Eight months after winning the license, MTN is now implementing 5G.

Ibekimi Oriamaja Reports

MTN Nigeria Communications Limited is prepared to launch its 5G network today after winning the 3.5GHz spectrum licence for 5G network rollout in December last year and receiving the 5G spectrum licence in May this year.

Karl Toriola, the Chief Executive Officer of MTN Nigeria, stated that MTN was prepared for rollout because the necessary 5G infrastructure was already on the ground.

But according to a source close to MTN Nigeria, the company maintained its word and started rolling out its 5G network today, starting in Lagos and Abuja, with ambitions to cover five cities within a month. Lagos, Abuja, Port Harcourt, Enugu, and Kano are among the cities.

Because not all devices can access 5G networks, MTN has urged telecom customers to start pre-ordering their 5G devices in order to take advantage of the fast internet download speeds and low latency that are associated with 5G.

MTN Nigeria Communications Limited and Mafab Communications Limited were granted until today by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) to start rolling out their 5G networks commercially throughout the nation. Mafab Communications Limited, however, seems to be absent from the rollout plan due to technical issues, leaving only MTN to start the race.

In a statement released this week, Mafab Communications claimed that the NCC had given it a 5-month extension on the timeline for its rollout.

The 3.5GHz Spectrum band for 5G was awarded to MTN and Mafab in December 2021, and the NCC gave both operators until August 24 to roll out 5G technology services across the nation.

Reuben Muoka, Director of Public Affairs at NCC, confirmed the 5-month extension granted to Mafab and told Tracknews that NCC chose to extend the rollout date for Mafab alone since the company lacked the necessary operational licenses to carry out the 5G network.

Frequency licensing, not operational licensing, is included with the 5G license. In order to build out 5G services and other telecom services, Mafab must apply for a telecom operational licence since it only has a frequency license and no operational license.

According to Muoka, “The five-month extension will allow Mafab to process its telecom operational license.”

Mafab was given a delay in acquiring its unified operational license (USAL) and Numbering plan, which weren’t received until the end of July.

Concerned industry participants questioned the NCC’s decision to permit Mafab to submit a bid for a 5G license while it does not possess a telecom operational license, a move they claimed would delay the installation of 5G networks in the nation.

A telecom company, who asked to remain anonymous, said that the NCC erred by allowing Mafab Communications Limited to submit a proposal for a 5G spectrum license.