Eswatini Daily News

5G deployment in SADC needs to be accelerated 

5G network still needs improvement in the SADC region

By Bahle Gama 

The deployment of 5G in the SADC region has started however this needs to be accelerated. 

According to Moneyweb, the percentage of inhabitants that live within the range of 4G was 75.9 per cent in 2023. 

“However, there is a need to intensify our efforts to create a favourable private investment climate to boost the implementation of regional broadband infrastructure,” reported Moneyweb. 

According to Statista, in 2022, some leading nations were investing $200/Capita on 5G deployment. Meanwhile, the Ericson Mobility Report states that 5G subscriptions are projected to reach 180 million in Sub-Saharan Africa in 2029 

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Minister of ICT in Eswatini Savannah Maziya said the country would begin the process of launching 5G before the end of the year. She said the goal is to cover all areas across the country, as well as all sectors including businesses and the entire population. 

Telecommunications companies like Eswatini Mobile have already embarked on the journey of rolling out the 5G network in the country.

In February, Inyatsi Group Holdings Chairman Michelo Shakantu disclosed that the company had broken ground with the 5G network expected to roll out 150 base stations countrywide. 

In a TikTok video, the Chairman said unveiling the 5G network to Eswatini Mobile customers was a historic moment for the service provided, adding that he had unwavering confidence in the team and infrastructure Eswatini Mobile is set to handle the transition seamlessly. 

Eswatini Mobile staff during the Eswatini Trade Fair where the company piloted 5G rollout

Shakantu stated that this significant milestone signifies a remarkable achievement for Eswatini Mobile as a leading local telecommunications company. 

This significant milestone signifies a remarkable achievement for Eswatini Mobile as a leading local telecommunications company. 

“I was and still am excited about the 5G technology. Our test was exceptionally well received, demonstrations were exceptional, and our equipment was able to handle the 5G abilities. So, we are in the process of rolling out about 150 base stations in Eswatini. This will give our customers exceptional value for money,” Shakantu said. 

The Chairman admitted that they have been keeping the rollout a secret and were excited to have added the required spices, “for our offering and give our customers good value.” 



The biggest demonstration of Eswatini Mobile’s 5G capability was during the 2023 International Trade Fair where all the pavilions had a 5G network from the service provider. 

The traffic generated during the Trade Fair period was reportedly 10 times higher than from a normal 4G site over the same period and its maximum 5G users served 368 people in one day. 

Elaborating further, Eswatini Mobile Chief Technology Officer Jabu Dlamini said the Eswatini Mobile 5G rollout will offer customers several benefits.

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These include faster downloads and uploads, whereby customers will enjoy quicker access to online content, streaming services, and cloud storage, enhanced mobile gaming for smoother, lag-free online gaming with near-instantaneous response times, as well as improved AR/VR experience that will enable customers to enjoy more immersive and realistic augmented reality and virtual reality applications. 

Customers will also experience boosted business productivity for faster and more reliable connectivity that will help businesses operate more efficiently and collaborate seamlessly. 

Eswatini Mobile 5G will also allow for smarter homes, cities, and industries with more interconnected devices to grow. 

“These will offer our customers value for money not only on the minimum purchase price but also on the maximum efficiency and effectiveness of the purchase. The concept of value for money in everyday life is easily understood as “not paying more for a good or service than its quality or availability justify,” Dlamini said. 

In response to the trial process and how long it took, Dlamini disclosed that Eswatini Mobile partnered with telecommunications giant Huawei Technologies to ensure a smooth trial. 

The successful trial period was from August 2023 until January 2024. 
For the trial to be deemed successful, there had to be key indicators. These included technical performance, wherein two trial sites reportedly managed to achieve the expected speeds of up to 1,288 Mbit/s and latency dropped to as low as six milliseconds. 

In terms of user feedback, during the trial period, Eswatini Mobile had 368 peak participants in one day who were all satisfied with the 5G experience compared to existing networks. 

5G illustration

Dlamini stated that 5G uses a higher frequency spectrum than 3,000 MHz which makes it cover shorter distances with a radius of about 600 metres compared to 4G networks that can reach up to 4km and beyond. 

In terms of transmission, there is a need for an expansion of the transmission network due to an increase in the amount of data downloaded. 

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“As our 5G sites trial demonstrated positive results in their deployment areas, it provides content for the wider rollout. Technology is changing so fast, and new demands are evolving every day. Hence, our networks need to keep evolving too. Our industry needs to get ready for the future. 
A successful wider 5G roll-out in Eswatini can pave the way for economic growth and innovation for the entire nation,” Dlamini said. 

What is 5G? 

5G refers to the fifth generation of mobile network technology, following 2G, 3G, and 4G. It promises significant improvements in three key areas: 
Speed: 5G offers much faster data transfer rates compared to previous generations. Gives gigabit speeds instead of megabits, offering near-instantaneous downloads and uploads. 

Latency: Reduced latency means less delay between sending and receiving data. This is crucial for applications like real-time gaming, virtual reality, and remote surgery. 

Capacity: 5G networks can handle a much larger number of connected devices per unit area, enabling the widespread adoption of the Internet of Things (IoT). 

How Does 5G Work? 

5G utilizes a combination of new technologies, including: 
Higher spectrum frequencies: 5G uses millimeter-wave (mm-wave) frequencies, which offer broader bandwidth for faster speeds but have a shorter range. 

Massive MIMO: This technology uses multiple antennas at both the base station and the device to send and receive multiple data streams simultaneously, boosting capacity and speed. 

Network slicing: The network can be virtually divided into slices, each tailored to specific needs like low latency for gaming or high reliability for industrial applications.

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