MTN Nigeria on Sunday launched the fifth-generation technolog commonly called 5G in Lagos with a promise to launch the network in six other cities including Abuja, Port Harcourt, Ibadan, Kano, Owerri, and Maiduguri.
The launch makes Nigeria the 3rd African country to deploy the technology after South Africa and Kenya.
MTN Nigeria had on Wednesday, 24th August 2022, kicked off an open 5G pilot in the lead-up to its highly anticipated commercial launch, as mandated by the telecoms industry regulator, the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC).
In its half year 2022 report, MTN Nigeria disclosed that it had deployed 127 5G sites in preparation for its 5G launch. The technology is expected to be rolled out in phases, with full national coverage expected by 2025.
MTN and Mafab Communications won the 3.5GHz 5G spectrum licence at an auction conducted in December 2021, by the NCC.
5G, “with download speeds up to 10 times faster than its predecessor, 5G will reinvent how we use the internet and bring us to a new phase of technological advancement with never-before-seen innovations and applications.,” the MTN Nigeria said on its website.
“To experience the power of 5G, you need a 5G phone or 5G router and a 4G-enabled SIM card. If you purchase our 5G broadband router, you’ll get a welcome offer of 100GB data by texting 5GCPE to 131,”it added.
While speaking at the launch, chief executive officer, MTN Nigeria, Karl Toriola, said: “Every major technological evolution changes the way we live, the way we connect; changes what is possible. GSM took phone calls on the road, 2G added texting to our experience (and created a whole new language), 3G brought the internet to our phones, and 4G made video widely available on mobiles.
“5G will change everything. It will allow us to connect, create, collaborate, and compete in ways we cannot imagine yet. Today we will show you a glimpse of the many possibilities 5G has in store. What is most important is what you and every Nigerian can create with it.”
The executive vice chairman of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Prof. Umar Danbatta, noted, “Today, we are celebrating the outcome of the successful auction of the 5G spectrum, we are celebrating the commercial launch of 5G services in the country. This puts the country on the global 5G space and from today many of you will experience the super speed associated with 5G.”
Ifunanya Ikueze is an Engineer, Safety Professional, Writer, Investor, Entrepreneur and Educator.
