MTN Nigeria has launched 5G network in 190 sites across seven cities in the country. This initial installation of the high-speed network was launched in the cities of Lagos, Abuja, Port Harcourt, Ibadan, Kano, Owerri, and Maiduguri.
Nigeria is the third African country to install 5G network after South Africa and Kenya. South Africa initiated its plans for 5G network in 2019 through mobile operator Rain, while Kenya’s Safaricom kicked off the journey to 5G network in March 2021, although it has not gone commercial yet. Other countries said to be following closely are Ghana and Egypt, but no timelines have been communicated so far.
The west-African nation reportedly delayed 5G deployment due to regulatory delays. The Nigerian Communication Commission (NCC) finally approached deployment of the technology in September last year and the first auction for 5G spectrum took place in December 2021.
Users in the regions where the MTN has already switched on 5G are reporting higher internet speeds of over 1.4GBs per second.
The advanced technology will certainly go a long way in supporting Nigeria’s creative and innovative space which is laden with several fast-growing technology-based startups. Improved internet speeds and lower latency are also instrumental in offering a better customer experience.
Adia Sowho, MTN Nigeria’s Chief Marketing Officer said, “MTN Nigeria has been at the forefront of every leap in telecommunications: from GSM to 2G, 3G, and 4G. 5G has the potential to change everything. It will allow us to connect, create, collaborate, and compete in ways we’ve not even begun to imagine.”