- MediaTek Technology says it aims to improve 5G adoption in East Africa as a strategic priority in 2024.
- Some of the best 5G smartphones in Kenya are powered by MediaTek’s Dimensity chipsets.
- Broadband demands are expected to continue rising in the Sub-Saharan region with the advent of augmented reality.
Fabless semiconductor company MediaTek Technology will collaborate with telecom operators and original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) in Kenya and greater East Africa region to promote the adoption of 5G and contribute to narrowing the digital divide in the region.
This partnership is occurring at a time when significant progress has been made in terms of 5G adoption, not only in Kenya but across the continent, over the past couple of years.
Kenya ranks as the third-largest country in Africa in the continent’s mobile phone market, with 5 million smartphones shipped annually.
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Some of the best 5G smartphones in the country are powered by MediaTek’s Dimensity chipsets, spanning from flagships to midrange smartphones. This fact explains why the firm is targeting Kenya in its latest partnership.
The adoption of mobile broadband has been steadily increasing as consumers seek faster internet speeds. This development will serve as a boost to Kenya, which opened its first smartphone assembly plant late last year to produce low-cost 4G-enabled mobile phones for Kenyans.
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Embracing Partnerships for Growth
“We are collaborating with OEMs and network providers to bring the educational, entertainment, business, and lifestyle benefits of fast broadband to a much wider population in Africa,” said Rami Osman, Director for Business Development at MediaTek Technology Middle East and Africa.
While Kenya has made significant strides in accelerating 5G adoption, the country still lags behind its counterparts in Africa. Close to 28 countries out of 54 have adopted 5G, with over half of them in commercial deployment and the rest in the trial phase as of December 2023.
MediaTek aims to enhance 5G adoption in East Africa as a strategic priority for the year 2024.
The firm powers some of the biggest brands globally and is committed to delivering cutting-edge innovation with its latest products and solutions across smartphones, smart devices, automotive, satellite connectivity solutions, and next-gen wearables, among others.
“With fixed-line broadband penetration at only 2 percent across Africa, 5G mobile and Fixed Wireless Access (FWA) have a key role to play in bringing the benefits of high-speed internet connectivity to more people,” added Osman.
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Projected Rise on MediaTek Technology Uptake in 2024
Broadband demands are expected to continue rising in the Sub-Saharan region with the advent of augmented reality and virtual reality applications. This calls for closer collaboration among different players to improve broadband infrastructure and unlock the full potential of 5G.
MediaTek Technology states that it will provide leading-edge platforms to power next-generation experiences and devices.
The MediaTek T750 and MediaTek T830 enable operators to create dedicated 5G Fixed Wireless Access (FWA) consumer premises equipment (CPE).
In 2022, there were seven million 5G subscriptions in Sub-Saharan Africa, with a firm mobility report estimating that 5G will experience the fastest growth rate in subscriptions in the region.
More than 10 countries have launched commercial 5G networks to date, with more planned, elevating the forecast for 5G subscriptions to 13 percent of the total subscription base in 2028.
“We believe the future of 5G networks will be powered by AI, which will allow a higher degree of autonomous operation. AI is poised to make waves in terms of improved performance, higher efficiency, enhanced customer experience, as well as the creation of new business models and use cases,” said Osman.
In the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region, 5G subscriptions are projected to account for 32 per cent of the total in 2028 as more countries issue licenses and spectrum to enable 5G network investment.
The strong uptake is driven by greater device availability and early large-scale deployments in certain markets.
