t cht lk
LEVERAGING 5G FIXED WIRELESS ACCESS TO CLOSE AFRICA ’ S DIVIDE
5G Fixed Wireless Access , is emerging as the technology of choice for closing the remaining digital divide in Africa , bringing educational , entertainment , business , lifestyle benefits of fast broadband to Africa , says Rami Osman at MediaTek .
According to GSMA Intelligence , 5G continues to make inroads in Africa . As of September 2023 , 27 operators in 16 markets across the region had launched commercial 5G services . More markets are expected to follow soon , with operators in an additional 10 countries making a commitment to launch 5G in the coming years .
5G coverage in the region is still mostly limited to major cities , but there is growing evidence that 5G coverage is ramping up in some countries . In South Africa , for example , 5G coverage reached 41 % of the population as of September 2023 . While this represents reasonable progress compared to the situation a year ago , 5G spectrum assignment in Africa is still underdeveloped compared to other regions .
5G is key to rolling out broadband services in Africa that can support tomorrow ’ s most demanding
Fibre to the home penetration in Africa is estimated to be only around 5 % and older Fixed Wireless Access solutions have struggled to gain traction on the continent .
applications at scale , at a cost that will be commercially viable for operators and affordable for consumers .
Africa still experiences significant gaps in connectivity , with only 25 % of the population currently using the mobile Internet , according to the GSM Association , GSMA . 5G offers an opportunity for currently excluded people and regions to leapfrog to the latest and fastest mobile connectivity , with the GSMA forecasting that 5G
www . intelligentcio . com INTELLIGENTCIO AFRICA 67