A public 5G pilot has been launched by MTN Nigeria in preparation for its eagerly awaited commercial rollout.
The business is evaluating the infrastructure for the next network and plans to roll out 5G services in Lagos, Abuja, Port Harcourt, Ibadan, Kano, Owerri, and Maiduguri. Where coverage is available, customers with specific enabled devices will be able to connect with and try out a new service.
Customers will need suitable devices, including as routers and mobile phones, which can be pre-ordered from designated MTN walk-in stores and online via the MTN Nigeria website and e-marketplace, in order to access the 5G network and benefit from its features. After the launch ceremony, which is expected to happen in the next few weeks, buyers can pick up their pre-ordered gadgets or have them shipped to them.
The cutting-edge technology is expected to increase the data network’s capacity and reach in Nigeria. It will also enable significantly faster speeds and lower latency, giving users almost immediate access to the things they care about and download times of only a few seconds as opposed to minutes.
“Every major technological evolution redefines what is possible – changing the way we live and the way we connect. MTN Nigeria has been at the forefront of every leap in telecommunications: from GSM to 2G, 3G, and 4G. 5G has the potential to change everything. It will allow us to connect, create, collaborate, and compete in ways we’ve not even begun to imagine,” said Adia Sowho, Chief Marketing Officer, MTN Nigeria.
“We appreciate the unwavering support and leadership of the Honourable Minister of Communications and Digital Economy and the Nigerian Communications Commission in implementing the National Policy on 5G Networks for Nigeria’s Digital Economy, which has driven the implementation of 5G in the country. We’re honoured to be a part of this revolution and being the first to bring 5G to Nigeria we are truly excited about all the possibilities for the nation,” she added.
The spectrum issued to MTN Nigeria as one of the two successful winners of the 5G license bid 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 -“The Mobile Economy”. The implementation of 5G will accelerate the actualization of the national targets in the Nigerian National Broadband Plan, the National Digital Economy Policy and Strategy, as well as other sectoral policies designed to enhance Nigeria’s digital transformation.
With this launch, leveraging the largest spectrum dedicated to 5G in Africa, Nigeria will join a handful of African countries that have rolled out the 5G network.
Customers can visit the nearest MTN service centre or visit the MTN Nigeria website to order 5G-enabled devices for home delivery.
