MTN Congo has become the first telco in Central Africa to deploy a 5G network, accelerating the continent's race to launch the technology.

The business announced the debut of its network Tuesday, calling it a 'real digital revolution' that would transform Congolese people's daily lives.

MTN Congo said: "This technological advancement is an unprecedented opportunity to boost the development and growth of businesses."

The debut of the MTN Congo network comes as analysts predict that 5G's integration with Artificial Intelligence and other advanced technologies will transform African economies, propelling long-term growth and development across the continent.

Todd Ashton, Ericsson's vice president and head of South and East Africa, recently cited the Ericsson Mobility Report for June 2024, which predicts that in Sub-Saharan Africa, 5G is anticipated to have the second-largest percentage of subscriptions, at 28%, by 2029.

In recent months, a number of African telcos have unveiled their networks from north to south, and Central Africa now also has its 5G network.

In North Africa, Ericsson has announced a partnership with e& Egypt to build out 5G. Airtel Nigeria and MTN Nigeria debuted their networks in West Africa, while Airtel Kenya and MTN Uganda did the same in East Africa.