• Cape Verde launched a 12-month 5G pilot project at TechPark CV in Praia.

• Authorities plan a commercial 5G rollout between 2027 and 2028.

• The government aims to increase the contribution of the ICT sector, currently estimated at 5% of GDP.

African countries continue to accelerate the deployment of fifth-generation mobile technology as governments position 5G as a key driver of digital transformation and new digital services. Cape Verdean authorities launched a 5G pilot phase this week at TechPark CV in Praia, the country’s capital.

The initiative will test the technology over a 12-month period before a commercial rollout planned between 2027 and 2028. According to national news agency Inforpress, the initial phase remains limited to TechPark CV and exclusively targets businesses.

The project currently operates as a free testing environment. However, authorities could later expand the program to other islands, including São Vicente, which hosts a campus of the technology park.

“TechPark is a space dedicated to experimentation, innovation and transforming ideas into reality. Therefore, the introduction of this 5G pilot phase at TechPark fully aligns with our mission. The objective is to provide an environment equipped with all the necessary infrastructure to begin developing solutions, particularly for startups and telemedicine, within a fully prepared framework,” TechPark administrator Carlos Delgado told local media outlet Expresso das Ilhas.

The launch follows the recent presentation of a national roadmap for ultra-high-speed broadband deployment. According to the roadmap, the pilot projects will test technological solutions under real-world conditions, demonstrate the value of 5G, stimulate innovation and collect data on the technology’s economic, social and territorial impacts.

Authorities also plan to use the pilot as a foundation for gradual network expansion and adjustments to related public policies. The roadmap outlines a phased deployment strategy that reflects the archipelago’s geographic, socio-economic and infrastructure constraints.

Initially, operators will rely on a 5G Non-Standalone (NSA) model built on existing 4G infrastructure. According to Valdemar Monteiro, head of engineering projects at state-owned operator CV Telecom, the current infrastructure relies on a single 5G site while the network still depends heavily on 4G systems. Consequently, operators will need to invest additional capital to expand coverage.

Cape Verdean authorities view 5G as a strategic tool to accelerate the country’s digital transformation. The government plans to integrate information and communication technologies across sectors including education, healthcare, tourism and public administration in order to support economic growth and development.

Authorities also aim to gradually increase the ICT sector’s contribution to gross domestic product from the current level of about 5%.

“5G is a globally disruptive technology, particularly for Cape Verde, because it will impact the technological component through bandwidth that is around 10 times greater than 4G and through very low latency,” Monteiro said. He added that 5G delivers stronger performance than satellite-based solutions such as Starlink.

Monteiro said terrestrial infrastructure benefits from closer proximity to users compared with satellites positioned at very large distances. As a result, the technology enables faster and more stable transmission, improves connection quality and expands potential use cases.

According to authorities, those characteristics could create new opportunities for businesses and startups by facilitating the development of innovative digital services.

This article was initially published in French by Isaac K. Kassouwi

Adapted in English by Ange J.A de Berry Quenum