Qatar makes world's first ever 5G phone call

Qatar became the first country in the world to use a 5G network for a voice call, in a push for super-fast internet speeds across the Gulf state.

The landmark call was made by Minister of Transport and Communications Jassim Saif Ahmed al-Sulaiti on Saturday from Doha's new Qatar National Museum to International Telecommunication Union Secretary-General Houlin Zhao.

Vodafone is preparing to unroll 5G services across Qatar which will be one of the first countries in the world to use the advanced wireless system.

"This latest 5G milestone follows our extensive and continuous investment to date in supporting world-class infrastructure in Qatar as part of our commitment to move the country towards being one of the most digitally connected in the world," said Vodafone Qatar's CEO Sheikh Hamad bin Abdulla al-Thani. 

"This transformative technology has the potential to improve our lives and we're incredibly excited by all that it offers."

The service should provide residents with almost instant streaming, faultless video calls and improved smart device use, 5G networks will also boost local business, Vodafone said.

The logistics sector will likely see some of the biggest benefits of 5G, just in time for the build-up to the Qatar 2022 World Cup.

"This transformative technology has the potential to improve our lives and we're incredibly excited by all that it offers."