Egypt has completed Africa’s first trial of mobile services using the 6 GHz band (U6GHz), marking a significant step in the country’s preparations for next-generation mobile connectivity.
The trial was conducted by Egypt’s National Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (NTRA) in collaboration with Telecom Egypt and Huawei as part of the country’s broader digital transformation strategy and efforts to strengthen its position as a regional ICT leader.
The test involved the operation of what the partners described as Africa’s first mobile base station using the 6 GHz band, followed by the first data call conducted over the spectrum. The trial achieved speeds of approximately 1.7 Gbps per user, demonstrating the band’s potential to increase network capacity, deliver higher speeds and improve service quality in high-traffic areas.
NTRA said the 6 GHz band could support data-intensive applications including artificial intelligence, Internet of Things, virtual and augmented reality, and cloud computing. The regulator is evaluating the spectrum as part of efforts to optimise its use as a strategic national resource.
NTRA Executive President Eng. Mohamed Shamroukh said the 6 GHz band has been identified as a strategic frequency range in Egypt’s national spectrum plan for 2030–2035. The successful trial is expected to help assess its potential for high-capacity mobile services and support the country’s digital transformation and ICT ambitions.
