Exactly six major cities in Nigeria have become hosts to the fifth-generation network, popularly known as the 5G Network.
The cities are Abuja, Kano, Port Harcourt, Lagos, Enugu and Kaduna even as the network provider, Mafab Communications has disclosed efforts to expand the network in other cities.
On Thursday, the 5G was launched in Lagos State while Abuja, the nation’s capital territory, formally welcomed the fifth generation network.
However, the telecommunications firm has said it was yet to make the 5G public for commercial purposes whereby residents of the affected cities would be enjoying its services.
Investors King reports that presently, the fourth generation of broadband cellular network technology is the one that is being majorly used.
4G succeeded 3G network even as Nigerians have been yearning for upgrade in the broadband system.
Speaking at the recent launch in Lagos, Mafab Communications said it was leveraging already existing infrastructure for its 5G launch.
The Chairman of the firm, Dr Mushabu Bashir, said the telecommunications industry made history on Tuesday with the launch of its 5G Network in Abuja.
Bashir said the firm was motivated by the launch in FCT to choose Lagos for the installation of the facility.
Bashir said Mcom is desirous of having more coverage for Nigerians and accelerating its broadband services.
While noting that the firm’s plans are quite ambitious and realistic, Bashir reiterated the preparedness to take the latest network to other sites and cities across Nigeria.
It was gathered that the firm presently has less than 100 live 5G sites, but is targeting 100 live 5G sites in February, this year, to boost its coverage to other states.
The Public Relations Officer of Mafab’s Communications, Adebayo Onigbanjo, said the firm wants to concentrate on voice packages before improving its effort on the 5G coverage.
Onigbanjo said he was making efforts at having rollout across the country and expressed difficulty in disclosing certain number of transceiver stations.
He pointed out that voice is from day one of the launching date, adding that the opportunity that exists to do voice from day one is the existing infrastructure.
Mafab’s spokesperson said the national roaming would allow the firm to offer its customers voice services from day one while it rollout continuously the 5G infrastructure.
According to him, other operator that rolled out 5G lack nationwide 5G and that Mafab would ensure that the network circulates.
He said the firm was searching for markets to install base stations in those areas and continue to expand as traffic moves forward.
Speaking at the Lagos launch of the network, the Governor of the state, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, said more than 500,000 jobs have been provided by the telecommunications firm.
The governor, who was represented by the Lagos State Commissioner for Science and Technology, Hakeem Fahm, noted that the economy of the state has appreciated significantly owing to contributions and efforts of Mafab.
Specifically, for the economy of Lagos State in particular and Nigeria as a whole, Fahm said the telecommunications industry has contributed more than $70bn aside its job creation efforts.
According to him, there are many gains and prospects that the 5G network would usher to the state.
Describing 5G network as next level technology, the Commissioner expressed high optimism that the different sectors of the state economy, most especially in the security sector would have much improvements owing to the latest network.
