(Ecofin Agency) - Present in 14 markets, Airtel is one of Africa's leading telecoms companies. The company has already rolled out commercial broadband in Nigeria, Kenya, and Zambia.

Airtel Tanzania deployed 5G last week. For now, the technology is only available in some locations and can be accessed with compatible smartphones or a dedicated router.

About 10 months before its Tanzanian subsidiary deployed commercial 5G, Airtel Africa purchased an additional 140 MHz of telecom frequencies from the Tanzania Communications Regulatory Authority (TCRA) for $60.1 million. At the time, Airtel Africa said the acquisition would help it expand its network coverage and introduce 5G services.

Airtel is the third operator to deploy 5G in Tanzania, after Vodacom Tanzania and Tigo. Airtel’s two rivals deployed the technology in September 2022 and February 2023, respectively.

The 5G deployment should consolidate Airtel’s position in Tanzania, enabling it to be more competitive in a market where demand for high-speed internet keeps rising, spurred by digital transformation.

With 64.1 million subscribers, Airtel, according to the TCRA’s latest data, holds 27% of the mobile telephony market in Tanzania. Its competitors, TTCL, Halotel, Tigo, and Vodacom respectively hold 3%, 13%, 27%, and 30% of this market.

Isaac K. Kassouwi