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Sylvia Duruson
Tunisia marked a significant technological advancement as three major telecommunications operators simultaneously launched 5G services across the country. Orange Tunisie, Ooredoo Tunisie, and Tunisie Télécom rolled out their 5G mobile services following a swift implementation period after receiving their licenses.
The deployment follows the Tunisian Ministry of Communication Technologies’ strategic initiative launched in July 2024, when it opened tenders for 5G operating licenses. Each operator secured substantial spectrum allocations, receiving 5MHz of Time Division Duplex spectrum in the 700MHz band and 100MHz in the 3.5GHz band. These licenses will remain valid for 15 years, with additional frequency bands planned for future phases.
Orange Tunisie has established a robust presence with 400 operational 5G sites across multiple regions. The company enhanced its offering with a fixed wireless access router featuring Wi-Fi 6 capability and a specialized “Turbo option” targeting gamers and streaming enthusiasts. The operator also unveiled a 5G Lab near its Orange Digital Center in Tunis’s Berges du Lac district, showcasing enterprise applications in Industry 4.0, health, and education.
Ooredoo Tunisia introduced its “Fix Jdid 5G” service, providing fixed wireless access solutions for residential and business customers with speeds reaching 100 Mbit/s. CEO Mansoor Rashid Al-Khater emphasized 5G’s role in accelerating Tunisia’s digital economy and supporting entrepreneurial innovation.
Tunisie Télécom leveraged its extensive fiber infrastructure to support its 5G network deployment. The company’s CEO, Lassâad Ben Dhiab, highlighted the upcoming activation of a new submarine cable system, promising enhanced service quality within a year.
Market statistics from Omdia reveal the competitive landscape of Tunisia’s mobile sector. Ooredoo Tunisie leads with 6.4 million mobile subscribers, followed by Orange Tunisie with 4.6 million users, and Tunisie Télécom serving 4.3 million subscribers as of late 2024. The introduction of 5G services adds a new dimension to Tunisia’s telecommunications ecosystem, complementing existing 2G, 3G, and 4G networks operated by these providers.
