The importance of 5G to Africa’s business success was highlighted at the 2023 Africa 5G Summit, held during AfricaCom, the continent’s biggest technology conference.

The event, hosted by Huawei, brought together leaders from the industry, government regulators, and organizations to discuss the future of 5G in Africa.

Key Themes of the Summit

The theme of this year’s summit was “5G Lights Up Africa Together Towards Business Success.” Topics included how Southern African countries can improve their 5G networks, enhance user experience, accelerate the development of fixed wireless access (FWA), and achieve business growth through 5G.

Huawei’s Vision for 5G in Africa

Richard Liu, President of Huawei’s Global Carrier Marketing & Solution Sales Dept, gave a keynote speech focused on building Africa’s 5G prosperity. He emphasized the need for continuous innovation and collaboration to create a digital Africa.

Liu said, “5G networks are driving the growth of the ICT industry and encouraging innovation that changes lives.” He urged Africa to focus on three inclusive innovations: ecosystems, services, and networks. By improving 5G infrastructure and services like FWA, Africa can build a strong digital foundation.

The Value of 5G for Jobs and Growth

Thabisa Faye, Director and Chairman of the 5G Council Committee at South Africa’s ICASA, highlighted how the mobile industry could create up to 3.6 million jobs, both directly and indirectly.

She pointed out that mobile traffic in sub-Saharan Africa has grown significantly, showing the importance of investing in 5G to meet demand.

MTN’s Ambition 2025 Strategy

Zoltan Miklos, General Manager of MTN South Africa, shared the company’s “Ambition 2025” strategy. He explained that 5G is key to overcoming challenges and building a strong digital future for Africa.

MTN aims to lead Africa’s progress by building a top-tier 5G network, delivering excellent user experiences, and ensuring 5G is available to both prepaid and postpaid users.

Safaricom’s Focus on Wireless Broadband

James Langat, Director at Safaricom, spoke about the company’s wireless home broadband strategy. He noted that 5G mobile broadband (MBB) is becoming increasingly popular with users.

Safaricom is committed to expanding 5G coverage to meet the growing demand for faster internet at home.

Zain Saudi Arabia’s 5G Success

Alan Loh from Zain Saudi Arabia shared their success in 5G fixed wireless access (FWA). Zain’s strategy focused on leading in services, network experience, and technology.

This approach has positioned the company as a global leader in 5G FWA, providing high-quality broadband services to its customers.

MTN Nigeria’s “Own THE HOME” Strategy

Abdul Malik Ahmed, Senior Manager at MTN Nigeria, explained how their “Own THE HOME” strategy is using FWA and FTTH technologies to grow the home broadband market. He emphasized that FWA is a key driver for home broadband growth and will play a major role in Nigeria’s digital future, powered by 5G.

5G’s Impact on Digital Transformation in South Africa

Calvin Govender, General Manager at MTN South Africa, discussed how 5G is accelerating digital transformation across industries. He explained that consumers will notice faster internet speeds and have access to new applications and services that weren’t possible with 4G.

Future Trends in 5G for Africa

Kenechi Okeleke, Director at GSMA Intelligence, shared insights on the future of 5G in Africa. He discussed how FWA services are expanding across the continent and highlighted the opportunities 5G presents for both businesses and consumers.

The summit ended with the release of a white paper titled “5G FWA in Africa, Emerging Trends and Opportunities,” providing a roadmap for the future of 5G in Africa.

Conclusion

The 2023 Africa 5G Summit emphasized the critical role that 5G will play in Africa’s future. From creating jobs and boosting business growth to transforming digital services, 5G is set to revolutionize the continent.

With continued investment in infrastructure and innovation, Africa can build a prosperous digital future for all.