The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) recently addressed misleading comments circulating on social media, which falsely suggested that MAFAB Communications, a company granted a Fifth Generation (5G) license, had not launched its services despite obtaining the license almost two years ago.
Setting the record straight, the NCC confirmed that MAFAB Communications was indeed one of the two successful companies awarded a 5G license during the highly transparent 5G Auction held on December 13, 2021. Following the auction, MAFAB promptly fulfilled the payment requirement of $273.6 million in February 2022, officially securing the license on February 22, 2022.
In line with the rollout conditions stipulated in its operating license, MAFAB publicly launched its 5G services in Abuja on January 24, 2023, and in Lagos on January 26, 2023. The initial rollout focused on six cities, including Lagos, Abuja, Port Harcourt, Enugu, Kano, and Kaduna.
To ensure transparency and adherence to regulations, the NCC has been closely monitoring MAFAB’s progress in deploying the required infrastructure for its 5G service offerings. The Commission has regularly received briefings on the status of the rollout as per the terms and conditions of the license.
The NCC emphasized that the false information circulating about MAFAB’s 5G rollout should be disregarded by the public and all stakeholders. MAFAB Communications has fulfilled its obligations and has successfully launched its 5G services in the designated cities, contributing to the advancement of communication technology in Nigeria.
