Tunisie Télécom and Ooredoo Tunisie have met all the technical and administrative requirements and are set to begin commercializing their 5G services by mid-February.
Tunisia’s Ministry of Communication Technologies granted 5G licenses to telecom operators eager to roll out the service given the strong demand. Tunisia boasts one of the highest mobile phone subscription rates in Africa, with approximately 16.2 million lines. Additionally, over 80% of internet users in the country rely on mobile data, totaling around 11.14 million subscribers.
These license approvals follow the official signing of agreements between the Ministry of Communication Technologies and telecom representatives on November 30, 2024, in the presence of Prime Minister Kamel Madouri.
A structured roadmap for 5G deployment was approved during a restricted ministerial council in June 2024, leading to the formation of a committee responsible for licensing procedures. Under the new framework, Tunisian operators will receive 5MHz of Time Division Duplex (TDD) spectrum in the 700MHz band and 100MHz (TDD) in the 3.5GHz band. They may also request three blocks of 20MHz spectrum, with more 5G frequency bands to be announced in later phases. The licenses will remain valid for 15 years.
Faster Connectivity
Tunisia’s proactive approach places it ahead of neighboring countries Algeria and Morocco, which have yet to officially confirm their 5G rollout plans. To support this transition, the government is implementing various digital projects, including the expansion of high-speed fiber-optic connections to 4,000 schools, increasing access to online educational platforms and scientific applications. The country also has ambitions to enhance its undersea cable infrastructure.
According to Ookla, Tunisia’s current median download and upload speeds stand at 27.12 Mbps and 14.09 Mbps, respectively. Independent trials have shown that 5G will bring a significant improvement, with speeds reaching up to 500 Mbps for downloads and 100 Mbps for uploads in areas where the technology has been tested.
Ooredoo Tunisia has announced that it is in the final stages of preparing for a nationwide 5G launch in the coming days, marking a new milestone in connectivity. CEO Mansoor Rashid Al-Khater stated, “Our preparation for the launch of 5G reflects Ooredoo’s unwavering commitment to delivering unparalleled connectivity and innovation in Tunisia. We are proud to lead this transformation, providing a world-class network experience for our customers while driving economic and technological growth in our beloved Tunisia.”
