Airtel Africa will introduce its fifth generation (5G) mobile broadband service in high-income neighbourhoods.
The new technology is expected to provide much faster internet speeds than the widely available 4G, though it requires more high end smartphones and data subscriptions.
“On the 5G rollout, we’ve acquired spectrum in a number of countries. Tanzania, Zambia, Kenya, Nigeria, of course. We’re going to do selective rollout of the 5G,” Segun Ogunsanya, the chief executive of Airtel Africa, said in a recent conference call.
“I still believe that 5G is good in the medium term. In the short term our focus will continue to be on expanding our 4G footprint, and selectively launching 5G to capture opportunities in high-income neighbourhoods….where we recognise enough devices and enough purchasing power to really enjoy the benefits of 5G.”
In 2020, Safaricom rolled out 5G networks in Nairobi, Mombasa, Kisii, Kakamega, and Kisumu.
Safaricom’s annual report for the year ended March 2022 said: “It is anticipated that the majority of Kenya’s mobile connections will be on 5G by 2029 and our network masts are prepared for this growth. In the short term, we plan to expand the number of 5G sites to more than 200 locations across nine towns over the next year.”