(Ecofin Agency) - The Tunisian government views 5G as a catalyst for accelerating digital transformation across various sectors of the economy. According to the roadmap set forth, the issuance of licenses and the commercial launch of ultra-high-speed internet are scheduled for September and November 2024, respectively.

Yesterday, the Tunisian Ministry of Communication Technologies announced the launch of a tender for 5G operating licenses. Telecom operators interested in commercially deploying fifth-generation technology in Tunisia must submit their applications to the ministry between July 3 and September 2.

This tender follows the government's approval of the 5G launch roadmap on June 13. Under this plan, each Tunisian telecom operator will be allocated a 5 MHz duplex in the 700 MHz band and 100 MHz (TDD) in the 3.5 GHz band. Three blocks of 20 MHz will be available upon operators' requests, with additional 5G frequency bands to be announced in later deployment phases. The license will be valid for 15 years for an undisclosed cost.

According to the ministry, deploying 5G aligns with Tunisia's state strategy for national digital infrastructure development, aiming to expand high-speed broadband coverage nationwide. The government also aims to accelerate administrative digitization, secure the national cyberspace, ensure digital sovereignty, and foster a trusted digital environment essential for digitalization projects.

The advent of 5G is expected to enable new mobile technology applications. In a 2021 public consultation on ultra-high-speed internet by the National Telecommunications Authority (INT), Internet service provider Conect Tunisia highlighted potential uses such as IoT (Industry 4.0, Agriculture 3.0, Smart Homes, Smart Cities), in-vehicle video streaming, data exchanges during major sports and cultural events, autonomous vehicles, and online gaming.