Airtel Uganda has launched the first 5G home broadband device with a promise to boost connectivity in Uganda.
The new development was announced during the Airtel – Wednesday Night Golf monthly mug tournament held at Uganda Golf Club on 29th November 2023.
The adoption of home broadband internet has gradually grown over the years and was further boosted by the recent Covid-19 pandemic. The lockdown saw a surge in demand for home internet as the population adjusted to working from home, online studies, and online business, among other shifts.
To meet this high demand, Internet Service Providers (ISP) have had to offer innovative solutions for their customers to enjoy different opportunities of the internet such as fast downloads, live video streaming in real-time with no buffering, working from home with ease, online gaming, among others.
Airtel Uganda, Home Broadband Director, Denis Kahindi, said in August, they broke the news as the first network to pioneer the revolutionary 5G setup.
“Now, building on that groundbreaking achievement, we proudly stand as the first network to introduce the 5G Home Broadband (HBB) in Uganda, setting new standards in the realm of connectivity,” Kahindi said.
It goes for UGX 250,000 and can accommodate up to 65 people and after purchase, customers will be required to subscribe to monthly data plans available at a friendly cost of; 90GB for UGX 75,000, 130GB for UGX 100,000, and 220GB for UGX 150,000. Customers can visit any of our service centers for any installation support.
According to the Uganda Communications Commission (UCC) Q3 report, in the three months that ended March 2023, there was a 9.2 million GB growth in internet traffic from 129.3 GBs recorded at the end of December 2022 to 138.5 million GBs in downloads. This was largely attributed to the continued adoption of internet usage amongst households, enterprise businesses and SMEs resulting from the benefits that come with last-mile fixed internet connections that serve as the final leg connecting the provider’s network to a home or building.
This year, telecommunications companies embarked on a nationwide launch of the 5G network, a 5th-generation mobile network that is designed to connect virtually, everyone and everything together including machines, objects, and devices at very high speeds.
It delivers higher multi-GPS peak data speeds, more reliability, massive network capacity, increased availability, and a more uniform user experience to more users. The established sites will accommodate new emerging 5G technologies such as the 5G HBB device for home connectivity.
Kahindi said whether you use the internet for entertainment, gaming, streaming, or remote work, the 5G HBB device is your gateway to a world of possibilities.
“As we launch this transformative technology, we also want to express our gratitude to our customers who have entrusted us with their connectivity needs and I invite you to embark on this exciting journey with us. The 5G home broadband device is more than just a product, it’s a promise of a connected future where possibilities are limitless,” Kahindi said.