By TOM CHIAHEMEN –
The African Telecommunications Union (ATU), unveiled on Monday a crucial new report that evaluates the readiness of African countries to roll out and utilize 5G networks across the continent.
Titled “Report on 5G Preparedness and Relevant Use Cases in Africa,” the report, unveiled in Nairobi, Kenya, marks another key step in ATU’s commitment to supporting digital transformation in Africa.
While focussing on assessing the readiness of African countries to deploy, operate and use 5G networks, the report further explores challenges impacting the deployment of 5G in Africa and the status of deployment in countries that have already embarked on the process.
Even more significantly, prominent locally relevant use cases for 5G are well elaborated. In the concluding sections, the report provides recommendations to support decision-making for the deployment of 5G networks and use cases in Africa with the ultimate objective of fostering its maximised benefit.
On the question of the availability of the report, Eng. Kezias Kazuba MWALE, director for radiocommunications (spectrum) pointed to https://atuuat.africa/atu-r-reports/ as the home for all ATU documents in the radiocommunications sphere, including ATU-R Recommendation 005-0 which is on the implementation of a number of emerging technologies including 5G itself.
He reminded that indeed all ATU publications are freely available online, thus empowering all to better grasp the documents. Eng. Mwale observed that while the African Union’s Digital Transformation Strategy has set ambitious targets for the continent, “reports like this provide the much-needed guidance for its ambitious goals to be achieved.”
Eng. Baxton Sirewu in his capacity as Chair of the Task Group on Emerging Technologies was elated at the release of the report “POTRAZ where I serve as director for engineering and indeed the Member State of Zimbabwe which is my country, are extremely honoured to champion the harmonised and coordinated implementation of emerging technologies in Africa, and thereby directly contributing towards the collective pursuit of digital transformation in our continent”.
In terms of the core mundus operandi by which the report was developed, Eng. Sirewu, could not be prouder of the process “in keeping with ATU’s core philosophy of being membership driven, the report was developed in the most transparent and consultative manner – a consensual process in which every voice of the 52 ATU Member States and 50 Associate Members counts – the significance of which is that we expect Member States and other stakeholders to have trust in the report just like other ATU documents”.
In his remarks, ATU Secretary-General, John OMO, emphasized the significance of the document during the release. He lauded the report’s potential to equip African nations with valuable insights for making informed decisions on 5G deployment.
“I earnestly appeal to our Member States to exercise utmost political and technical goodwill towards this report,” Omo said. “The recommendations on 5G usage are crucial, and the success of their implementation will have far-reaching impact on the societies and economies across our continent.”
In addition, Omo framed the discussion around this report as a key pivot: “We must now elevate our commitment to the practical deployment of 5G for the benefit of all Africans, ensuring the continent is included in the global digital economy.”
Mr Omo further noted that the report serves as a clarion call for political leadership across the continent to align their efforts in adopting and scaling 5G infrastructure effectively. “The report addresses a critical emerging technology that can unlock untapped opportunities, and we must collectively take the necessary steps to implement the suggested strategies,” he said.
With Africa’s future digital ecosystem increasingly reliant on advanced networks, ATU’s 5G report provides both an urgent and strategic outline for nations to follow.
The hope is that, with engaged leadership and cooperative action, Africa will not just follow global trends but set new standards for digital innovation poised to transform its economic and social spheres.
