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- Phase one of the launch will cover certain parts of Lagos and Nigeria
- The historic launch is set to provide consumers and enterprises with innovative 5G applications
This October, MTN Nigeria expects to be running its 5G services on no less than 600 cell sites in specific locations across all six zones in Nigeria.
Weeks back, Ericsson and MTN Nigeria reached a historic milestone with the successful launch of 5G services to kickstart Nigeria’s 5G race where MTN dominates the telecom market with mofre than 70 milion subscribers.
RELATED: Ready! Set! MTN begins rollout of 5G services in seven Nigerian cities
The landmark deal with MTN “is the result of a fruitful collaboration spanning 21 years reaffirming a rich culture of partnerships between the two parties,” Ericsson stated in a media release in September.
The first phase of the launch covers certain parts of Lagos and Nigeria where Ericsson’s 5G technology – which includes 5G Radio Access Network & NSA Packet Core – will accelerate the development and digitalization of key sectors such as education, healthcare and manufacturing. It will also empower consumers and enterprises with innovative 5G applications that will unlock the true potential of the Internet of Things (IoT), Artificial Intelligence (AI), Smart cities and Immersive Communication over Augmented (AR) and Virtual reality (VR) for millions of new consumers in the country.
With Ericsson Radio System, MTN will provide advanced Mobile broadband & fixed wireless access services which shall unlock a range of new opportunities in the Enterprise domain. The new 5G services can bring about unique Sustainable Development initiatives for agriculture, energy, financial inclusion, and security, among others, overcoming past institutional challenges and barriers to growth.
Mohammed Rufai, Chief Technical Officer, MTN Nigeria says: “5G will revolutionize the way we live and communicate across industries. With the speeds 5G offers, we will be able to experience the internet with low latency, which means no lag, making our virtual interactions more real. At MTN, we will continue to pursue the rollout of 5G technology to revolutionize internet access across the continent.”
Hossam Kandeel, Vice President of Ericsson Middle East and Africa, says: “5G is not just about speed. 5G helps people do more with their devices, unlocking a whole new world of possibilities for society. 5G connectivity is likely to pave the way for life-altering advancements and we are proud to be a part of Nigeria’s 5G digital transformation that has only just begun. With connectivity being the backbone of digitization, we are committed to delivering the best service to our partners at MTN Nigeria to support them in this thrilling journey.”
In the future, MTN Nigeria’s Ericsson-powered 5G network will be driven by software-defined network capabilities where a combination of currently available and well-understood AI techniques will allow a higher degree of practical autonomous operation. AI is creating opportunities in terms of improved performance, higher efficiency, enhanced customer experience as well as creating new business models and use cases for 5G, IoT and enterprise.
COVER IMAGE: Mohammed Rufai, Chief Technical Officer, MTN Nigeria and Hossam Kandeel, Vice President of Ericsson Middle East and Africa.
