By Mark Kawalya
Communication in Uganda is set to get a boost courtesy of the Ministry of Information, Communications Technology (ICT) and National Guidance, which is in the final stages of launching 5G technology.
Dr. Chris Baryomunsi, the Minister for ICT and National Guidance, revealed this at an event organised by MTN Uganda as the company welcomed its new CEO, Sylvia Mulinge.
The minister said the government is working on creating an environment that is conducive for businesses like MTN to flourish in the marketplace.
“We are working as an East African Community to ensure easy access to smartphones. Very soon, we will be launching 5G technologies. We are also exploring the possibility of enhancing the fibre network across the country,” Baryomunsi said.
As he welcomed the new CEO, the minister thanked MTN for the cordial relationship the company continues to have with the Ugandan government.
The event was organised by Charles Mbire, MTN chairman for Uganda’s Board of Directors, to present the company’s new CEO to MTN stakeholders across the country.
Mbire emphasised the awards and wide experience that Sylvia Mulinge has garnered over her professional career spanning more than 15 years, reiterating that she was the best fit for MTN Uganda’s CEO role.
“Sylvia has received several awards, including the Moran of the Order of the Burning Spear 2022 in Kenya, a prestigious presidential award given for distinguished service. She was named one of Kenya’s top 25 women in digital by Digitalk and appeared in Avance Media’s second publication of the 100 most influential African women in 2020.”
Mbire added that since MTN was listed on the Securities Exchange on December 6, 2021, the company has seen its subscriber base increase from 14.9 million to 17 million in one year, with more than UGX447.55 billion paid out as dividends to shareholders.
The introduction of 5G in Uganda will lead to:
- Lower device power consumption will extend battery durability and the life of users’ handsets.
- Facilitate larger network bandwidth that allows the processing of large data volumes in shorter times.
- Offer a springboard for technologies such as the Internet of All Things, which enable multiple connections between IoT devices.
- Emergence of new businesses driven by internet higher speed that will provide innovative solutions in fields such as health, entertainment, gaming etcetera.
