(Ecofin Agency) - In December 2021, MTN tested 5G in Côte d’Ivoire, becoming the first operator to test that network technology in the country. It now sees AFCON2024 as the perfect opportunity to roll out the ultrafast network technology in the country. 

Telecom operator MTN Côte d’Ivoire announced, last week, that its 5G services will be available by the start of AFCON2024, scheduled for January 2024. This will allow residents and visitors to enjoy ultra-high-speed broadband during and after the competition. Djibril Ouattara, managing director of MTN Côte d'Ivoire, said the company has already initiated the deployment of several 5G sites in Abidjan and in the interior of the country. 

The operator launched 5G testing in Côte d’Ivoire in December 2021. The initiative can be seen as part of MTN Group's efforts to position itself as the leading technology service provider in Africa in the coming years in line with its "Ambition 2025" strategy. The South African telecom group has already deployed ultra-broadband in Nigeria, South Africa, and Zambia.

Furthermore, 5G is one of the strategic pillars of MTN Côte d'Ivoire's plan to position itself as a key player in ongoing digital transformation. The operator also focuses on rural connectivity and mobile money. Currently, it controls 34.3% of the Ivorian mobile market. Its competitors, Orange and Moov, control 43.8 percent and 21.9 percent market share, respectively.

The 5G commercial launch is expected to accelerate the adoption of the technology, given the expected surge in demand for high-speed connectivity and telecom traffic.

Isaac K. Kassouwi