Mafab 5G! A new contender, Mafab Communications, is set to enter the fray, intensifying competition in the market, the 5G market. This 5G landscape has drawn considerable attention, primarily from major telecom players such as Airtel and MTN, who acquired licenses two years ago.
According to Nigeria’s telecom regulator, Mafab has outlined plans to debut its 5G services later this year, expanding the total number of telecom providers to five. This development positions MTN, Mafab, and Airtel as the trio offering 5G services in the country.
In December 2021, Mafab successfully secured a 5G license through a significant $273.6 million bid. Based in Lagos, the telecom company is gearing up to launch 5G services across Nigeria, targeting approximately 30 cities for coverage.
Read Also: NCC Affirms MAFAB’s 5G is live, Dismissing Doubts
Mafab 5G: It Opted to Construct its Network Independently
Unlike some counterparts like MTN, which engages in infrastructure sharing with IHS Towers, Mafab has opted to construct its network independently. This approach involved overcoming regulatory obstacles, including obtaining a Universal Access Service License (UASL) for the 5G spectrum, incurring a cost of ₦374.6 million ($415,521).
Having obtained the UASL license in July 2022, Mafab now faces the substantial task of investing billions to establish its network infrastructure.
However, Mafab encountered challenges in its market entry endeavors. Failing to meet the August 24, 2022 deadline mandated by Nigeria’s telecom regulator for a nationwide rollout, the company received a five-month extension. Despite initially targeting six cities—Lagos, Abuja, Port Harcourt, Enugu, Kano, and Kaduna—for the initial deployment, its 2023 launch event in Abuja and Lagos, marked by the unveiling of its new logo and brand name, Mcom, lacked concrete product demonstrations and a definitive launch date. The recent initiative to sell 5G routers before confirming the network’s readiness raised questions about Mafab’s preparedness for a seamless launch.
In contrast, MTN, which secured the 3.5GHz 5G spectrum alongside Mafab, successfully became the first to roll out 5G in Nigeria. Present in 13 cities and boasting over 700 sites, MTN has established a robust presence in the Nigerian 5G landscape.
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