A Rundown on 5G’s Status among Africa’s First Movers

The internet has gone far past the days of being termed a “young technology.” Today, it’s the foundation of a fast-growing digital world. Howbeit, its progress and impact in different regions are not the same, and Africa is one of those regions with a peculiar internet story. With more people demanding faster internet and owning multiple devices that require internet access, the mobile industry has constantly needed to evolve. That’s why it has created 5G – the latest generation of wireless networking technology. African governments are hopeful that one day they will be able to use 5G to do large-scale farming with drones, introduce self-driving cars on the roads, activate ‘smart’ homes and smart cities, and improve cybersecurity. Some analysts predict that 5G will boost Africa’s economy by $2.2 trillion by 2034. According to a projection by GSMA, 70 countries had 5G networks as of June this year. But this technology has only caught on in less than a handful of African countries. Africa’s 5G pioneers are dealing with teething issues that can derail their 5G ambitions. The difficulties have revolved around the lack of clarity in spectrum regulation, commercial viability, deployment deadlines, and low citizen purchasing power of 5G enabled smartphones and expensive internet.

SOURCE: VENTURES AFRICA