MTN Nigeria

MTN Nigeria began offering limited 5G services ahead of full commercial launch in seven cities, making the country one of a small number on the African continent to offer the latest generation of mobile network technology.

MTN Group and Airtel Africa’s local units were approved by Nigerian authorities to take part in a forthcoming 5G spectrum auction, with wholesale player Mafab (MFB) Communications the only other qualified bidder.

MTN Group was granted an approval by the Nigerian authorities to sell shares in its local business, as the company seeks to open a series of offers for the entity’s shareholding in the near to medium-term.

Airtel Africa and MTN received approval in principal to start operating mobile money services in Nigeria, marking the first step towards obtaining final licences from the nation’s Central Bank.

MTN Nigeria started consulting with domestic banks to secure a long-term agreement on a sustainable pricing structure for selling products, seeking to avoid further disruption after a spat over commission halted airtime sales last week.

Banking institutions restored MTN Nigeria’s access to platforms needed for customer airtime purchases which were temporarily halted in a spat over commission.

Industry bodies representing Nigerian mobile operators cautioned a two-week deadline to ensure all users comply with new ID requirements would cause significant difficulty and could carry Covid-19 (coronavirus) risks.