With just a day left for MTN Nigeria Limited and Mafab Communications Limited to roll out 5G technology across Nigeria as mandated by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), the telecoms industry regulator, Mafab Communications has received a five-month extension period from NCC.
Mafab Communications, one of the two telecommunication firms that won the 5G Spectrum licence in December 2021, in a statement yesterday, said NCC issued it a five-month extension for its roll out.
MTN and Mafab, had in December 2021, won the 3.5GHz Spectrum band for 5G license and NCC gave both operators up till August 24 to rollout 5G technology services across the country.
But Mafab Communications said NCC granted it five months extension to roll out.
“The 5G licence comes with frequency licence and not operational licence. So Mafab only has frequency licence and does not have operational licence and it needs to apply for a telecom operational licence to enable it roll out 5G services and other telecom services.”
“The five months extension will enable Mafab to process its telecom operational licence” Muoka said.
In the statement Chairman of Mafab, Dr. Mushabu Bashir, said: “We are fully committed to bringing the benefits of 5G services to Nigerians and deploying a network that will drive economic development with increased broadband capabilities Nationwide. I have no doubt that the service will help deliver improvements in the fields of education, business, smart cities and entertainment.
“The goal remains to launch before the five-month extension period and we will be sharing more information in the near future.”
According to him, the 5G would offer Nigerians higher data speed, improved reliability and availability.
The benefits are far reaching as the service will enable Nigerians to achieve more with broadband and increase the nation’s broadband penetration, quality of service and capabilities, Bashir further said.
Mafab Communications Limited is a telecommunication company incorporated on July 8, 2020, and licensed by NCC to provide and operate local interconnect and international carrier services.
A source at MTN confirmed that the firm is ready and may start with a demo on or after August 24.
According to the source, more equipment are coming in already and will be moved to the different sites, “as full commercial launch should be before the end of the year.”
