Airtel Uganda launches 5G network, promises quality internet

The company indicated in February 2023 that it was ready to launch its 5G network and had applied for the required spectrum to start rolling out the revolutionary technology. 11 sites were tested in Kampala ahead of the official launch.

5G is the 5th generation mobile network that enables a new kind of network that is designed to connect virtually everyone and everything together, including machines, objects, and devices, at very high speeds.

It delivers higher multi-Gbps peak data speeds, more reliability, massive network capacity, increased availability, and a more uniform user experience to more users.

5G can support up to 1 million connected devices per square kilometre, compared to 4G, which can only support up to 100,000 connected devices in a similar area. This makes 5G the suitable network over which remote teams can collaborate to undertake tasks like surgery, shared online school classes, farmers can share live video farming tips, engineering tasks over video, and stream gaming and other entertainment experiences.

The event, which was held at the Kampala Serena Hotel, was attended by the Minister for ICT and National Guidance, Chris Baryomunsi, and the Uganda Communications Commissioner (UCC) Executive Director, Irene Kaggwa Ssewankambo.

The Airtel Uganda Managing Director, Manoj Murali, who was also in attendance, said, "Our 5G network is not just a technological advancement; it’s a catalyst for progress, an enabler of dreams, and a testament to our commitment to bring the world closer."

He added, "We strongly believe that by the end of the year, we will have covered many more sites, especially in the cities. We will have transformed the way people, communities, and businesses experience high-speed broadband internet. 5G has the potential to transform services like e-learning, telemedicine, manufacturing, and commercial agriculture. We are here to provide A Reason to imagine, and through this transformation, we will foster socio-economic growth."

Baryomunsi congratulated Airtel Uganda for this achievement, which he said will support Techpreneurs in the various sectors to enhance their operations by utilising the new technology we have witnessed today.

"The introduction of the 5G Network aligns with the Ministry and Government's agenda of empowering Ugandans so as to achieve the goals of universal inclusion, sustainable development, economic progress, and poverty eradication through digital innovation combining initiatives across multiple sectors," he said.

Irene Kaggwa applauded Airtel Uganda for launching the 5G Network in Uganda and encouraged the public to harness the new technology to carry the country forward because digital is for everybody.

"Airtel introduced Voice over LTE to ensure better quality of calls, and now the data. The Airtel MD Manoj has done a good job in explaining opportunities in agriculture, education, health, business, and banking, among other sectors, since these are used cases for everybody and can be leveraged for the country’s development," she said.

With its high-speed and low-latency capabilities, 5G can enhance telemedicine, enable real-time remote control of machinery, enable smart e-learning, and overall provide the foundation for transformative advancements that can drive economic growth and improve quality of life.

Airtel Uganda started deployment of 5G with Bulange and Mengo ahead of the Kabaka’s 30^th Coronation Anniversary.

Other sites that were activated include Speak Apartments, Parliament Avenue, Fairway Avenue, and Crested Towers, which will be activated in due course.

Those with 5G-compatible devices can now enjoy the 5G experience. All other 2500 Airtel sites across the country shall be deployed on a site-by-site basis. A list of rollout plans will be communicated on the Airtel Website and social media.

5G is admired for its immense applications in Home broadband activities like gaming, virtual reality, and other entertainment. In Manufacturing, commercial agriculture, smart grids, and other industrial applications, 5G is useful for condition monitoring and other industrial applications.

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