MTN Zambia Launches 4G LTE Technology

MTN Zambia has become the first Mobile Telecommunications solutions provider in Zambia to commercially launch Long Term Evolution (LTE). In a statement issued in Lusaka yesterday, MTN Zambia Chief Executive Officer Abdul Ismail said the commercial launch of 4G LTE is part of a bigger network transformation plan that MTN has been undertaking over the past few years in order to give its customers World-class services mobile broadband services. MTN Zambia Chief Marketing Officer Clement Asante added that, “the days of waiting for hours on end for music, pictures or videos to load online are long gone with MTN’s LTE service. It will significantly transform the way you interact with the world.”

Long Term Evolution technology (LTE) is the latest technology in the world with the fastest internet speeds, giving customers the most seamless experience in data services. Popularly known as 4G, LTE is a standard for wireless communication of high-speed data.  4G LTE Data Networks provide mobile ultra-broadband internet access.

With this in mind, we wonder which Zambian mobile telecom will soon follow suit since the next most competitive operator has to have its own LTE offering. Back in August 2013, MTN Zambia was only listed on the Africa LTE Distribution list as testing and now with this successful launch, it  represents a major stride in mobile connectivity capabilities in Zambia. From a consumer stand point, this is a great opportunity for other operators to join the initiative in order to foster competitive pricing. We have seen many times how companies with monopolies over a niche hike prices just because they can.

And Mr. Asante disclosed that yesterday’s’s launch of 4G LTE is the first phase which covers Lusaka, Kitwe, Ndola and Livingstone. Expectedly, it’s the towns along the line of rail that get first dibs. Phase two which is already work in progress and is expected to be completed soon will expand the 4G LTE coverage within these towns and cover some new towns as well. Mr. Asante further advised customers to get their LTE routers and SIM cards from service centres in the stated coverage areas adding that modems and handsets will be available soon. Each LTE SIM comes with some free internet bundles pre-loaded.