The 5G network was launched by MTN Nigeria on Sunday in Lagos, with plans to expand to six more cities, including Abuja, Port Harcourt, Ibadan, Kano, Owerri, and Maiduguri. With this, Nigeria joins South Africa and Kenya as the third African nation to use the technology.
The Lagos 5G commercial debut followed the city’s 5G pilot launch three weeks prior, as required by the Nigerian Communications Commission, the industry regulator for the telecoms sector (NCC).
In its half-year 2022 report, MTN stated that it has set up 127 5G sites in advance of the launch of its 5G network. The technology is anticipated to be implemented gradually, with complete national adoption anticipated by 2025.
By enabling substantially faster speeds and lower latency, the cutting-edge 5G technology is expected to increase the breadth and capacity of MTN Nigeria’s data network, allowing users almost immediate access to the things they care about and downloads that take seconds rather than minutes.
Karl Toriola, the CEO of MTN Nigeria, remarked during his speech at the inauguration that every major technology evolution alters the way we live, the way we connect, and changes what is possible. GSM allowed for mobile phone calls, 2G introduced texting (and a brand-new language), 3G brought the internet to our phones, and 4G enabled widespread mobile video access.
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.
Karl Toriola, CEO of MTN Nigeria
The executive vice chairman of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Prof. Umar Danbatta, also 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.”
