The Association of Telecommunication Companies of Nigeria (ATCON) on Tuesday said that lack of sufficient infrastructure to drive new technologies could slow down rollout of 5G network.
The President of ATCON, Mr Tony Izuagbe, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos that the 5G technology rollout needed more infrastructure and more connectivity between the infrastructure.
NAN reports that in telecommunication, 5G is the fifth-generation technology standard for cellular networks which cellular phone companies began deploying worldwide in 2019.
It is the successor to 4G technology that provides connectivity to most current mobile phones.
Izuagbe said that the rate of adoption of the 5G technology would depend on availability of the infrastructure that would support it
NAN reports that, with the issuance of 5G licences to successful bidders of the 3.5GHz spectrum by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), 5G-licensed telecoms operators have continued to roll out their 5G networks across the country.
The operators had made a lot of promises to the consumers about the benefits of 5G, also known as the fifth generation network.
MTN had in September 2022 rolled out the 5G mobile network, Mafab also rolled-out in 2022.
Airtel rolled out its 5G network in four states in June 2023, with a promise to cover the entire states in Nigeria by the end of the year.
Izuagbe told NAN: “There is enthusiasm about the 5G.
“I remember I was in a shop one day, and somebody walked into the shop and asked: ‘Do you sell 5G’?
“The awareness is there, and operators are getting a lot of requests.
“However, the infrastructure available will determine if more people will push to 5G. You know it is a factor of demand and supply.”
According to him, the 5G network requires almost three times as many base stations as the 4G technology will require.
” Also, it will require a lot of connectivity to all those base stations,’’ the ATCON president said.
He said that the 5G rollout was still in its first phase in Nigeria.
He said that there was no stop date for technology roll out, noting that even the 4G technology was still being rolled out.
Izuagbe said that the 5G initial roll out was concentrated on major cities such as Lagos, Abuja, and Kano.
The ATCON boss noted that the 5G technology would enable the consumer to have multiple devices connected to the internet.
“This is one of the things that the technology is developed for,” he said.
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