanding smartphone access would allow more Zambians to participate in economic activities, access essential services and take advantage of opportunities created by the growing digital economy.
The company noted that affordable smartphones could improve access to digital services across critical sectors, including education, healthcare, agriculture, financial services and government.
For instance, wider smartphone adoption could make it easier for farmers to obtain market information, access digital financial services and connect with buyers, while students and other learners could benefit from online educational resources.
In healthcare, increased access to internet-enabled devices could also help more people obtain health information and connect with digital services, while entrepreneurs and small businesses could use smartphones to reach customers, promote their products and manage transactions.
The call comes as Zambia works towards achieving 80 per cent broadband penetration, a target that requires more than expanding telecommunications infrastructure and extending network coverage.
Airtel argued that the availability of reliable connectivity must go hand in hand with affordable devices, noting that people cannot fully benefit from broadband services if they cannot afford smartphones to access them.
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The company said closing the device access gap would help extend digital opportunities to more segments of the population, particularly those who remain unable to participate fully in online economic and social activities.
It also linked increased smartphone adoption to improved financial inclusion, national productivity and economic growth, as more citizens gain access to digital platforms and services.
Mutati acknowledged the effect of limited access to digital devices on the country’s development prospects and supported the ambition to enable 10 million Zambians to access smartphones within the next five years.
Airtel said it would continue investing in telecommunications infrastructure, expanding mobile financial services and working with the government and other stakeholders to improve access to digital opportunities.
The proposed target forms part of a broader push to ensure that Zambia’s digital transformation delivers benefits beyond network expansion, with affordable devices and meaningful access playing a central role in bringing more citizens into the digital economy.
About the Author
Cecilia Attah is a tech analyst with a degree from Benue State University. She covers tech news and startups at TechRegard with a focus on how technology is transforming Africa and shaping the global landscape.
