Mafab rolls out 5G services in Abuja

Mafab Communications, which was declared one of the winners of 3.5GHz spectrum in December 2021, has launched 5G services, reports Vanguard. The network is currently available in Abuja but will be expanded to other locations, including Lagos, Port Harcourt, Enugu, Kano and Kaduna in the future. ‘The rollout of Mafab 5G network is the beginning of immense opportunities for the country as it represents Nigeria’s capabilities and infinite possibilities,’ commented the company’s chairman and founder Musbahu Bashir, adding: ‘The prospect of increased job opportunities as a consequence of the value-chain benefits the technology will generate and offer is the dream we have all gathered here to launch today.’

As previously reported by TeleGeography’s CommsUpdate, Mafab and MTN Nigeria were confirmed as the winners of the 3.5GHz spectrum auction held by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) in December 2021, each paying USD273.6 million for the licences. While MTN went on to launch commercial 5G services in September 2022, Mafab received a five month rollout extension from the regulator the previous month, due to delays in granting the operator a unified access service licence (UASL), which was also required to launch services.