Airtel Nigeria on Monday announced the acquisition of 5G spectrum and an additional spectrum for its 4G network for a total sum of $316.7 million.

According to a statement by the local unit of Airtel Africa, the decision is part of its commitment to deepen higher-speed connectivity in Nigeria by way of 5G cellular technology.

The company said that it purchased 100 MHz of spectrum in the 3500MHz band and 2x5MHz of 2600MHz from the Nigeria Communications Commission (NCC), for a gross consideration of $316.7m, payable in the local currency.

A strategic strand of a broader plan to boost Airtel Nigeria’s mobile data network as well as the power of its fixed wireless home broadband, the spectrum purchase raises Airtel Nigeria’s current capacity ahead of the rollout of 5G technology.

The company seeks to gain the timely traction needed to earn itself a good place in the fifth-generation technology segment of Africa’s largest telecom market where two early birds secured operational licenses in 2021.

“The acquisition of 5G spectrum will underpin our growth strategy by enabling the launch of higher speed connectivity to enhance customer service and accelerate digitalisation for consumers, enterprises and the public sector,” the document said.

On Monday, shares in Airtel Africa climbed 5.2 per cent to N1,630 per unit on Lagos’ Customs Street at 13:28 WAT after the news hit the market, pushing its market value above N6.1 trillion, the biggest by any publicly traded company in the country.


Airtel Nigeria gave up an early chance to run 5G technology in Nigeria when, in December 2021, big rival MTN Nigeria and Mafab Communications snapped up the two available permits at the premier auction arranged by the NCC.

While MTN teed off operations in August, Mafab sought a five-month extension due this month from the regulator for its own launch.

Nigeria is the biggest market of both Airtel Africa and the MTN Group (the parent company of MTN Nigeria).

Airtel Nigeria has assured the expansion drive will ease connectivity at a faster pace to enable improved customer service delivery and fast-track access to digitalisation for consumers, businesses and the public sector.

The corporation is weighing up “the (shallow) penetration of data customers in Nigeria”, where Alliance for Affordable Internet say fewer than 44 per cent of the people have access to smartphones and sees the gap as a room to foster growth.

“Nigeria is a market with enormous potential for future growth in mobile services,” said Segun Ogunsanya, CEO of Airtel Africa.

“Investment in new technologies and local infrastructure to enable this growth is a strategic priority for the group and will ensure we are able to provide reliable and affordable services to local communities across the country,” he added.

Enenim:
Airtel acquires 5G, 4G spectrums for $317 million to offer 5G services in Nigeria

Airtel acquires 5G, 4G spectrums for $317 million to offer 5G services in Nigeria✅

Channel: @thesammymove
#thesammymoveNews

Airtel Nigeria has announced the acquisition of a new 5G spectrum and an additional spectrum for its 4G network for a price of $316.7 million. With this acquisition, the company can now roll out a 5G network and expand its 4G services in Nigeria.

Spectrum acquired
5G – 100 MHZ in the 3.5 GHz band. Per GSMA, this is usually the most appealing band for 5G networks globally.

4G – 2x5MHz in the 2.6GHz band, the usual standard for 4G.

However, Airtel will face competition from MTN Nigeria and Mafab, which have already acquired 5G licenses. MTN has already rolled out 5G in the country and faces challenges in implementing the technology, particularly in rural areas where 4G handset penetration is low, and the rollout costs are high.

Airtel, like MTN, will be launching a home broadband service, and it will be interesting to see how it differentiates itself from the competition in the race for 5G. Nonetheless, the competition will be good for us customers.

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Allison012:
OP,did Nairabet abi Betnaija launch the 5G network with airtel?


Launching 5G with shitty network. Banza

daniska3yaro:
The should please try and work on their data value, 20gb seems to be 200mb in value, I don run from airtel.

SmartPolician:
Nigerian telcos are really trying to keep us at par with the rest of the world.

I hope they know how much 5G-enabled smartphones cost though.

4G is good. I don't know why the world is in a hurry to get into 5G.

Abolodje:
Watch Airtel give us crappy 5G network and nerf the 4G to make it extra more frustrating lol.