18 April 2023
MTN Uganda and Huawei have launched what they claim is the country's first 5G industrial use case with Hima Cement Company.
The deployment at Hima's cement plant will enable high-bandwidth, low-latency connectivity, and the ability to connect with a high concentration of devices.
"5G will enable real-time data transmission in the production area. Harnessing edge computing, 5G will significantly improve the production efficiency of the factory," said Huawei in a statement.
"Today marks another big milestone in our journey to deploy a technology that will accelerate the realization of Uganda's economic potential and unlock wealth creation opportunities for its people," said Sylvia Mulinge, CEO of MTN Uganda.
At the launch event at the Hima Cement factory in Kasese, Huawei and MTN showcased two scenarios. The first test involved real-time virtual reality training on Environmental Health and Safety, which ensures the safety of trainers and trainees as they work in accident-prone areas of the plant. The second test involved comparing the latency speeds between a 4G- and 5G-enabled surveillance camera.
"The results were clearly noticeable, with the near-5G network enabling near-instantaneous live feeds with minimal latency, while the 4G camera suffered from lags and delays," said MTN Uganda in a statement. "The use of 5G technology is set to revolutionize the way businesses operate in Uganda, bringing greater efficiency and productivity to industries and commerce in general.”
