MTN Uganda has taken another step into the future of wireless technology with the first public demonstration of 5.5G in East Africa. The showcase, held recently at the telecom giant’s headquarters in Kampala, came five years after MTN made headlines as the first operator to trial 5G in the region.
The company says this latest display of technological strength is part of a larger push to meet its “Ambition 2025” strategy, aimed at building what it calls a digitally inclusive Uganda.
But for MTN Uganda, this wasn’t just about speed or bandwidth.
“To the customer, 5.5G means bolder digital inclusion,” said Philip Katongole, Radio Planning Manager at MTN Uganda. “It builds on what 5G introduced, such as faster speeds and reliable access to applications like high-definition streaming and online gaming, but takes it even further.”
Katongole described 5.5G — also known as 5G-Advanced — as a pivotal upgrade, not merely an incremental improvement. According to him, it offers ultra-low latency (under one millisecond), real-time broadband communication, and dense connectivity — supporting more than a million devices in a square kilometer.
“This opens up possibilities for smart cities, driverless cars, AI-generated content, and advanced industrial automation,” he said.
5.5G technology, already being commercialized in countries like China, acts as a bridge between today’s 5G networks and future 6G systems. MTN Uganda’s public demonstration puts it among a small number of telecoms worldwide preparing for commercial deployment.
The company is already making technical changes to prepare for what’s next. A national network upgrade is underway, including a new fiber route, faster backbone connections, and enhanced cloud infrastructure. Transport links are being scaled to 100 Gbps at the access level, with backbone links reaching 400 Gbps.
“The work we’ve done since the global standardization of 5.5G in 2023 has been significant,” Katongole said. “From upgrading access and transport networks to modernizing our cloud infrastructure, we’re laying the foundation for commercial launch in the near future.”
Thomas Motlepa, MTN Uganda’s Chief Technical and Information Officer, credited the Uganda Communications Commission (UCC) for enabling the showcase.
“We are deeply grateful to the Uganda Communications Commission for availing the spectrum necessary for this groundbreaking 5.5G Proof of Concept,” he said. “Their consistent support and forward-thinking regulatory environment have enabled us to push the boundaries of technology and innovation.”
According to Motlepa, collaboration with regulators has been key in pushing forward Uganda’s digital transformation.
Bibian Amito, a graduate trainee in the company’s Radio Planning division, was among the younger engineers involved in the demonstration.
“It’s a privilege to be part of this journey and to work alongside the brilliant minds making it happen,” she said. “With the infrastructure and strategy already in place, we believe the rollout won’t take as long as it did with 5G. Internally, the engineering team is ready.”
MTN’s broader strategy echoes a company-wide effort to align network development with national priorities. Officials have framed the 5.5G rollout as more than a tech upgrade; they see it as a backbone for smarter governance, modernized education and healthcare, and an engine for future industry.
The company says it remains focused on “ensuring no one is left behind.” Whether 5.5G becomes a widespread reality in the near term, though, depends on more than just engineering readiness. Timelines, budgets, and regulatory alignment remain key factors.
Still, for Uganda’s largest telecom provider, the signal is clear: the future is already being built.
