By Mduduzi Hlophe

MBABANE:Mandla Luphondvo, the Corporate Affairs manager at MTN Eswatini says as a telecommunications company they are looking forward to the rolling out of the 5G network after government through the Ministry of Information, Communication and Technology(ICT) concluded a Clean Network deal with the United States.

Speaking to this Swaziland News on Saturday,  the Eswatini Corporate Affairs manager welcomed these latest developments as it was good to see the country prioritising digitalisation.

“It’s a welcomed development, when you consider that the country is prioritising digitalisation and I think this partnership complements what government is already doing .As  telecoms we aspire to venture into the latest technology, we are looking forward to the launch of the 5G technology in the next few years since MTN South Africa is already using it”, he said.

Manqoba Khumalo, the Acting Minister at the  Ministry of Information, Communications and Technology on Friday signed a partnership with United States’ Under Secretary Keith Krach that seeks to secure telecommunications infrastructure and ensuring technology supply chains based on internationally accepted digital trust standards. The partnership saw Eswatini becoming the first African country to be part of the clean network and Minister Khumalo expressed his excitement on the new developments.

“It is critical that the data travelling across Eswatini’s digital infrastructure is safe. The Clean Network provides a trusted foundation for countries and companies to ensure the security of their most sensitive information. Eswatini is proud to be a member of the Clean Network”, said the Acting ICT Minister in the joint statement.

Keith Krac, the United States Under Secretary said  the signing of the deal marked as an important milestone as they expand the Clean Network into Africa.

“Eswatini’s leardership as the first country to join the Clean Network paves the way for expanded US Private sector investment and strengthens the joint security of like-minded partners in the region and around the world”, said the US Under Secretary of State.