MTN Uganda, which is part of the MTN Group, has opened its 5G network in the country. It’s interesting that it did this before its rival in telecom, Airtel.
Uganda’s mobile market is dominated by MTN, which has 15 million customers.
5G, also called the fifth wave of mobile networks, is becoming more popular in many African countries because of all the good things it can do. 5G is different from 3G and 4G in that it has less delay, is more reliable, and has a faster download speed.
MTN’s launch of 5G is expected to do more than just give its users better service. It is also expected to improve Uganda’s ICT scene. This could give the country the push it needs to get more funding from abroad and grow its tech ecosystem.
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The 5G network was put in place in the Lugogo and Bugolobi areas by the phone company. It also said that soon there would be more places. Both places were chosen as pilot sites because they have a lot of devices that can work with 5G.
Sylvia Mulinge, the CEO of MTN Uganda, commented on the launch. She said, “We are incredibly proud to be the first to go live with a 5G network in Uganda, and we are sure that this cutting-edge network service will play a key role in driving ICT solutions for economic growth and creating digital experiences for all Ugandans that are unmatched.”
Mulinge called it “a historic milestone” and told subscribers to expect an increase in network capability that will change the way they connect to the internet in Uganda. She also said that people who use 5G can get internet speeds that are 100 times faster than what the 4G network can offer.
Based on this statement, the telco plans to cover Kampala, the country’s capital, before the end of 2024. It also said that it has plans to make its base sites in big cities ready for 5G.
Airtel will launch 5G in Uganda soon
The Uganda Communication Commission (UCC) gave 5G spectrums to MTN and Airtel at the beginning of this month. Airtel got 800 MHz, 3.5 GHz, and E-band, while MTN got 700 MHz, 2.3 GHz, 2.6 GHz, and E-band (71 GHz–76 GHz/81 GHz–86 GHz).
MTN won the race to be the first company in Uganda to have a 5G network, but Airtel’s customers may not have to wait too long. The UCC recently gave the company permission to start building a 5G network. Even though there isn’t a set date, this is definitely good for the people of Uganda and the ICT area in general.
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5G in Africa
Africans won’t view 5G as an elusive innovation any longer. In the past few years, telcos all over the continent have made a lot of progress towards starting 5G service.
MTN and Airtel have since launched 5G in Nigeria. Airtel just joined Safaricom as the second company in Kenya to offer a fast network. Botswana, Seychelles, South Africa, and Zimbabwe are a few more places where 5G is used commercially.
5G could change Africa’s ICT infrastructure, making it easier for people to join and do business, among other things. But the price of smartphones is one thing that companies and the government should think about. Smartphones and phones that can use 5G are usually expensive, which makes it hard for the average African to get one.
That’s why Kenya announced plans to make phones there. This is also why Yellow, a Malawian startup, has a way for people to pay for phones and other tools. Even though these are good ideas, more needs to be done before Africa can fully take advantage of the many benefits of 5G.