MTN hits 10.35Gbps in a new 5G trial as South Africa weighs its spectrum options

MTN South Africa has achieved peak download speeds of 10.35Gbps in a 5G-Advanced Upper 6GHz trial conducted with Huawei in Randburg, adding a new milestone to the country’s efforts to expand high-capacity mobile broadband.

The trial, which MTN describes as Africa’s first using this technology and spectrum combination, took place at the operator’s headquarters under a temporary radio licence issued by the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (ICASA). The result demonstrates the throughput that wider spectrum channels and advanced radio equipment can deliver under controlled conditions. It also brings renewed attention to how South Africa will make additional spectrum available for future mobile networks.

How MTN achieved 10.35Gbps

The trial combined a 5G Standalone core network, ultra-wideband active antennas and advanced beamforming, using 400MHz of bandwidth in the Upper 6GHz band. A 5G Standalone network uses a dedicated 5G core rather than relying on a 4G core, providing the architecture for advanced 5G capabilities. The wide channel gives the radio system more spectrum to carry data, while beamforming helps direct radio transmissions towards connected devices and manage network resources efficiently.

The reported 10.35Gbps is a peak download speed, equivalent to 10,350Mbps. Such throughput illustrates the capacity available when a network has access to a wide channel and suitable radio equipment, although the speeds experienced by individual customers will depend on their devices, signal conditions, distance from a site and the number of people sharing network resources. The trial therefore demonstrates the technology’s potential rather than a speed that MTN subscribers can expect across its existing network.

Why Upper 6GHz spectrum matters

Upper 6GHz generally refers to the 6.425GHz to 7.125GHz range, which offers additional spectrum that mobile operators could use to accommodate data demand. The band has attracted attention as operators look for more capacity to support advanced 5G services and prepare their networks for future applications. A 400MHz channel, such as the one used in MTN’s trial, occupies a substantial portion of this range, allowing the network to carry more data than would generally be possible using a narrower channel under comparable conditions.

The potential benefits come with practical trade-offs. Higher-frequency radio signals generally face greater propagation losses and can have more difficulty penetrating buildings than lower-frequency signals, making network design and site placement important. Operators may need carefully positioned antennas and sufficient supporting infrastructure to deliver consistent service, particularly in dense urban areas and indoor environments. The commercial value of the band will therefore depend on how effectively operators combine its capacity with coverage and network investment.

Fixed wireless broadband could benefit

MTN has identified fixed wireless access as one possible application, particularly in South African communities where extending fibre infrastructure to individual homes can be difficult or expensive. Fixed wireless access uses a mobile or other wireless network to connect a premises to broadband, typically through customer equipment installed inside or outside the building. Additional spectrum could help operators serve more households and deliver higher-capacity connections without installing a dedicated fibre line to every property.

MTN already offers AirFibre, a fixed-wireless service that uses dedicated point-to-point wireless links. MyBroadband’s September 2026 reporting described the service as an alternative for customers in areas where fibre installation can be difficult, slow or costly. An Upper 6GHz deployment would involve a different radio configuration, but the broader commercial question is similar: whether wireless infrastructure can provide sufficient capacity and reliability at a competitive price.

The technology could also help in locations where many people use mobile data at the same time, including transport hubs, shopping centres, stadiums and university campuses. Additional spectrum can give operators more room to handle traffic from connected devices, potentially improving performance during busy periods. For consumers and businesses, the benefit would be more useful when it translates into reliable connections, competitive broadband prices and better service where existing networks face capacity constraints.

South Africa’s spectrum debate

The trial comes as South Africa considers how Upper 6GHz should be used. Mobile operators have an interest in securing additional licensed spectrum for high-capacity networks, while Wi-Fi advocates also want access to parts of the broader 6GHz range for licence-exempt services. Those competing demands have made the band an important issue in the country’s spectrum policy discussions.

ICASA’s spectrum planning provides the regulatory framework for decisions on future mobile capacity, but identifying a band for mobile use and assigning specific frequencies to an operator are separate steps. MTN conducted this trial under a temporary licence, allowing it to demonstrate the technology without establishing that the band is already available for unrestricted commercial deployment. The eventual allocation arrangements will influence how operators can use the spectrum and when customers may begin benefiting from it.

The debate extends beyond the performance of mobile networks. Licensed cellular services and licence-exempt Wi-Fi both support broadband access, although they operate under different regulatory arrangements and serve different use cases. The eventual approach to Upper 6GHz will affect the capacity available to mobile operators as well as the spectrum resources accessible to other wireless services.

MTN’s latest trial builds on earlier 5G work

MTN and Huawei have pursued high-capacity wireless technology in South Africa before. In November 2024, the companies reported a 5.5G trial that achieved 8.6Gbps at MTN’s Johannesburg headquarters, using a different spectrum configuration and advanced antenna technology. The latest 10.35Gbps result is about 20% higher than that earlier reported peak, although differences between the trials mean the figures should not be treated as a controlled comparison of network performance.

The wider South African market has also been developing its 5G-Advanced capabilities. Rain reported using 5G-Advanced features from July 2025, while MTN has conducted other trials with equipment suppliers. These efforts form part of the industry’s work to increase network capacity as data consumption grows and to make more advanced wireless services commercially viable.

MTN South Africa CEO Ferdi Moolman said the trial demonstrated the value of continued innovation in the country’s connectivity sector. He said the work would help the operator understand how next-generation spectrum bands could expand capacity, improve customer experiences and contribute to South Africa’s digital ambitions.

For South Africa, the next practical question is how the technical potential demonstrated in Randburg can be translated into network services that businesses and households can use. Spectrum access, infrastructure investment, compatible devices and deployment economics will determine how much of the trial’s performance can be carried into commercial networks.

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