Sierra Leone Powers Africa’s First Solar-Backed 5G Rollout

Sierra Leone is stepping into Africa’s 5G race with an unusual edge—solar power. While most networks on the continent lean heavily on diesel-powered infrastructure, the West African nation is deploying 5G towers powered by renewable energy, aiming to tackle two problems at once: limited connectivity and unstable electricity.

The initiative, led by local telecom operator Zoodlabs and renewable energy firm CrossBoundary Energy, was unveiled at the Digital Government Summit in Freetown. The first five towers are currently being installed, with more to follow if the model proves successful.

Sustainability as Strategy

In a country where broadband access remains below 21%, the move signals a push for more than just faster speeds. By skipping over traditional, fuel-dependent infrastructure, Sierra Leone could create a cost-efficient and scalable model for digital development—especially in countries where grid reliability is low and fuel costs are high.

Zoodlabs CEO David Kapkima described the rollout as “laying the groundwork for economic growth.” And the timing might be right—Africa’s 5G penetration is expected to grow from just 1.4% in 2024 to 25% by 2029, according to Omdia.

While South Africa leads with over 10 million 5G users and Nigeria, Kenya, and Ethiopia remain in catch-up mode, Sierra Leone’s renewable-first approach could offer a leaner, faster path forward for emerging digital markets.

A Scalable Alternative?

Whether this experiment becomes a model or remains a local success story, it’s forcing a bigger conversation: must Africa’s digital growth rely on carbon-heavy infrastructure?

If Sierra Leone’s solar-backed 5G proves stable and affordable, it might just point to a greener, smarter path—one that serves both connectivity needs and climate goals.