Smile Uganda is a telecommunications company that operates as part of the Smile Telecoms Holdings group. Established in 2009, Smile Uganda is a subsidiary of Smile Telecoms Holdings, which was founded by Irene Charnley and Mohammed Wajih Sharbatly. The parent company is based in Mauritius and operates across several African countries. Smile Uganda operates independently within the Ugandan market. The ownership of Smile Uganda is shared between Smile Telecoms Holdings and the Public Investment Corporation (PIC), a South African state-owned entity that holds a significant stake. Smile Uganda has been a pioneering provider of 4G LTE services in Uganda and East Africa.
Country
Uganda
Type
Mobile Network Operator
Smile logo uganda

4G Network

Smile Uganda launched its first true 4G LTE broadband network in Uganda on June 11, 2013. This launch marked Smile as the first operator in Uganda to offer a full, true 4G LTE service. The network utilised the 800 MHz frequency band, which provided more efficient indoor coverage compared to the 2.6 GHz range used by other operators. This deployment allowed Smile Uganda to deliver significantly improved internet speeds, with average data download speeds of 6 Mbps, compared to the 1 Mbps offered by ADSL and 3 Mbps by existing 3G networks at the time. Smile Uganda's 4G LTE network provided a radically improved user experience, enabling ultra-high-speed internet access, which stimulated digital innovation and accelerated broadband penetration in Uganda. However, Smile Uganda experienced a significant service outage beginning on January 31, 2022. This outage was attributed to the American Towers Corporation (ATC) disconnecting the Smile network. The outage lasted for 15 months, and Smile apologised to its customers, acknowledging the delay in communication due to pending legal processes.

4G Frequency Bands
Network Frequency Band Status
B20 (800 MHz)
Active
Date Event Subtype
Launch of 4G Network
Launch

5G Network

As of December 2024, Smile Uganda has not launched a commercial 5G network. There is no available information indicating that Smile Uganda has conducted any 5G trials or testing. However, the Uganda Communications Commission (UCC) opened applications for a multi-band auction of 5G spectrum on May 30, 2023. The auction included airwaves in the 700MHz, 800MHz, 2.3GHz, 2.6GHz, 3.3GHz, 3.5GHz, 5GHz bands, as well as E-band (71GHz-76GHz, 81GHz-86GHz) spectrum. The auction process was aimed to be completed by mid-August 2023. While Smile Uganda's participation in this auction is not documented, the availability of 5G spectrum could pave the way for future deployment of 5G services in Uganda.

Date Event Subtype