Vodafone Qatar makes first 5G mobile call

Vodafone Qatar has claimed ‘the region’s first local and international live mobile calls via a 5G handset’, over its ‘GigaNet 5G’ network, Gulf Times reports. Qatari Minister of Transport and Communications Jassim Seif Ahmed al-Sulaiti made 5G video calls from Doha to the ITU Secretary General Houlin Zhao in Geneva, and to company executives in Qatar’s Katara Cultural Village. Both Vodafone Qatar and rival Ooredoo have rolled out substantial 5G NR network infrastructure using the 3.5GHz spectrum band, whilst both providing 5G-based fixed-wireless broadband services to a selected few customers in the lead-up to the local release of commercial 5G handsets. Their 3.5GHz 5G frequencies were issued under commercial licences on 1 January this year.