The telecommunication industry in Africa is witnessing a wave of modernization with the deployment of Smart poles. If the terms is new to your ears, smart poles are telecommunication infrastructure designed to cater to the increasing demand for high-quality voice and data services in densely populated urban areas.
These poles are fitted with a range of telecommunication equipment such as antennae, power sources, and lighting to provide improved coverage and network capacity to the surrounding area.
It is in this regard that, ATC Uganda and Airtel Uganda have jointly launched the Kampala Smart pole in the heart of downtown Kampala. This collaborative effort between ATC Uganda, Airtel Uganda, and Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) is aimed at improving the quality of telecommunication services in Kampala. The Kampala Smart pole is a form of DAS technology that is eco-friendly and provides lighting to the city.
Dorothy Kabagambe Ssemanda, CEO of ATC Uganda, spoke about the need for modern-day technology in urban centers, which require minimal space and sustainable green power sources.
She said, “ATC Uganda continues to lead the way in providing modern telecommunication technology, specifically for urban centers where the country continues to experience an increase in population growth which has led to increased demand for high-quality voice and data services.“
Ssemanda further highlighted that the Kampala Smart pole is a modern tower that resolves service gaps resulting from mobile data growth and highly trafficked areas. Additionally, the Smart pole has been designed to facilitate the transition to 5G internet technology, and ATC Uganda continues to work closely with all mobile network operators to support the transition.
During the launch of the Smart pole, the Managing Director of Airtel Uganda, Mr. Manoj Murali, expressed his gratitude for the strategic partnership with ATC Uganda aimed at improving the quality of telecommunications services in Kampala city. He also acknowledged that Airtel Uganda routinely improves its wide range of affordable voice, data, devices, and financial services based on customer feedback.
Mr. Murali further explained that Airtel Uganda’s customers in built-up areas sometimes experience intermittent coverage because of high-rise buildings. He believes that the Kampala Smart pole will change this and enable Airtel Uganda to deliver on its commitment of keeping customers connected. He congratulated the ATC team for delivering an eco-friendly Smart pole, in line with Airtel Uganda’s sustainable environmental stewardship.
Smart poles are popular in Africa
Smart poles have become increasingly popular in Africa, with countries such as South Africa and Nigeria also embracing this technology to improve network coverage and capacity.
In South Africa, Vodacom has been installing Smart poles in Johannesburg and Cape Town to provide high-speed internet connectivity to residents. In Nigeria, MainOne, a telecommunications company, has been deploying Smart poles in Lagos to improve the network coverage and capacity.
ATC Uganda’s recent significant works include the deployment of over 200 new telecom towers and the installation of more than 1,000 sites for mobile network operators. The company has also been involved in providing affordable and reliable telecommunication services to remote areas in Uganda.
The collaborative efforts between ATC Uganda, Airtel Uganda, and KCCA to launch the Kampala Smart pole is a significant milestone towards modernizing Uganda’s telecommunications sector. The use of Smart poles in Africa is a step towards providing better network coverage and capacity to densely populated areas. ATC Uganda’s commitment to providing modern telecommunication technology and supporting the transition to 5G is commendable.
