Econet Lesotho, a subsidiary of Zimbabwean billionaire Strive Masiyiwa's Econet Group, announced on February 22 that it has launched fifth-generation (5G) mobile technology in the country. This development allows the telecom operator to offer its subscribers compatible devices with enhanced features such as faster speeds and lower latency.

Following in the footsteps of Vodacom, which introduced the technology in August 2018, Econet Lesotho has become the second mobile operator in the country to deploy 5G, marking a significant step forward for Lesotho's telecommunications sector.

The commercial introduction of 5G by Econet is poised to meet the increasing demand for high-speed connectivity from its customers more effectively. This technological advancement is expected to not only attract new subscribers but also strengthen Econet's position in Lesotho's telecom market, particularly in the internet services sector.

The rollout of 5G technology is also anticipated to bolster the Lesotho government's digital transformation goals and aid in the development of the nation's technological infrastructure. It is expected to enable various modern applications including smart homes and buildings, smart cities, e-learning, e-government, e-commerce, 3D video, telemedicine, as well as virtual and augmented reality, streaming services, artificial intelligence, and the Internet of Things (IoT).

However, the widespread adoption of 5G in Lesotho could be hindered by the high costs associated with 5G-compatible smartphones. Additionally, the country faces challenges with overall internet adoption; as per DataReportal's latest statistics, Lesotho had only 1.1 million internet subscribers at the beginning of this year, equating to a penetration rate of 47%.