Nigeria’s vibrant telecom industry is set to witness the entry of Mafab Communications, a new player, according opp.today.
This development comes as the country’s telecom regulator opens up opportunities for more competition in the 5G space.
The entry of Mafab Communications will increase the number of telecom providers to five, with existing giants like MTN and Airtel already offering 5G services.
opp.today reported that Mafab Communications secured a 5G license in December 2021 through a successful bid of $273.6 million.
With the license in hand, the company is now gearing up to launch its 5G services across Nigeria, aiming to cover approximately 30 cities.
Unlike its competitors, Mafab has taken a different approach building its network infrastructure from scratch, rather than relying on infrastructure sharing agreements. This decision required them to obtain a Universal Access Service License (UASL) at a cost of ₦374.6 million ($415,521).
Despite facing some challenges, including missing the initial deadline setthe regulator for network rollout, Mafab Communications has been granted an extension.
The company now has the task of investing substantial funds to build its network infrastructure and ensure a smooth launch.
However, concerns have been raised about the readiness of Mafab as they recently started selling 5G routers before a confirmed network launch, without providing concrete product demonstrations or a definitive launch date.
Meanwhile, market leader MTN has already rolled out 5G services in Nigeria, establishing a presence in 13 cities and over 700 sites.
The entry of Mafab Communications is expected to intensify competition within the telecom industry, leading to improved services and innovations for consumers.
As Nigeria’s telecom landscape welcomes Mafab Communications, it will be interesting to see how this new entrant shakes up the market and how it positions itself against established players like MTN and Airtel.
The increased competition in the 5G space is likely to accelerate the development of Nigeria’s digital infrastructure, benefiting consumers and driving economic growth.
