The Egyptian public eagerly awaits the official rollout of 5G mobile networks, expected by the end of 2024 or early 2025. This milestone follows the issuance of licenses to the country’s four major telecom operators. While trial operations have already begun in certain areas of Cairo, an exact launch date has yet to be announced.
High Expectations for Improved Services
Egyptians view 5G networks as a transformative solution, promising faster download speeds, better call quality, and innovative features, such as enhanced connectivity for Internet of Things (IoT) devices. However, a key question remains: will these expectations be met upon the network’s official launch?
What Sets 5G Apart from 4G?
5G technology marks a significant advancement over 4G, operating on higher frequency bands ranging from 30 to 300 GHz, enabled by “millimeter wave” (mmWave) technology. This allows 5G to deliver connection speeds at least five times faster than 4G, along with support for a greater number of devices.
To illustrate, Ericsson, a leading networking company, compares network frequencies to traffic lanes: while 4G offers a limited number of lanes, leading to congestion in high-density areas, 5G provides many more lanes, ensuring smoother and faster connectivity.
Technical Challenges: Lack of New Frequencies
Despite the high hopes, reports suggest that the 5G licenses issued in Egypt do not include new frequency allocations. Instead, older bands, such as 2.6 GHz, are being repurposed to support 5G services. This has drawn criticism from telecom experts, including Dr. Amr Badawy, former CEO of the National Telecom Regulatory Authority, who emphasized that the lack of new frequencies could limit the full potential of 5G networks, much like what happened with 4G in Egypt.
Impact of Frequency Limitations
The absence of new frequencies may affect download and connection speeds, but other features, such as IoT connectivity and support for multiple smart devices, could still be adequately provided. Nonetheless, questions remain about the network’s ability to deliver the full 5G experience.
Collaborations to Deliver the Service
To implement 5G, telecom operators have partnered with global technology leaders. For instance, Telecom Egypt has teamed up with Nokia, while Etisalat e& has collaborated with Ericsson.
What Can Users Expect?
While early 5G tests in some areas have shown improved speeds compared to 4G, the network’s overall performance will heavily depend on the available frequencies. If the current bands are sufficient, why has the official rollout faced delays?
Ultimately, the key question is whether Egypt’s 5G networks will fulfill user expectations or if the lack of new frequency allocations will narrow the gap between 4G and 5G.
