Improving the quality of Internet service enables African countries to benefit from diversified growth. High-speed networks are essential for applications in all sectors, and align with the region's broader economic objectives.

Mobile operator Vodafone Egypt has announced the successful commercial launch of a 25 Gbps microwave link, operating in the E-band spectrum. Unveiled on Tuesday, October 8, this innovation in long-distance telecoms transmission should significantly improve the quality of Internet service in the country.

Vodafone Egypt's qualitative leap forward was achieved with Huawei's technological expertise. Jim Liu, president and CEO of Huawei Egypt, explained that the “25 Gbps microwave link will enable the delivery of high-demand applications such as 5G, Cloud computing and the Internet of Things (IoT)”. He stressed that through the collaboration with Vodafone Egypt, Huawei's aim is to advance network solutions and contribute to telecommunications innovation throughout the Middle East and Africa.

The launch of this advanced microwave link, using the 80 GHz frequency band, comes almost a week after Vodafone Egypt obtained a license to use fifth-generation (5G) services following an agreement with the National Telecommunications Regulatory Authority. Taken together, the two facts will help position the telecoms company as a provider of very high quality services in the contested telecoms market with Telecom Egypt, Orange and E& (formerly Etisalat).

According to a PwC report, the global economic impact of 5G is expected to generate around $13.2 trillion in economic value by 2035. Vodafone Egypt, which is on a strategy of improving its revenues through better management of its assets and intelligent investment, intends to take part in this financial opportunity.

Hikmatu Bilali