In recent years, the Nigerian government, making strides in the development of 5G technology, has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Swedish ICT company Ericsson.
This collaboration aims to develop, implement, and foster innovation in 5G technology. With this agreement, Nigeria could ensure an effective transition to 5G in the long term. This would enable 5G to be used as a tool in the future to achieve digital transformation goals, foster economic growth, and improve public services.
The Nigerian government delegation, which signed the memorandum, was led by Vice President Kashim Shettima. Other key figures included Foreign Minister Yusuf Maitama Tuggar and the Minister of Communications, Innovation, and Digital Economy, Dr. Bosun Tijani.
Nigeria first took steps towards 5G implementation in August 2022 when MTN Nigeria launched the technology in cities such as Lagos, Abuja, Port Harcourt, Ibadan, Kano, Owerri, and Maiduguri. Mafab Communications was the second company to announce its transition to 5G, followed by Airtel Nigeria.
However, according to a survey by Omdia, out of MTN Nigeria’s 84.3 million mobile subscribers, only 153,000 are using 5G, and of Airtel Nigeria’s 66.1 million subscribers, only 141,300 are on 5G. These numbers are relatively low, and the agreement with Ericsson could significantly accelerate the adoption of 5G technology in the country.