MTN South Africa Achieves Over 10 Gbps in Africa's First 5G-Advanced Upper 6 GHz Band Trial

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MTN South Africa has conducted Africa's inaugural 5G-Advanced trial in the upper 6 GHz spectrum, reaching peak download speeds exceeding 10 Gbps.

MTN South Africa has successfully completed what it describes as Africa's first trial of the 5G-Advanced technology in the upper 6 GHz frequency band. This groundbreaking trial recorded peak download speeds of 10.35 Gbps, marking a significant milestone for the continent's telecommunications capabilities.

The upper 6 GHz band is considered a valuable spectrum range that provides a balance of coverage and high capacity, making it ideal for next-generation mobile services like 5G-Advanced. MTN's trial demonstrates the potential for substantially higher data throughput compared to current 5G deployments, which generally operate in lower frequency ranges or different midbands.

Reaching speeds above 10 Gbps suggests that consumers and enterprises in Africa could soon access ultra-fast wireless connectivity, enabling advanced applications such as high-definition streaming, virtual and augmented reality, and enhanced industrial IoT solutions.

Though the trial data is promising, details on the specific conditions of the trial, such as the distance to the cell site, network configuration, and duration, have not been disclosed. Further testing and infrastructure investment will be necessary before such speeds become widely available to subscribers.

MTN’s achievement places it among leading operators worldwide pushing the boundaries of 5G technology, potentially accelerating digital transformation across Africa. The company’s focus on utilizing the upper 6 GHz spectrum aligns with global trends of utilizing new spectrum bands for next-generation networks.

This trial also indicates readiness within South Africa’s telecom sector to adopt advanced spectrum management and 5G standard evolutions, which will be pivotal in meeting future data demand and enhancing user experience.

While the trial represents a significant advancement, it remains an early test, and commercial deployment at similar speeds will depend on regulatory approvals, investment, and technology availability in the coming years.