The world has evolved in getting access to information over the years. Africa is not left behind, despite the challenges. Let’s dive into it.
Technology has been on the rise worldwide with a lot of tech components conjoined from other sources, hence the growing foundation of a fast-growing digital world. With more people demanding faster internet and owning multiple devices that require internet access, the mobile industry has constantly needed to evolve. That is why it has created 5G — the latest generation of wireless networking technology.
What is 5G?
5G is the fifth generation of mobile networks, and it is the latest technology for wireless communication. It offers faster speeds and lower latency than 4G, the previous generation of mobile networks. Additionally, 5G is designed to support a much larger number of devices and to provide more reliable connectivity. This makes it well-suited for use cases such as streaming high-definition video, gaming, and the internet of things (IoT). Some key features of 5G include higher bandwidth, lower latency, and support for more devices per square kilometre. It’s expected that 5G will enable new services and applications, such as self-driving cars, telemedicine, and more.
The deployment of 5G
5G networks began rolling out to consumers in 2019 and have been expanding to more and more locations since then. While the first 5G networks were launched by some carriers in late 2019, widespread availability of 5G service is still in progress and it is expected that it will take a few more years to become globally available. It’s worth noting that the 5G standardization process was started in April 2016 by 3GPP (3rd Generation Partnership Project) and the first 5G standard was released in June 2018.
5G arrived in Africa in 2020 thereabout. While adoption is slow, it will get there eventually. The countries in Africa that have deployed the 5G Network include Botswana, Egypt, Gabon, Kenya, Lesotho, Madagascar, Mauritius, Nigeria, Senegal, Seychelles, South Africa, Uganda, Zimbabwe and Ethiopia.
What has transpired so far?
This is the breakdown of developments in Africa so far: Countries like South Africa and Lesotho deployed the technology on a temporary spectrum, followed by Madagascar which halted its plans in July 2020 three weeks later. Gabon, Mauritius and Uganda have no plans yet to go commercial. Senegal has been conducting trials since November 2020. Seychelles so far is good, despite the misinformation that transpired in 2020 due to COVID-19 fears and misconceptions. Kenya has been testing 5G since March 2021 and acquired a license in 2022 and went live in November 2022. Nigeria had a commercial rollout in December 2022.
While a few countries like Kenya, Nigeria, Seychelles and Botswana have had successful rollouts, it is the consumer market that was yet to pick up in the continent, especially for 5G-ready devices like smartphones. There has been a gradual demand for 5G-enabled smartphones in the world and Africa needs no reminder about the economical pull in the world market in terms of costs.
It is said that the smartphone industry arguably has advanced in the 5G sector, since the Samsung Galaxy S10 era, back in 2019. When Apple introduced 5G in 2020 with iPhone 5G, it had to undergo certain tests and evaluations for the consumer market in USA and Europe. The number of units sold afterwards determined how 5G coverage is used in various markets — and the price of these devices.
The Issues in the Network Infrastructure
The problem is that 5G has been overhyped by tech investors in a way it cannot be implemented fully by carrier services like Safaricom, MTN, Vodacom or AT&T in many respective regions. Some even do not meet customers’ expectations in the network space. In Kenya, it is no exception in the market. I even tweeted about this last year to emphasize the areas telecommunications need to improve.
One of the main issues with 5G in Africa is the lack of availability. Even in areas where 5G networks have been rolled out, the coverage is often patchy. This makes it difficult for businesses and individuals to fully take advantage of the technology. Additionally, the cost of 5G-enabled devices and plans is still high in Africa, which further limits the number of people who can access the network.
Another problem with 5G in Africa is that many of the use cases that were initially envisioned have yet to materialize. For example, while 5G is supposed to be ideal for self-driving cars, there are still very few autonomous vehicles on the road in Africa. Similarly, while 5G has the potential to revolutionize telemedicine and distance learning, most healthcare providers and educational institutions are still using older technologies for remote consultations and online classes.
Do you know the burden of buying a high-end smartphone with 5G support in a region where you expect that network to be accessed? And the fact that it is limited or not available in your region? Sometimes the use case for 5G smartphones currently does not match up with the consumer’s expectations and the limitations that come with it because the number of devices that can connect to the network is limited.
Furthermore, the lack of access to electricity and internet infrastructure in many rural areas and countries in Africa has made it difficult for 5G to be deployed and adopted in those regions.
In conclusion, 5G has the potential to bring about a new era of innovation in Africa, but the slow rollout and lack of availability of the technology have prevented it from being fully realized. There is still the emphasis on improving the 4G network first before rushing to burn all the expenditure on new technology even if it is the desire to catch up with the rest of the world. Until the issues with coverage, cost, and infrastructure are addressed, the innovation that 5G promises will remain missing in action in Africa.
UPDATE: Safaricom PLC and Airtel Kenya are the current carrier network operators offering 5G Networks in Kenya.
