The company’s acting CEO Hilda Bujiku launched the 5G technology service in the presence of the Minister of Information, Communications and Information Technology Nape Nnauye in Dar es Salaam on Thursday. The citizen informed.
According to Bujiku, the rollout of the 5G service will start with the establishment of more than 200 5G sites in Tanzanian regions such as Dar es Salaam, Arusha, Dodoma, Mwanza, Iringa, Kagera, Njombe, and also Zanzibar, among other areas. by November 2022.
“We promise to continue using technology to improve the lives of Tanzanians and lead digital transformation. As we launch 5G, we plan to reach 90 percent of Tanzanians with 3G and 45 percent by 2024,” he added.
While addressing the audience, Mr. Andrew Lupembe, Network Director of Vodacom Tanzania, provided context on why the network operator launched 5G technology instead of upgrading 4G in the country.
According to him, the launch of 5G means that companies should expect great transformations such as the Internet of Things, artificial intelligence and remote access to health care, among other great rewards in sectors such as education, transportation and tourism.
He noticed that; “4G is good, but due to community demands, superior technology with low latency was needed, hence 5G. It will address many challenges in Tanzania.”
Recently, MTN Nigeria Communications Plc, a subsidiary of MTN Group Limited, also launched 5G network service in Nigeria, the most populous country in Africa.
In December 2021, the network operator won a 5G bid in Nigeria, beating out top competitor Airtel Africa Plc and emerging as one of two telcos licensed to operate the next-generation network in Africa’s most populous country. .
As it stands, only a handful of African countries have launched the network so far, and even then, most of these launches are not commercial in scope. According to Quartz AfricaThese countries include Ethiopia, Botswana, Egypt, Gabon, Kenya, Lesotho, Madagascar, Mauritius, Nigeria, Senegal, Seychelles, South Africa, Uganda, and Zimbabwe. But many of these countries face delays due to the clarity of spectrum regulation, commercial viability, implementation timelines, citizens’ low purchasing power of 5G-enabled smartphones, and expensive internet.