This much is clear: 5G is coming. About 100 times faster than current mobile speeds, it will deliver faster internet to more people. One square kilometer of 4G can support about 4,000 devices. With 5G that jumps to about one million devices. But this doesn’t only mean more video on more phones. The jump from 4G to 5G is an exponential one, unlocking whole new generations of technology. It could bring a promised future of the internet of things, driverless cars, and smart cities. It also has the potential to open a Pandora’s box of military applications.

So, 5G is coming, but the question of how and where raises many political problems, ones that touch directly on Africa’s future. The problem is, of course, China, more specifically the Chinese tech company Huawei.