Telecommunications solution provider – Airtel Nigeria – has officially launched its fifth-generation (5G) mobile network in the country.
The launch brings to three the total number of operators offering 5G services in Nigeria.
MTN Nigeria pioneered the launch of the service which was followed by Mafab
Chief Commercial Officer at Airtel Nigeria, Femi Oshinlaja, said 5G services will be available in four major cities of Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory, Lagos, Ogun and Rivers States.
He said the services would be extended to other parts of the country subsequently.
The launch is expected to boost competition in the Nigerian telecoms market.
According to the latest Nigeria Communication Commission(NCC) data, Airtel controls 27.01 percent of the national mobile subscriber base. Other competitors like 9mobile, Globacom, and MTN have market shares of 6 percent, 27.28 percent, and 39.70 percent respectively.
In January this year, Airtel announced the acquisition of a 5G spectrum and an additional spectrum for its 4G network for a total sum of $316.7 million.
Airtel’s 5G licence acquisition increases the number of 5G licences in Nigeria to three. In 2021, MTN Nigeria and Mafab Nigeria Communications Limited won the two available lots of 100 MHz TDD slots of the 3.5 GHz band.