NCC affirms MAFAB Communications launched 5G Services January 2023

*The Nigerian Communications Commission clarifies after the telecoms regulator’s issuance of the 5G licence, and in line with the rollout conditions in the country, MAFAB Communications ‘publicly launched’ its 5G networks services January 2023, in Abuja and Lagos respectively

Isola Moses | ConsumerConnect

The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has said its attention was drawn to “some misleading comments” on social media platforms, which falsely claimed that “MAFAB Communications, one of the companies granted Fifth Generation (5G) licences by the Commission, is yet to roll out the service, nearly two years after obtaining a licence, and one year after the roll-out date.”

The telecoms regulatory Commission, in a statement issued in Abuja, FCT, however, clarified that MAFAB Communications is one of the two successful companies that won a 5G Licence during the globally-acclaimed transparent 5G Auction conducted by the Commission on December 13, 2021.”

Mr. Reuben Muoka, Director of Public Affairs at NCC, stated that upon fulfilling the condition of payment for the fee of $273.6 million February 2022, the “company formally received the licence on February 22, 2022.”

The Commission also said  sequel to its issuance of the 5G licence, and in line with the rollout conditions, MAFAB Communications publicly launched its 5G networks services January 24, 2023, in Abuja, and January 26, 2023, in Lagos, respectively.

It further explained: “At the launch, the services were targeted at six cities – Lagos, Abuja, Port Harcourt, Enugu, Kano and Kaduna.

“The Commission has continued to monitor the progress of rollout by MAFAB and has been regularly briefed about the status of infrastructure deployment for service offerings as conditioned in its operating licence.”

NCC in the statement urged the public and all stakeholders “to ignore the false and misleading information concerning the 5G rollout by MAFAB.”