Mafab Communications has announced that its fifth-generation network is now live in Lagos, Abuja, Kano, Enugu, Port Harcourt, and Kaduna.
This was disclosed during the firm’s 5G launch in Lagos on Thursday. According to the firm, even though it is now live in these cities, it is yet to rollout commercially to the public. The firm also disclosed that it was leveraging already existing infrastructure for its 5G launch.
Mafab’s 5G launch in Lagos is coming 48 hours after it launched in Abuja. Speaking at the event, the Chairman of MAFAB Communications, Dr Mushabu Bashir, said, “48 hours ago, Mcom made history with the launch of its 5G Network in the Federal Capital Territory of Abuja.
“It is only logical that after the historic launch in Abuja, our next stop should be the Center of Excellence, Lagos. As the second operator to launch 5G in Nigeria, Mcom expects more coverage for Nigerians and acceleration of broadband services
He added, “Our plans are quite ambitious and realistic. With the initial rollout in six cities, Mcom plans rollout additional sites and cities across the country.”
The Governor of Lagos State, Mr Babajide Sanwo-olu, who was represented by the Lagos State Commissioner for Science and Technology, Mr Hakeem Fahm, stated, “It is a fact that the contribution of the telecommunications industry has been a significant economic driver for Lagos State in particular and Nigeria as a whole, contributing more than $70bn and helping to create over half a million jobs.
“The prospects of what we can accomplish with the 5G network, which is next level technology, fills me with high hopes for the future of the different sectors of our economy, most especially the Security sector.”
Confirming the firm’s launch plans to The PUNCH, a source revealed that the firm presently has less than 100 live 5G sites, but is targeting 100 live 5G sites in February to boost its coverage.
According to Mafab’s Communications spokesperson, Adebayo Onigbanjo, the firm intends to focus on voice packages initially before intensifying effort on its 5G coverage.
He said, “We are in six cities and rollout is ongoing. It is difficult to give a specific number of transceiver stations, our plan is to have rollout across the country.
“I have indicated that voice is from day one. The opportunity that exists to do voice from day one is the existing infrastructure.”
There is something called national roaming, which will allow us to offer our customers voice services from day one while we rollout continuously the 5G infrastructure.
“If you look at the other operator that rolled out 5G, they don’t have nationwide 5G and we are going to do that as well. We are going to identify the markets that we are going to go after and install base stations in those areas and continue to expand as traffic goes.”
