MTN launches commercial 5G services in Lagos
MTN Nigeria began commercial 5G launch in Lagos this evening, with a promise to begin national launch in Abuja as soon as possible.
MTN’s initial focus will be on seven Nigerian cities: Lagos, Port Harcourt, Ibadan, Abuja, Maiduguri, Kano, and Owerri.
He promised that the same zeal with which MTN deployed services in second, third, and fourth generation networks will be applied to 5G technology in the coming weeks and months to make it massively accessible to the majority of users, particularly in major urban cities.
Toriola stated that while the company will make significant investments in the roll out of 5G in Nigeria, 4G will remain the company’s bread and butter, and investments and deployments for both networks will take place concurrently.
He lamented the difficulties in obtaining foreign exchange to import the necessary facilities to accelerate network deployment, including 5G, but noted that as a Nigerian company, persevering to overcome the challenges is part of the price to pay to get the country back on track economically.
Also, while presenting the capabilities of 5G, Adia Sowho stated that the network will not only help MTN connect, create, collaborate, and compete in ways never imagined, but it will also help users realise the full potential of the internet revolution and enjoy communication and interactions spectacularly.
she explained: “Every major technological evolution redefines what is possible, changing how we live and connect.” If 4G enabled you to communicate with others, 5G will allow you to feel them closer. The possibilities of 5G are so vast that we have only begun to imagine them.”
Earlier the Executive Vice Chairman of the Nigerian Communications Commission, NCC Prof Umar Danbatta commended MTN for its pioneering role in the 5G deployment in Nigeria, promising that the commission will continue to provide enabling environment for businesses like MTN which correctly interprets government policies of engendering growth in different sectors.
Danbatta said the leadership of President Muhammadu Buhari, the efforts of Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Prof Isa Pantami and the regulatory prowess of the NCC gave rise to the feat MTN has achieved in being the first to deploy 5G in Nigeria
He however promised that the commission will monitor the efficiency of MTN’s 5G activities and will not fail to caution, where the right practices are being derailed.
MTN and another telco MAFAB communications won the license to deploy 5G in Nigeria in December 2021 and were given August 24th deadline to deploy services. MTN switched on test services on the deadline and yesterday launched Commercial services in Lagos
The 5G spectrum 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 titled “The Mobile Economy”.
It is the 5th generation of cellular network technology designed to offer faster speeds per user and can easily handle more connections.
Because of this increased capacity, it is up to 100 times faster than 4G, meaning faster connectivity. It has low latency and greater bandwidth.
Therefore, real time high quality communications and experiences can be achieved making downloading movies possible in seconds, for instance.
Because of its real-time capability, it can be used for e-health, connected vehicles and traffic systems, smart home appliances, advanced mobile cloud gaming, and workplace safety, among other applications.
