Safaricom, Kenya leading telecommunication network operator, launched the ultra-high-speed broadband network after a year of testing 5G technology. Kenya will be just the second country in Africa to implement this technology following South Africa in 2020. Safaricom will then become Africa’s third telecom operator to activate 5G service, following Vodacom and MTN. Safaricom 5G service will be available in only four towns in Kenya but is expected to expand across 9 towns over the next year.
What is 5G technology?
5G is a fifth-generation technology standard for broadband cellular networks. It offers data speeds up to 100 times faster than 4G and has lower latency, meaning your 5G network is optimized to process a very high volume of data uploads and downloads with minimal delay. 5G can support up to 1 million connected devices per square kilometer, compared to 4G which is up to 100,000 devices per square meter.
CEO of Safaricom, Peter Ndegwa described the launch as “a major milestone for the country”. He also thanked their project implementation partners Nokia and Huawei for the expertise given them to achieve the milestone.
“With 5G, we are exploring how to bring the power of the most advanced mobile technologies to Kenya. We hope this will transform lives, shape industries, and build more connectivity to support essential sectors like education and manufacturing”. He further stated that. “With 5G, we aim to empower our customers with super-fast internet at work, at home, and when they move, supplementing our fiber network. At Safaricom, we are proud to be the first in the country and the region to bring this latest innovation to both our retail and enterprise customers empowering customers to start exploring new opportunities that 5G provides.”
5G Situation in Ghana
Generally, Ghana has a good mobile broadband network coverage, with a share of 70% and 30% in 3G and 4G networks respectively. With over 5 Telcos in Ghana, only MTN is Vodafone is offering their customers 4G coverage. “The fifth-generation (5G) is the next generation of mobile technology which has not yet been deployed in Ghana. However, it promises significantly higher internet data speeds which will enable innovative products and services in agriculture, transportation, education, health, security, and commerce.” NCA stated a press release.
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