Telecommunications giant, MTN Nigeria, says it has kicked off an open 5G pilot phase in the lead-up to its commercial launch in seven cities in Nigeria, taking advantage of the official commencement of fifth generation technology by Nigeria.
The company said in a notification to stakeholders and the investing public that it intends to launch 5G services in Lagos, Abuja, Port Harcourt, Ibadan, Kano, Owerri, and Maiduguri, and is testing the next-generation network infrastructure.
It said customers with certain enabled devices will be allowed to connect with and try out the new service where coverage is available.
To access the 5G network and enjoy its benefits, customers will need compatible devices, such as routers and mobile phones, which can be pre-ordered from designated MTN walk-in stores and online via the MTN Nigeria website and e-marketplace. The pre-ordered devices can be picked up or will be delivered to customers post the launch event scheduled to take place in the coming weeks.
The advanced technology promises to extend the reach and capacity of MTN Nigeria’s data network in Nigeria and enable much faster speeds and lower latency, giving customers near-instant access to the things they care about and downloads that take seconds, instead of minutes.
“Every major technological evolution redefines what is possible – changing the way we live and the way we connect. 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,” said Adia Sowho, chief marketing officer, MTN Nigeria.
“We appreciate the unwavering support and leadership of the Honourable Minister of Communications and Digital Economy and the Nigerian Communications Commission in implementing the National Policy on 5G Networks for Nigeria’s Digital Economy, which has driven the implementation of 5G in the country. We’re honoured to be a part of this revolution and being the first to bring 5G to Nigeria we are truly excited about all the possibilities for the nation,” she added.
The spectrum issued to MTN Nigeria as one of the two successful winners of the 5G license bid holds a promising future for technology in Nigeria, and is projected to contribute $2.2 trillion to the global economy by 2034, according to a 2020 GSMA Intelligence report -”The Mobile Economy”.
The implementation of 5G will accelerate the actualization of the national targets in the Nigerian National Broadband Plan, the National Digital Economy Policy and Strategy, as well as other sectoral policies designed to enhance Nigeria’s digital transformation.
With this launch, leveraging the largest spectrum dedicated to 5G in Africa, Nigeria will join a handful of African countries that have rolled out the 5G network.
Customers can visit the nearest MTN service centre or visit the MTN Nigeria website to order 5G-enabled devices for home delivery.
MTN Nigeria and Mafab Communications Limited paid $563.1 million for the 3.5 Gigahertz (GHz) spectrum licences earlier in the year. Both companies paid $273.6 million each for the 5G Spectrum licence to the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC).
