Mafab Communications, one of Nigeria’s 5G license holders, has once again failed to meet its own deadline for launching services.
Its ability to compete in an industry already led by MTN and Airtel is now in doubt.
The company had promised to go live in Kano and Abuja by the end of the first quarter of 2025, but as of now, not a single operational site has been deployed.
This delay is just the latest in a series of missed targets. Since securing its $273 million 5G licence in 2021, Mafab has struggled to roll out its network. The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) initially granted it a five-month extension in 2022 due to licensing issues, but nearly two years later, 5G services remain absent. Even its much-publicised launch events in January 2023 produced no tangible service delivery.
The NCC is losing patience. In December 2024, the regulator’s Executive Vice Chairman, Aminu Maida, reportedly summoned Mafab’s executives and gave them a clear warning to deploy soon or face consequences. However, despite these ultimatums, nothing has changed.
Industry experts point to financing as a major challenge. “They have not been able to raise the funds required for the deployment,” said Rotimi Akapo, partner and head of Telecommunication, Media and Technology (TMT) at Advocaat Law Practice. “Most of the equipment will have to be imported, and it’s very capital-intensive.”
Deploying a basic 5G network in Nigeria is an expensive task. Estimates suggest that setting up 102 base stations—Mafab’s initial plan—could cost around $122 million. In contrast, telecom operators in China pay significantly less due to domestic manufacturing advantages.
To move forward, Mafab must either lease infrastructure from existing providers like IHS Towers or American Tower Corporation, or build its own, both of which require substantial investment.
The company had initially planned to focus on underserved markets like Kano and Abuja to avoid direct competition with MTN and Airtel. However, this strategy may no longer be viable. “Mafab is supposed to be launched here, but it hasn’t,” said Abdulrasheed Hussain, Digital Media Manager at Premier Radio Kano. “So far, we have MTN and Airtel 5G routers in Kano.”
A shift toward fixed wireless broadband, which provides high-speed internet to homes and businesses rather than mobile users, could be an alternative. MTN and Airtel already use this model to expand coverage. However, even this approach demands heavy investment in fibre networks and backhaul infrastructure.
Per TechCabal, an investment analyst familiar with the sector, who preferred to remain anonymous, highlighted two key challenges Mafab faces. “First, investors are hesitant to back an unproven company with no track record. Second, Nigeria’s forex crisis makes it difficult for foreign investors to bring in capital. Domestic investors alone may not be able to fund this scale of investment.”
With each passing delay, Mafab risks becoming irrelevant in Nigeria’s 5G industry. The NCC could eventually revoke its licence if the company fails to deliver. Meanwhile, MTN and Airtel continue expanding their networks, further entrenching their lead.
The question now is whether Mafab can secure the funding and infrastructure it needs to finally roll out services—or if its 5G vision will remain just that, ambitions.
