This archive report was first published on 5 May 2020.
On May 5, 2020, the Kenya ICT Action Network in partnership with Huawei hosted a 90-minute interactive webinar on 5G, aimed at debunking dangerous conspiracy theories circulating on social media.
Themed '5G Myths, Realities and Opportunities,' the webinar provided insight into what the fifth-generation wireless technology means, its impact on lives, and the opportunities it will bring to Kenya.
Ali Hussein, CEO of Kipochi, moderated the expert panel, which emphasized that 5G has no correlation to COVID-19 and discussed digital opportunities in the era of COVID-19, particularly in healthcare.
John Walubengo, a lecturer at Multimedia University, introduced 5G, explaining that it will result in better download and upload speeds, and enable smart meters to report back to the central network on their own.
Dr. Daniel Obam, National Communications Secretary CEO, clarified some of the myths around 5G, stating that the World Health Organisation has conclusive evidence that mobile phones do not cause any harm, and that 5G uses non-ionizing radiation that is not dangerous.
Adam Lane, Deputy CEO, Huawei Kenya, explained that many countries have developed 5G national strategies, and that it is becoming a cornerstone of national development strategies.
Dr. Bello Moussa, Huawei Senior Director of Innovation and ICT Strategies, delved further, noting that Huawei is a global leader in deploying 5G networks for mobile communication companies, and emphasized the tremendous opportunities for 5G to connect homes and businesses with fibre-like speeds.
Ann Kinyanjui, Communications Authority AgManager for frequency planning, gave an overview of the regulatory perspectives on 5G, noting that the CA is looking at different licensing methodologies, the amount of bandwidth to be offered to operators, and frequency spectrum allocations.
