As is the case in most of Africa, mobile phone use in Ghana far outstrips that of fixed landlines. Ghana Business News reports that only 1 out of every 40 phones is a fixed line.

Companies and Markets, the research firm that did the study, cites Ghana as one of the largest mobile markets in West Africa. With over half of the population using mobile phones, the market is vibrant and growing. MTN has the largest market share, at 6.8 million users.

Years long waits, poor customer service, shoddy quality, and expense make a fixed line out of the reach for many Africans. Mobile growth isn’t a matter of users switching from landlines to cell phones, but of mobile operators taking advantage of an underserved market. National fixed line operators would be well served to take a page from the mobile book, and make getting service as easy as buying a SIM card on a street corner.