Telekom Networks Malawi (TNM) has proudly announced its pioneering achievement as the first operator in the country to introduce 5G services on a trial basis. Following the necessary approval from the Malawi Communications Regulatory Authority (MACRA), the operator has successfully activated 5G base stations in two prominent locations: Clocktower Mall in Blantyre and the Bingu International Convention Centre in Lilongwe. TNM plans to additionally expand the reach of these accessible 5G pilot sites to include Mzuzu and Zomba in the near future.
According to TNM CEO Michel Hebert, the operator has made a significant investment of $5 million over the past two years to enhance its packet core network platform. This modernization initiative aims to enhance the overall 4G user experience for TNM customers. Additionally, it has been confirmed that TNM has partnered with Huawei for its 5G rollout.
Hebert further states that TNM's 5G network will provide impressive internet speeds at each site. With 50 MHz of spectrum, the network will support speeds of up to 600 Mbps, and with 100 MHz of spectrum, speeds of up to 1.2 Gbps per site can be achieved. These advancements highlight TNM's commitment to delivering high-quality connectivity and improved performance to its users.
TNM sees 5G as crucial for expanding into mission-critical communications and massive IoT connectivity, benefiting sectors like smart agriculture, automated mining, robotics and IoT-supported logistics and manufacturing.