Tunisia's 5G Rollout: A Digital Transformation Milestone
February 14, 2025
The introduction of the 5th generation of mobile network, or 5G, was one of the flagship projects of the Digital Tunisia 2025 roadmap, successfully completed on time, marking a major milestone in the transformation of the country's telecommunications sector. 5G represents a significant technological advancement for Tunisia, paving the way for ultra-fast speeds, extremely low latency, and with the ability to connect a vast number of devices in small geographical areas. More than just a technological advancement, 5G represents a true digital revolution, capable of deeply transforming the economic sectors, drive large-scale innovation, and act as a catalyst for achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Thus, adopting this cutting-edge technology not only meets the growing demand for connectivity but also lays the groundwork for a more resilient, inclusive, and future-oriented digital economy.
A Structured and Well-Planned Deployment
February 14, 2025, marks the official launch of 5G technology in Tunisia and the start of its commercialization by the three local telecommunications operators. This milestone crowns a rigorous roadmap spanning three years of dedicated efforts, covering several key phases:
The preparation for the rollout of the 5G technology began in October 2021 with two public consultations conducted respectively by the national telecommunications authority (INT) on 5G use cases and by the national agency of frequencies (ANF) on the eventual radio spectrum allocation strategy for 5G.
Then, the spectrum refarming phase was essential in ensuring the timely availability of the dedicated 5G frequency bands (700 MHz, 2.6 GHz, and 3.5 GHz).
Special authorizations for pilot experiments of 5G were issued to telecom operators to conduct tests and trials, allowing them to master the new technology and assess its performance, coverage, and potential applications.
The feasibility and market studies were updated by a specialized consulting firm, culminating in the submission of the final feasibility report to the Ministry of Communication Technologies in March 2024. This report detailed the technical options, potential use cases, coverage and security requirements, along with an estimated cost range for the 5G commercial license.
Smaller and more focused consultations were conducted between the sectorial committee led by the Minister Nizar Ben Neji, telecom operators, and manufacturers to discuss the findings of the feasibility study and the results of the pilot phase.
The roadmap for the remaining steps, along with the final decisions on 5G deployment, was officially announced by Minister Nizar Ben Neji during a press conference on March 18, 2024.
The tendering process and the establishment of a national committee responsible for preparing the granting of 5G service licenses were approved during a cabinet meeting chaired by Prime Minister Ahmed Hachani on June 13, 2024.
The tender for 5G operating licenses was launched in June 2024, and the 5G licenses were awarded by decrees to the three telecom operators in January 2025.
This structured road map reflects Tunisia’s commitment to a controlled transition to 5G, ensuring optimal deployment that meets the expectations of end users and various economic actors.
Supporting Measures for a Successful Transition
Additionally, several supporting measures have been implemented in advance to ensure a smooth transition to this new generation of connectivity:
The official introduction of IPv6 on September 25, 2023, was essential for optimizing IP address management in mobile networks and establishing the foundation for optimal addressing in the 5G network. As 5G enables the connection of a vast number of devices and fosters new applications and use cases, businesses will need to efficiently allocate and manage IP addresses with IPv6 to meet the increasing demand for connectivity.
The government's initiatives for extending the national fiber network, particularly through the EDUNET10 project, were crucial in supporting the large-scale development of fiber optics for 5G. The fiber network serves as the backbone of 5G, delivering the high-speed, reliable infrastructure needed to accommodate growing data demands and ultra-low latency requirements.
Enhancing international capacity through the deployment of new submarine cables represents a significant advancement in Tunisia’s connectivity and network resilience, especially with the introduction of 5G. Key infrastructures include the Ifriqya cable, operational since 2023, and the Medusa cable, set to launch in 2025 with an initial capacity exceeding 20 Tbit/s per cable.
Facilitating the registration of 5G-compatible smartphones through the E-Bawaba citizen portal was a crucial step in increasing the device readiness rate and ensuring widespread access to 5G technology. Since its launch on, E-Bawaba enabled the registration of more than 150,000 imported 5G-compatible smartphones in the national registry of Sajalni.
These strategic initiatives were designed to optimize the benefits of 5G and expedite its widespread adoption, ensuring its extensive use across various sectors.
A Complementary and Transformative Technology
5G does not replace existing technologies such as 4G or Fiber but rather complements and enriches the current market offerings. It integrates seamlessly with existing infrastructures, addressing the specific needs of intelligent and autonomous systems, virtual and augmented reality applications, as well as critical communications requiring ultra-low latency and high reliability. Moreover, it is essential to recognize that the deployment of 5G is not merely an upgrade of telecommunications infrastructure. It represents a strategic move to put Tunisia in line with the world, strengthen its competitiveness in information and communication technologies, and solidify its position as a regional leader and an attractive digital hub for foreign investments, particularly in the IT sector.
References
[1] https://www.tap.info.tn/en/Portal-Economy/17251591-roadmap-to-provide
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[3] https://www.connectingafrica.com/author.asp?section_id=816&doc_id=786928
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[6] https://www.ecofinagency.com/telecom/0905-44504-tunisia-schedules-commercial-5g-rollout-for-2024
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[12] https://www.africanwirelesscomms.com/news-details?itemid=7444
[13] https://carthagemagazine.com/5g-in-tunisia/
[14] https://www.samenacouncil.org/samena_daily_news?news=99978