Making Nigeria the third African country to launch the Fifth-Generation technology (5G) after South Africa and Kenya, MTN Nigeria Communications Plc commercially launched the 5G technology in Lagos on Sunday.
Coming after a pilot launch in August as required by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) guideline, the event allowed guests to test the technology that will change how we connect, create and even collaborate.
The firm also has a plan to launch the technology in some other parts of Nigeria including Abuja, Port Harcourt, Ibadan, Kano, Owerri, and Maiduguri.
MTN Nigeria had previously revealed in its half-year report that it had deployed 127 5G sites in preparation for its 5G launch. The firm expects to roll out the 5G networks in phases, with full national coverage projected by 2025.
What the firm is saying
The Chief Executive Officer, MTN Nigeria, Karl Toriola, while speaking at the launch, 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 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 in the global 5G space and from today many of you will experience the super speed associated with 5G.”
What you should Know
The second telecommunication firm in Nigeria with a 5G license is Mafab Communications Limited. With the five-month rollout extension it got from NCC, the firm is also on the path to launching the 5G technology after getting its Unified Access Service Licence and Numbering plan.
The impact 5G will have on Nigeria’s creative industry will be massive. It will propel the nation’s ambitions for smart city development, smart transportation, and digitalized healthcare while also boosting industrial automation across the nation.
