The rollout will feature 102 operational sites located in Kano and Abuja, with subscribers required to purchase routers to access the network. The company is also partnering with various vendors to develop these sites in stages.
Mafab Communications received its 5G license concurrently with MTN. However, while MTN initiated its 5G services just eight months later, Mafab, being a newer entity, encountered delays in network deployment due to insufficient telecom infrastructure. Additionally, the company did not obtain its Unified Access Service License (UASL) and numbering plan until July 2022, prompting it to seek an extension from the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), which postponed its rollout deadline to January 2023.
Following its launch event in January 2023, Mafab began promoting the sale of 5G routers on its website, but customers were unable to activate the service, as reported by TechCabal. The sale of these routers has since been halted while the company focuses on completing its infrastructure development.
Despite the nascent state of the 5G market in Nigeria, these delays have positioned Mafab at a disadvantage compared to competitors like MTN and Airtel, particularly in Lagos, the country’s commercial center where the majority of subscribers are concentrated. Mafab is still in the process of developing its sites in Lagos but has not yet provided a timeline for when services will be available there.
COO Adebayo Onigbanjo noted that fluctuations in foreign exchange (FX) rates have posed significant challenges for many telecom operators, resulting in higher rollout costs than initially anticipated.
Nigeria's 5G market has experienced significant growth since its commercial launch in August 2022, primarily driven by MTN Nigeria. As of October 2024, 5G represented 2.33% of the nation's internet subscribers, with MTN Nigeria holding a dominant 79% market share, while Airtel Africa accounted for approximately 20%.
The anticipated rollout by Mafab in the first quarter is expected to further enhance adoption, particularly in regions beyond Lagos and Abuja. The company is concentrating on bolstering its infrastructure and expanding coverage in Kano and Abuja to facilitate wider 5G access, as noted by Onigbanjo.
This initiative includes the development of a Radio Access Network (RAN), transport systems, and intelligent networks to link user devices—such as smartphones and IoT devices—to its core telecommunications network.