The introduction of 5G services by Orange Botswana has increased the adoption of 5G across Africa. The French telecom giant Orange announced the launch of its first commercial 5G network in Botswana.
Nene Maiga, the CEO of Orange Botswana, had a briefing last week where he discussed the launch’s specifics and announced that 5G would be available in two major towns, including Francistown and Gaborone, covering 30% of the population. The network will eventually extend to more cities.
Orange Botswana launched the 5G commercial network on November 11, 2022
Jerôme HENIQUE, CEO of Orange Middle East and Africa said “the launch of 5G technology in Botswana will allow us to scale up this technology and gain experience for other Orange countries across Africa.
“The benefits and potential impact of this are promising. It will help promote Africa’s digital inclusion, resulting in socio-economic growth and job creation.
“It is also ensuring Africa’s skills development on digital management tools and is in line with the ambitions of the African Union “Digital Transformation for Africa (2022 – 2030). It begins here and now, in Botswana,”
Read also: Orange Group Inaugurates 11th Digital Centre in Liberia
5G Penetration In Africa
Africa has the world’s lowest 5G penetration rate due to issues primarily related to a lack of 5G devices.
By 2027, only 10% of people will have 5G mobile subscriptions, according to an expert review of 5G analysis.
Putting Botswana at the forefront of 5G in Africa, this 5G launch will further support innovation and digital inclusion in the nation and is closely aligned with the government’s ambition to use Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) innovation to transform Botswana into a knowledge-based economy that leaves no one behind.
Local mobile network providers like Orange Botswana, who obtain 5G spectrum licenses from various governments, will have a significant impact on the penetration.
New services in healthcare, education, and security will be made possible by 5G technology.
Orange Unveils the First Space to Test and Discover 5G in Côte d’Ivoire
Orange S.A.
Previously known as France Télécom S.A., Orange S.A. is a global French telecommunications company.
Orange is present in 17 nations in the Middle East and Africa. One in ten Africans, according to the firm, are Orange customers.
Since 2006, Orange has served as the company’s primary brand for services like mobile, landline, internet, and Internet Protocol television (IPTV).
Following Hutchison Whampoa’s acquisition of a majority stake in Microtel Communications in 1994, the Orange brand was first used in the UK.
In 1999, Mannesmann became a subsidiary of that business, which France Télécom later acquired in 2000. On July 1st, 2013, France Télécom changed its name to Orange.
Orange Middle East and Africa (MEA) achieved more than 135 million customers in 2020 and earned revenue of €6.4 billion ($6.6 billion).
The commercial deployment of Djoliba, a fiber backbone made up of more than 10,000 km of terrestrial fiber connected to 10,000 km of undersea cables, was announced by Orange and its subsidiaries for 2020.
The fiber backbone that connected the capitals of Burkina Faso, Cote d’Ivoire, Ghana, Guinea, Liberia, Mali, Nigeria, and Senegal was the first of its sort in the region.
