Tunisia has announced an ambitious roadmap to roll out 5G mobile connectivity across the country by the end of the year 2024. Minister of Digital Technology Nizar Ben Naji revealed plans on March 18th for awarding 5G licenses to carriers in September, followed by the start of commercial 5G services in November 2024.
Tunisia aims to transform its digital sector by 2025; consequently, 5G will update the country’s telecom infrastructure. Furthermore, it will strengthen networks to support rising applications including IoT, remote controls, autonomous systems, and augmented and virtual reality platforms.
The minister stated 5G will deliver significantly higher speeds and quality internet access.
The telecommunications ministry is preparing license specifications and agreements in a multi-phase process. Furthermore, they will finalize the specifications and agreements between March and April before opening a bidding period for the licenses from July through August. This competitive licensing round aims to bring next-gen connectivity and its economic benefits to Tunisians as rapidly as possible.
![Tunisia 5G timeline: This chart outlines Tunisia's roadmap for rolling out 5G mobile networks across the country.](https://mlg4nsveidkk.i.optimole.com/w:1024/h:535/q:mauto/ig:avif/https://www.dots.tn/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Timeline_5G-011.png)
Key opportunities around 5G include encouraging innovation, startups and skills training to position Tunisia as a digital hub. The network buildout will also strengthen cybersecurity protections for 5G users.
By launching nationwide networks, Tunisia looks to gain an advantage in paving the path for major industries like manufacturing and tourism to undergo extensive digital transformation fueled by 5G connectivity.