By Modupe Gbadeyanka
A deal has been reached between Ericsson and MTN Nigeria for the launching of 5G services in Lagos and a few cities in the first phase of the collaboration.
With Ericsson Radio System, MTN will provide advanced mobile broadband and fixed wireless access services, unlocking a range of new opportunities in the enterprise domain.
The new 5G services can bring about unique, sustainable development initiatives for agriculture, energy, financial inclusion, and security, overcoming past institutional challenges and barriers to growth.
In the future, MTN Nigeria’s Ericsson-powered 5G network will be driven by software-defined network capabilities where a combination of currently available and well-understood AI techniques will allow a higher degree of practical autonomous operation.
AI creates opportunities for improved performance, higher efficiency, enhanced customer experience, and new business models and uses cases for 5G, IoT and enterprise.
“5G will revolutionize the way we live and communicate across industries. With the speeds 5G offers, we will be able to experience the internet with low latency, which means no lag, making our virtual interactions more real.
“At MTN, we will continue to pursue the rollout of 5G technology to revolutionize internet access across the continent,” the Chief Technical Officer at MTN Nigeria, Mr Mohammed Rufai, said.
“5G is not just about speed. 5G helps people do more with their devices, unlocking a whole new world of possibilities for society.
“5G connectivity is likely to pave the way for life-altering advancements, and we are proud to be a part of Nigeria’s 5G digital transformation that has only just begun.
“With connectivity being the backbone of digitization, we are committed to delivering the best service to our partners at MTN Nigeria to support them in this thrilling journey,” the Vice President of Ericsson Middle East and Africa, Mr Hossam Kandeel, stated.
In the deal’s first phase, Ericsson will deploy its 5G technology, which includes 5G Radio Access Network and NSA Packet Core, to accelerate the development and digitalisation of key sectors such as education, healthcare and manufacturing.
It will also empower consumers and enterprises with innovative 5G applications that will unlock the true potential of the Internet of Things (IoT), Artificial Intelligence (AI), smart cities and Immersive Communication over Augmented (AR) and Virtual reality (VR) for millions of new consumers in the country.
Adedapo Adesanya