The official launch, held on Wednesday, July 10th, brings GVA’s high-speed FTTH (fiber-to-the-home) network to Kampala, the 13th African city, to benefit from its services.

GVA has already invested 50 billion Ugandan shillings (approximately $13.5 million) in laying fiber optic cables across Kampala.

This initial infrastructure can connect up to 140,000 homes, and Julius Kayoboke, Managing Director of GVA Uganda, says ambitious plans are in place to expand the network to serve an estimated 500,000 people within the next four years.

CanalBox’s arrival in Uganda is expected to shake up the country’s internet landscape, currently dominated by telecommunication companies.

This increased competition is anticipated to benefit consumers through improved service quality and potentially lower costs.

The launch comes at a crucial time for Uganda, which is experiencing a rapid digital transformation fueled by a growing demand for high-speed internet connectivity.

The Uganda Communications Commission (UCC) reports that the nation has over 27.7 million internet users, with a penetration rate of 61%.

“The internet has revolutionized societies in ways we never imagined before,” remarked Thomas Tayebwa, Deputy Speaker of the Ugandan Parliament, who attended the launch ceremony.

“It has reshaped how we live, work, and connect with each other – impacting communication, information sharing, business transactions, education, and even service delivery.”

Ugandan President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni met with representatives from the global communications technology company to discuss the plans.

The focus of the meeting was a proposal from Huawei to establish a prototype digital village within Uganda.

This model village would serve as a showcase for the potential of digital infrastructure in rural areas.

It would be equipped with a network tower station, a solar power station using Huawei’s innovative digital micro-grid technology, and a suite of smart classroom equipment.

The project aligns perfectly with Uganda’s Parish Development Model (PDM), a community-driven development initiative.

Huawei’s contribution would be at no cost to the Ugandan government and would encompass smart classrooms, remote healthcare facilities, and installations utilizing smart photovoltaic cells for sustainable power generation.

A key component of the initiative would be the establishment of a remote diagnosis system. This system would connect village health centers with regional and national hospitals, significantly improving access to healthcare for rural residents.

Huawei’s vision for this smart village project is to demonstrate the transformative power of digital infrastructure in rural communities.

Through the provision of advanced technology, clear information, and user-friendly tools, they aim to address the challenges faced by villagers and foster development.

Sooma Mukyala Fouziya, Public Relations Manager for Huawei Uganda, emphasized the project’s alignment with the PDM, promoting digital transformation and sustainable growth through Information and Communication Technology (ICT) in Uganda.

This project aligns with Huawei’s continued expansion within the Middle East and Africa (MEA) region, having recently announced a commitment to training an additional 150,000 individuals in sub-Saharan Africa over the next three years.