MTN Uganda has once again cemented its leadership in network innovation with the first-ever 5.5G showcase in the East African region, reaffirming its position as the leading partner in driving Uganda’s digital transformation.
This groundbreaking milestone comes exactly five years after MTN Uganda made history as the first telecom to successfully demonstrate 5G in East Africa.
Held recently at the company’s head offices in Kampala, the showcase offered a glimpse into a future powered by hyper-connectivity, ultra-low latency, and intelligent digital systems, made possible by 5.5G technology.
The event marked another milestone in MTN Uganda’s ambition to accelerate digital inclusion, support the national innovation agenda, and deliver on its Ambition 2025 strategy.
According to Philip Katongole, Radio Planning Manager at MTN Uganda, the step from 5G to 5.5G is more than a speed upgrade; it is a transformative leap in network capabilities and user experiences.
“To the customer, 5.5G means bolder digital inclusion. It builds on what 5G introduced such as faster speeds and reliable access to applications like high-definition streaming and online gaming, but takes it even further,” said Katongole.
“We’re now talking about real-time broadband communication, ultra-low latency of less than 1 millisecond, and the ability to connect over a million devices per square kilometer. This opens up possibilities for smart cities, driverless cars, AI-generated content, and advanced industrial automation.” he added.
5.5G, also known as 5G-Advanced, is an evolution of 5G technology that aims to improve network performance, efficiency, and functionality.
It’s essentially a transitional phase between 5G and future 6G networks, focusing on optimizing existing technology and expanding its capabilities. Key to note is that 5.5G is ten times faster than 5G.
5.5G is already being commercialized in advanced markets like China.
MTN Uganda’s showcase places the company among a few telecoms globally that are already preparing for deployment, just two years after launching 5G locally.
Bibian Amito, a Graduate Trainee in Radio Planning at MTN Uganda, expressed her excitement about participating in the showcase as part of the company’s future-ready team.
“It’s a privilege to be part of this journey and to work alongside the brilliant minds making it happen,” she said. “With the infrastructure and strategy already in place, we believe the rollout won’t take as long as it did with 5G. Internally, the engineering team is ready. We’re just aligning timelines, budgets, and commercial readiness.” Amito remarked.
This 5.5G showcase is not an isolated event. It is part of a broader commitment to delivering on Ambition 2025, which envisions a bold, digital Uganda where everyone is connected, included, and empowered through technology.
To reaffirm this, MTN Uganda’s investment in network technology continues to match its ambition; to lead digital solutions for Africa’s progress.
The 5.5G network upgrade is supported by a wide-reaching strategy across the MTN Group.
Uganda is playing its part through a unified cloud core modernization plan, fiber network expansion, and massive infrastructure upgrades across the country.
Recently, MTN Uganda launched a new fiber route to boost connectivity and is in the process of upgrading its transport network, with access sites scaling up to 100 Gbps and backbone links hitting 400 Gbps to support the anticipated surge in data demand.
“The work we’ve done since the global standardization of 5.5G in 2023 has been significant. From upgrading access and transport networks to modernizing our cloud infrastructure, we’re laying the foundation for commercial launch in the near future,” added Katongole.
Thomas Motlepa, the MTN Uganda Chief Technical and Information Officer, expressed his appreciation to the Uganda Communications Commission (UCC) for its unwavering support and progressive stance on innovation.
He noted that the successful execution of the 5.5G Proof of Concept would not have been possible without the collaborative approach fostered by the UCC.
“We are deeply grateful to the Uganda Communications Commission for availing the spectrum necessary for this groundbreaking 5.5G Proof of Concept. Their consistent support and forward-thinking regulatory environment have enabled us to push the boundaries of technology and innovation. It’s through such partnerships that we can confidently accelerate Uganda’s digital agenda and ensure no one is left behind,” said Motlepa.
Beyond the technical aspects, the deployment of 5.5G is aligned with Uganda’s national agenda for digital transformation and economic modernization.
It has implications for key sectors such as agriculture, education, healthcare, and manufacturing, promising higher productivity, real-time communication, and smarter, data-driven solutions.
