Airtel Zambia has confirmed its commercial introduction of 5G services via a series of social media posts. According to the mobile network operator (MNO), at launch coverage is limited to areas of the capital, Lusaka, while Airtel notes that although customers will not require a new SIM card to access this new generation of mobile broadband technology, they will require a 5G-compatible handset. Meanwhile, the MNO has also said that 5G routers can now be purchased from any of its stores.

As previously reported by CommsUpdate, in October 2022 Airtel Zambia completed the purchase of 60MHz of additional spectrum in the 800MHz and 2600MHz bands, with its parent company, Airtel Africa, noting that these airwaves would be used to support the Zambian cellco’s network expansion for mobile and fixed wireless services – including a 5G rollout – and provide ‘significant capacity’ to accommodate growing demand for data in the market.