Nigerian government, Ericsson partner to unleash 5G

The Nigerian government has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Swedish ICT company Ericsson to collaborate on developing, deploying and fostering innovation in 5G technology.

The partnership, forged during a high-level government delegation visit to Ericsson's Global headquarters in Sweden, aims to unlock the full potential of 5G for the continent's most populous nation.

Under the MoU, Ericsson Nigeria and the government will investigate how the country can utilize 5G technology to advance its digital transformation goals, which include fostering economic growth and enhancing public services.

The delegation, led by Nigerian Vice President Kashim Shettima, included key figures from the government's ICT and communications sectors, including Foreign Minister Yusuf Maitama Tuggar and Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy Minister Dr. Bosun Tijani.  

The delegation was hosted by Patrick Johansson, head of Ericsson Middle East and Africa, who highlighted Ericsson's long-standing presence in Africa and Nigeria, dating back to 1978.  

The visit included demonstrations of Ericsson's 5G technologies and discussions on the company's commitment to supporting Nigeria's digital transformation. 

Nigeria's Vice President Kashim Shettima and Ericsson Middle East and Africa head Patrick Johansson (Source: Ericsson)

5G technology holds the key to unlocking new opportunities, from smart cities and advanced healthcare to the development of innovative solutions in the agriculture and logistics sectors.

"We look forward to working in close partnership with the Nigerian government to develop the innovation potential of 5G for Nigerian businesses, citizens, and for national digital competitiveness," Johansson explained.

5G in Nigeria

5G services arrived in Nigeria in August 2022, when MTN Nigeria launched its 5G network in Lagos, Abuja, Port Harcourt, Ibadan, Kano, Owerri and Maiduguri.

Mafab Communications was the second telco to announce 5G rollout in the West African country in January 2023.

Five months later, Airtel Nigeria joined the fold and announced that it would rollout 5G in the country in June 2023.

Statistics from market research company Omdia show that 5G uptake in Nigeria remains very low.

Omdia reports that only around 153,000 of MTN Nigeria's 84.3 million mobile subscribers, were using 5G at the end of the third quarter of 2024, while just 141,300 of Airtel Nigeria's 66.1 million mobile subscribers were using 5G around the same time.

There was no data available on Mafab Communications' 5G subscribers in the country.

Ericsson's 5G African deployment

Ericsson continues to expand its services across the African region.

In August 2024, Egyptian telecom operator e& Egypt partnered with Ericsson to utilize its 20-port antennas for site sharing, advancing toward its upcoming 5G technology rollout.

In June 2024, the Swedish ICT company secured several deals, including a partnership with Vodafone Egypt for its triple-band radio unit, which supports both frequency division duplex (FDD) and time division duplex (TDD) applications.

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