Chipmaker MediaTek is actively working on increasing the adoption of 5G technology in Kenya through collaborations with local telecommunications companies. In an interview with TechTrends Media, Rami Osman, the Director of Corporate Sales and Marketing MEA at MediaTek, expressed the company’s commitment to local testing to make 5G a reality.
The number of 5G network users in Kenya has grown to 509,737 in the three months ending September, showing a 13.3% increase from the 449,794 users reported in June, according to the Kenyan Communication Authority (CA). MediaTek attributes this growth to the availability of affordable 5G devices, and it plans to continue bringing such devices to the market to meet customer expectations.
Rami Osman mentioned MediaTek’s goal of contributing to the future and digital inclusion in Kenya by lowering the prices of 5G chipsets and collaborating with Mobile Network Operators (MNOs) and local brands, ultimately reaching a broader audience.
Kenya was among the first African countries to launch a 5G network, with Safaricom commercially launching the network in October of the previous year after months of testing. Airtel followed suit in July of the current year. The CA’s statistics indicate that the country’s achievements are driving an increase in demand for high-speed internet.
Safaricom has expanded its 5G connectivity to select communities across 35 counties as of November this year. Rami emphasized MediaTek’s strategic priority to improve 5G adoption in Kenya in the coming year by working closely with local telecommunications companies.
Rami highlighted the importance of 5G mobile and Fixed Wireless Access (FWA) in addressing the low fixed-line broadband penetration in Africa, with only 2% across the continent. MediaTek is collaborating with Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) and network providers to extend the benefits of high-speed internet connectivity, including educational, entertainment, business, and lifestyle advantages, to a broader population in Kenya and other African countries.
The demand for broadband is expected to rise in the Sub-Saharan region, driven by augmented reality and virtual reality applications. MediaTek is committed to providing leading-edge platforms for next-generation experiences and devices, with products like MediaTek T750 and MediaTek T830 enabling operators to create high-performance multi-gigabit Consumer Premises Equipment (CPE) for 5G Fixed Wireless Access (FWA).
Rami concluded by expressing MediaTek’s commitment to delivering cutting-edge innovation across various sectors, including smartphones, smart devices, automotive, satellite connectivity solutions, and next-gen wearables.
