5G TECHNOLOGY UNDER WAY IN SA

PLANNING for licensing of Fifth Generation (5G) wireless technology in South Africa is under way, but no definitive timeline has been set, according to the Minister of Telecommunications and Postal Services, Siyabonga Cwele.

Cwele was speaking yesterday at the first day of the International Telecom Union’s (ITU) World Conference at the Inkosi Albert Luthuli International Convention Centre in Durban.

“We are doing trials on 5G, but we are already starting the planning of the licensing of the 5G spectrum… so that we don’t have delays in working with our private sector,” he said.

“We have been working with our private sector because this is the spectrum that is used in the Internet of Things and is critical for the digital economy. Those are the things we are putting in place.”

President Cyril Ramaphosa said in his keynote address that the government would accelerate licensing of radio frequency spectrums “in the 2.6 gigahertz, the 700 megahertz (MHz) and the 800MHz band to hasten the growth of mobile telecommunications”.

Cwele said companies such as Telkom were laying the foundations for the digital revolution. “We are also finalising our approach to data management because data is the gold of the digital economy.”

Like 4G was to 3G, the new generation 5G will offer significantly quicker connectivity speeds to users and increase the ability of small businesses to become more competitive, increase technological innovation and drive economic development.

The technological empowerment of small-, medium- and microenterprises in South Africa and on the African continent would be a continuing theme throughout the conference, according to ITU secretary-general Houlin Zhao, who encouraged small businesses to exhibit their wares. |