The paper examines the rapid growth of mobile phone technology in sub-Saharan Africa over the past decade and its potential impacts on quality of life, with a focus on economic development. It provides an overview of mobile phone coverage patterns and determinants, and describes the characteristics of primary and secondary adopters. The authors discuss how mobile phones can impact development outcomes through communication sector benefits and mobile-based development projects, analyzing existing evidence. While mobile phones have shown positive effects on agricultural and labor market efficiency and welfare in some countries, empirical evidence is limited. The paper concludes that mobile phones cannot be a "silver bullet" for development and emphasizes the need for careful impact evaluations of mobile phone development projects. It also highlights the importance of partnering with other public good provision and investment to maximize the benefits of mobile phones.The paper examines the rapid growth of mobile phone technology in sub-Saharan Africa over the past decade and its potential impacts on quality of life, with a focus on economic development. It provides an overview of mobile phone coverage patterns and determinants, and describes the characteristics of primary and secondary adopters. The authors discuss how mobile phones can impact development outcomes through communication sector benefits and mobile-based development projects, analyzing existing evidence. While mobile phones have shown positive effects on agricultural and labor market efficiency and welfare in some countries, empirical evidence is limited. The paper concludes that mobile phones cannot be a "silver bullet" for development and emphasizes the need for careful impact evaluations of mobile phone development projects. It also highlights the importance of partnering with other public good provision and investment to maximize the benefits of mobile phones.