5G is all the rage in Kenya right now. Not only are users increasing daily, we are seeing more and more smartphones being launched in the Kenyan market arrive with ready access to the network. Oppo just launched an all-5G smartphone lineup in the country, for instance. Safaricom, the country’s largest mobile network operator by subscriber base, is currently expanding its 5G network with a look to cover more of the country by year’s end. Its rival, Airtel Kenya, just recently launched its 5G network services in the country.
While that is so, if you are an Oppo 5G smartphone user in the country, you may be wondering why you’re yet to pick up a 5G signal if you’re within any of the areas where it is accessible yet your device comes with the 5G moniker. You know, Oppo has been launching “5G” devices in the country for over 2 years now.
That is because, by default, 5G appears to be disabled on Oppo smartphones. You have to enable it in order for the 5G network your device supports to be accessible, a stark contrast to other devices like the Infinix Zero 30 5G we are currently reviewing which is good to go right out of the box. Previously, Samsung and (Apple) iPhone users have had to get updates on their devices unlocking 5G network capabilities.
On Oppo, you just need to toggle that on. It’s not as easy as I am putting it, though. A cursory glance at the Settings app will have you lost. If you search for 5G, nothing will show up. You also won’t see any option to turn 5G on/off.
There’s a reason: the capability is currently restricted to “developers”. That is to say, in simpler terms, you need to go into developer mode on your Oppo smartphone in order to be able to turn on 5G. How do you do that?
Well, for over a decade now (since 2012, when Android 4.2, Jelly Bean, was released), by default, Developer options are hidden in Android.
Developer options
In order to get access to them, you just need to tap on the Android Build number seven times. With each tap, you get a toast notification telling you how many more taps are remaining before “you can be a developer”. With the seventh tap, you’ll get a final toast notification that “you’re now a developer”. Somewhere in between, you may be asked for authentication either by keying in the device’s unlock PIN, password, pattern or the like.
The Android Build number can be found by going to the Settings application, going to About device and scrolling down to Version.
Activate 5G
Once enabled, Developer options can be accessed easily by searching for, well, “Developer options” on the Settings app.
Or, you can go to Additional Settings in the Settings app and scroll all the way down to Developer options.
Once there, scroll down to the Networking section and toggle on 5G for the relevant SIM that supports it. For instance, if Safaricom is SIM1, you toggle on 5G for SIM1.
Unless you know what (else) you’re doing, we advise that you don’t change anything else on this page and exit very fast once the above change has been done.
Your Oppo smartphone should be able to pick up a 5G connection immediately as long as you’re within 5G network coverage.
