uganda telecom introduces 3G network

By Emmy Olaki

UGANDA telecom (utl) has launched the first multi-million euro wireless network based on Third Generation (3G) technology.

This means utl customers with 3G-enabled phones can access higher quality mobile voice and high- speed broadband data services like video streaming, video calling, conference calls, multi-media messaging and others.

“We are taking the phone to a stage where it is the ultimate tool of communication, and not just for making and receiving calls. We are proud to bring this service to Uganda,” Hans Paulsen, the utl chief operating officer, said.

The service will initially be available in Greater Kampala, Entebbe and Jinja and will roll out to other districts like Mbarara by the end of the second quarter of the year.

He said although the new service puts Uganda on the list of few African countries that have introduced or invested in new solutions to enhance communication, it has been priced in competitively to enable more people use it.

“A video call will only cost sh400, sh1 per kilobyte (kb) when accessing the Internet and sh1 per kb when watching television,” Paulsen said.

Already, all the local free to air television stations can be accessed on the service, but he said negotiations were on going with pay television stations GTV and DStv.

“Nobody understands this market more than utl because we are the only Ugandan telecom firm in the market. We are working to ensure all Ugandans have access to high-quality communication.”