MTN Nigeria Communications Plc said it has kicked off an open 5G pilot in the lead-up to its highly anticipated commercial launch in 7 states. The states that will witness the first launch, the company said, include Lagos, Abuja, Port Harcourt, Ibadan, Kano, Owerri, and Maiduguri.
In testing the next-generation network infrastructure, MTN’s customers with certain enabled devices will be allowed to connect with and try out the new service, where coverage is available.
The pioneering feat comes more than eight months after the telecom firm and Mafab Communications Limited won a bidding for the two slots available for the start of the spectrum services in the country.
The advanced technology is expected to extend the reach and capacity of MTN Nigeria’s data network in Nigeria and enable much faster speeds and lower latency, giving customers near-instant access to the things they care about and downloads that take seconds, instead of minutes.
Speaking on the pilot kickoff, Adia Sowho, Chief Marketing Officer, MTN Nigeria, said: “5G Network has the potential to change everything.”
He continued stating that: “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.
“We appreciate the unwavering support and leadership of the Minister of Communications and Digital Economy and the Nigerian Communications Commission, NCC, in implementing the National Policy on 5G Network 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.
