Mozambique Aims to Roll Out a Nationwide 5G Network by 2030

By MOZTIMES

Maputo (MOZTIMES) - Mozambique has formally ushered in the 5G era in the country and unveiled an ambitious plan to extend high-speed connectivity to all provincial capitals by 2027 and to all districts and administrative posts by 2030, at a time when President Daniel Chapo has placed digital transformation at the center of the country’s long-term economic strategy.

In a speech delivered on Monday, at the opening of the Fifth National Communications Conference in Maputo, Chapo stated that the rollout of 5G and the expansion of digital infrastructure are essential not only for modernizing telecommunications but also for driving economic growth, attracting investment, and reducing regional inequalities.

“More than just a technological advance, 5G represents an opportunity to accelerate digital inclusion, attract domestic and foreign investment, modernize services, and create new opportunities for citizens and the national economy,” the President said.

The conference marked the official allocation of radio frequency spectrum licenses to Mozambique’s three mobile operators, namely Tmcel, Vodacom, and Movitel, paving the way for the commercial expansion of 5G services across the country.

According to Chapo, the government expects 5G services to reach all provincial capitals, special economic zones, and major tourist destinations by next year, before being gradually expanded to other densely populated areas.

“Starting this year and through 2027, we plan to make this technology available in all provincial capitals, special economic zones, and major tourist destinations across the country, subsequently expanding coverage to other densely populated areas and, by 2030, enhancing broadband access in all districts and administrative posts,” he stated.

In a speech that directly linked technology to national development, Chapo argued that digital transformation should be viewed as a matter of economic sovereignty and social justice, and not merely as technological progress.

The President said that countries capable of transforming knowledge into innovation, and innovation into investment, would be best positioned to compete in the coming decades, especially as artificial intelligence and digital technologies reshape global economies.

He stressed that Mozambique’s goal is not merely to consume foreign technology “but to become a producer of innovation and digital solutions”.

Chapo also detailed major investments currently underway under the government's “Internet for All” initiative, launched in 2025.

The program includes approximately 50 million U.S dollars for rural connectivity projects, including the installation of 60 mobile base stations and communications access for more than 300 localities, a move expected to benefit about 4.4 million people.

An additional 20 million U.S dollars is being invested in school connectivity covering primary, technical, and higher education institutions.

“We want a student in Mueda (in the northern province of Cabo Delgado) to have the same opportunities for access to knowledge as a student in Maputo,” said the President. The government has also distributed more than 5,000 laptops to financially disadvantaged university students as part of its digital inclusion strategy.

Beyond domestic connectivity, Chapo highlighted plans to strengthen Mozambique’s position as a regional digital hub through satellite communications and new international infrastructure.

The government is currently licensing satellite operators and advancing a submarine cable project linking Mozambique and Angola via Caala-Lobito, which authorities believe will increase international internet capacity and reduce communication costs.

“This strategic infrastructure will increase international internet connectivity, reduce communication costs, and position Mozambique as a key digital corridor in the region,” he said.

The President said regional cooperation would be essential if African countries are to compete in the global digital economy.

“We want Mozambique to be recognized in the coming decade as one of the most dynamic digital economies on the African continent, capable of transforming connectivity into productivity, innovation into competitiveness, and talent into prosperity for all Mozambicans,” he concluded.

The conference brings together regulators, telecom operators, investors, technology experts, and international partners to discuss the future of communications, digital inclusion, and technological resilience in Mozambique and across Africa. (MT)