Unitel - Angola - Wireless Frequency Bands and Device Compatibility

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Unitel

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Unitel (Angola) uses 2 GSM bands, 1 UMTS band, and 1 LTE band. Find out if your unlocked phone or mobile device will work with Unitel (Angola). See the tables below for details.

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Carrier website: http://www.unitel.ao/

Unitel Angola is a leading mobile telecommunications company in Angola, established in 2001 as a joint-stock company. It is owned by the Angolan state, having been nationalized in 2022. The company operates a network based on GSM and UMTS standards, providing voice communications, text (SMS) and multimedia (MMS) messages, and mobile internet access. Unitel has a significant market presence, with over 9 million customers out of a population of approximately 18 to 20 million people.

Key Features and Services

Network Coverage: Unitel covers nearly all provincial municipalities in Angola, with a strong presence in Luanda. The company has extended its coverage to include all Angolan municipalities since 2002, with a notable installation in Rivungo, Kuando Kubango province, which is operated by solar power.
Services: Unitel offers both post-paid and pre-paid contracts. Recharging cards are available with various denominations, and prepaid cards can be recharged via the Multicaixa network of ATMs. The company also provides mobile internet access and supports 3G, 4G, and 5G technologies.
5G Deployment: Unitel has successfully deployed 5G Fixed Wireless Access (FWA) in Angola, making it one of the first operators in Africa to do so. This deployment aims to provide fibre-like experiences to families and small businesses, especially in areas lacking fibre connections.

Market Position and Innovations

Market Leadership: Unitel is the largest operator in the Angolan market, with over 10 million connections, significantly more than its nearest competitor.
Innovations: The company is actively promoting the application for 100 MHz spectrum expansion to improve the overall 5G network capacity. It is also strengthening cooperation with industries such as ports, airports, and mining enterprises to provide network capabilities and differentiated services.

Ownership and Nationalization

Ownership: Unitel was previously owned by Oi, Helios (through Africatel), Sonangol, Geni holding (through Mercury), and Vidatel owned by Isabel dos Santos, each holding 25% of the company.
Nationalization: In October 2022, the Angolan President João Lourenço nationalized Unitel, ending the links of Isabel dos Santos with the operator.

Mission and Values

Mission: The company's main objective is to provide telecommunications services and related or complementary activities, focusing on mobile voice and data services.

Unitel Angola continues to play a pivotal role in Angola's telecommunications sector, driving innovation and expanding its services to meet the growing demands of the market.

Frequency Bands

GSM

Name	Interface	Description
900 MHz (E-GSM)	GSM	Unitel Angola uses the GSM 900 MHz (E-GSM) frequency band. This band is part of the GSM standard used for mobile communications. It operates on the 900 MHz frequency range, which is commonly used in many parts of the world, including Africa and Europe. The GSM 900 MHz (E-GSM) frequency band is used for both uplink and downlink communications, supporting various GSM protocols and ensuring compatibility with a wide range of devices.
1800 MHz (DCS)	GSM	Unitel Angola uses the GSM 1800 MHz (DCS) frequency band. This deployment is part of the country's mobile network infrastructure, which has undergone significant development since the end of the Angolan Civil War in 2002. The GSM 1800 MHz band is utilized for providing mobile communication services to the population, contributing to the country's growing mobile telecom market.

UMTS

Name	Interface	Description
B1 (2100 MHz)	UMTS	Unitel Angola uses the UMTS B1 (2100 MHz) frequency band. The deployment date for this frequency band is not specified.

LTE

Name	Interface	Description
B3 (1800 MHz +)	LTE	Unitel Angola uses LTE Band 3 (1800 MHz +) for its LTE services. The deployment of this band by Unitel Angola began in December 2012.

Unitel - Angola