On August 24, MTN Nigeria and Mafab Communications will begin rolling out 5G technologies. The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) made the announcement while issuing final letters of license awards to the two winners of the Fifth Generation (5G) Spectrum Licences auction.
MTN Nigeria and Mafab Communications are expected to hasten the deployment of 5G with the issuance of final letters, according to the NCC, which will “usher Nigeria into a more robust Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) and a more digital Nigerian economy.”
“The 5G network, when deployed, will bring a lot of benefits and opportunities that will engender accelerated growth and smart living in the country. The technology is also expected to bring substantial network improvements, including higher connection speed, mobility, and capacity, as well as low-latency capabilities,” the NCC explains.
The commission asked the licensees to adhere to the roll-out schedule, but it also urged that the business sector and the government work together.
The auction of the 3.5 gigahertz spectrum (for the 5G network) was held on December 13, 2021, after two years of preparation. MTN Nigeria, Airtel Nigeria, and Mafab Communications were the three operators who took part.
The National Frequency Management Council (NFMC) officially gave the National Communications Commission (NCC) 5G spectrum allocation and government-approved policy on February 22, 2022. Two days later, the latter verified that each of the licensees had paid US$273.6 million in license fees and that MTN had paid a spectrum assignment charge.
