Equitel becomes the first MVNO to roll out 5G in Kenya. This very development as you should know is coming just after two years since the network provider joined a host of other companies such as Airtel, Telkom, and Safaricom to help launch 4G services in the region and country.
Equitel to Roll out 5G in Kenya
Equitel has confirmed plans to expand its 5G network into residential areas, shopping malls, and central business districts.
The expansion will cover 370 locations, including prominent cities such as Mombasa, Nairobi, Athi River, Kisumu, Kakamega, Bungoma, Eldoret, and Siaya.
To access the Equitel 5G network, users will require a 5G-enabled smartphone and a 4G-LTE SIM card. Those currently using a 3G SIM card will need to switch to a 4G-LTE SIM card, which can be done at any Equity Bank branch.
Kenya’s Significant Surge In 5G Network Adoption
In recent years, Kenya has witnessed a significant surge in 5G network adoption. Safaricom inaugurated the country’s inaugural 5G service in October 2022 after approximately a year of testing. Subsequently, Airtel introduced its 5G service in July 2023, becoming the second telecommunications company to do so in Kenya.
African Telecommunications Companies Embracing the 5G Network
Moreover, several African telecommunications companies embraced the 5G network several years prior. For instance, Rain launched its 5G service in South Africa in 2019, and MTN Nigeria became Nigeria’s first provider to roll out a 5G mobile network in August 2022. Additionally, Orange launched its commercial 5G network in Botswana in November 2022, while Mauritius Telecom introduced 5G services in Mauritius in August 2021.
18 Countries in the Region Offer Commercial 5G Services
According to the GlobalComms Database Service’s report on 5G deployments in the Middle East and Africa (MEA), 18 countries in the region offer commercial 5G services, with eight in the Middle East and the remaining ten in Africa.
As of the end of 2022, South Africa led the African market with approximately five million 5G subscriptions, followed by Mauritius with 80,000 subscriptions, and Nigeria with 50,000 subscriptions.
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