Statistics from the Nigerian Communications Commission have shown that the adoption of the Fifth Generation (5G) network is now 0.96 per cent penetration of the served communities in the country as of November 2023.
The figure rose from 0.83 per cent in August to 0.88 per cent by September. It climbed to 0.90 per cent in October and settled at 0.96 per cent a month after.
While the absolute figure was not mentioned, as of the middle of 2023, NCC puts 5G subscriptions at 500,000. The NCC at a recent meeting in Lagos said 5G is in about 30 cities in the country.
Since launched in Nigeria, in its third year now, the licensees, MTN, Mafab and Airtel, have pushed for more 5G penetrations in the country. While Airtem claims to be in Lagos, Ogun, Port Harcourt and Abuja, MTN is in over 15 cities across the country. Mafab on the other hand, claimed to have a presence in Lagos and Abuja and is currently on the verge of major expansion.
The Global System for Mobile Telecommunications Association (GSMA) has said that advanced markets would focus on promoting 5G adoption even as North America, East Asia and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) markets are leading the way in 5G adoption.
The telecoms advocacy body said globally, 5G will overtake 4G in 2029 to become the dominant mobile technology. It noted that it is significant for scaling mobile’s contribution to the SDGs as research shows 5G subscribers make greater and more frequent use of digital services on their smartphones, compared to 4G users.
Speaking of AI, GSMA said the mobile industry is committed to the ethical use of AI in its operations and customer interactions to protect customers and employees, remove any entrenched inequality and ensure that AI operates reliably.
“Mobile operators are increasingly using AI to generate innovative solutions, analyse complex data and identify patterns that can support decision-making. By leveraging AI’s capabilities to optimise and automate networks, for example, operators can provide a better service and enable people to do more on their devices. AI can also support real-time analysis and cross-sell optimisation, which can help operators use their energy resources more efficiently,” it stated.
However, GSMA said AI raises several ethical concerns, highlighting the need for multi-stakeholder efforts and collaborative decision-making to ensure a safe and inclusive digital future.
It said the mobile industry has been at the forefront of several initiatives to ensure AI is designed, developed and deployed in a responsible and ethical way that is human-centric and rights-oriented.
