(AXIAN) - TELMA Madagascar has switched on their 5G commercial network to offer subscribers high-speed services enabled by the latest generation of mobile technology. Powered by Ericsson (NASDAQ : ERIC), the 5G network is already live in Antananarivo.

TELMA Launches 5G In Madagascar, making it the First Country in Africa to Adopt The Next-Gen Mobile Network Commercially.

TELMA, the Malagasy telecom operator of the AXIAN Group, is announcing the launch of 5G in Madagascar. The new network is going live on the 26th of June 2020 and will enable Madagascar to be the first 5G connected country in Africa. Enhanced mobile broadband (eMBB) and Fixed Wireless Access (FWA) are two key 5G use-cases for Madagascar market. With greater capacity, higher data speeds and reduced latency, 5G will power new experiences for Telma customers, from gaming and entertainment services to IoT and business applications. This new technology will redefine the technological and entrepreneurial landscape for Madagascar in line with AXIAN Group ́s action plan for positive impact.

Patrick Pisal Hamida, CEO of TELMA Madagascar said : « 5G will transform how we use and adopt technology and will have a huge impact on businesses and society in Madagascar. It will bring high speed, ultra-low latency and highly secure connectivity to a massive number of devices. TELMA’s next-generation network will unlock a vast array of new possibilities.

We are extremely proud to be among the first countries in the world to roll out this technology. It’s another step ahead for Madagascar, who is already one of the leading ICT countries in the Indian Ocean and Africa »

TELMA’s 5G is a key driver for the digital transformation in Madagascar

By supporting the development of internet and mobile services, and by allowing companies and individuals to access high-speed connectivity, TELMA is addressing the challenges faced by Madagascar in its digital revolution.

With an ambitious investment policy that involves installing over 10,000 km of fiber-optic cable and becoming market leaders in 3G, 4G and 4G+ technology, TELMA has given to Madagascar the fastest internet in Africa and the first mobile-money payment solution in the country. These elements allowed Madagascar to be a world leader in the Business Process Optimisation (BPO) sector. Moreover, Madagascar is showing promising market penetration for mobile technology with now 40% of the population using mobile services, including some 2.4 million Facebook users.

TELMA has once again proven that it is a committed actor and engaged partner in the digital transformation of Madagascar. The recent COVID-19 crisis has shown how critical digital innovation is to respond to health, social and economic challenges.

« We decided to anticipate the launch of our 5G in Madagascar to accelerate the digital revolution and to tackle

the issues brought to light by the COVID-19 epidemic. The key role that telecoms have played throughout this crisis shows the strategic nature of our operations and the impact of our choices on digital inclusion itself » says Hassanein Hiridjee (photo), Chairman of TELMA and CEO of AXIAN Group.

ABOUT TELMA MADAGASCAR

The TELMA Group is the First Telecom Operator in the Indian Ocean. We are also the pioneer behind the 5G Network in Madagascar. TELMA strives to deploy the best infrastructures and technologies to give our clients the highest-quality telecom, information and entertainment services. As one of the telecom industry ́s leading innovators, TELMA is committed to leaving no one behind in the digital revolution.

ABOUT AXIAN

TELMA is an AXIAN Group company.

Founded 150 years ago in Madagascar, the AXIAN group is a diversified entity operating in 5 key sectors with high growth potential; namely Real Estate, Energy, Telecoms, Financial Services and Open Innovation & Fintech. With over 5,000 employees across the Indian Ocean and Africa, we are a proactive enabler and partner in the economic transformation of emerging countries. We constantly ensure that our operations have a positive and sustainable impact on the daily lives of as many people as possible.

ABOUT ERICSSON

Ericsson enables communications service providers to capture the full value of connectivity. The company’s portfolio spans Networks, Digital Services, Managed Services, and Emerging Business and is designed to help our customers go digital, increase efficiency and find new revenue streams. Ericsson’s investments in innovation have delivered the benefits of telephony and mobile broadband to billions of people around the world. The Ericsson stock is listed on Nasdaq Stockholm and on Nasdaq New York.