Ericsson and MTN Nigeria have reached a historic milestone with the successful launch of 5G services. 

This landmark deal is the result of a fruitful collaboration spanning 21 years reaffirming a rich culture of partnerships between the two parties.

The first phase of the launch covers certain parts of Lagos and Nigeria where Ericsson’s 5G technology – which includes 5G Radio Access Network & NSA Packet Core – will accelerate the development and digitalization 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.

With Ericsson Radio System, MTN will provide advanced Mobile broadband & fixed wireless access services which shall unlock 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, among others, overcoming past institutional challenges and barriers to growth.

Mohammed Rufai, Chief Technical Officer, MTN Nigeria says: “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.”

Hossam Kandeel, Vice President of Ericsson Middle East and Africa, says: “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.”

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 is creating opportunities in terms of improved performance, higher efficiency, and enhanced customer experience as well as creating new business models and use cases for 5G, IoT and enterprise.

Hossam will lead a high performing technologies and services team that promises to deliver exceptional value towards MTN Ambition 2025 while enabling positive change across society.

Being with Ericsson for nearly two decades, Hossam has held leadership positions across various practices including government and industry relations, strategy and marketing, business solutions, sales, and operational excellence. Through insightful engagements, he developed successful business, financial, and operational key performance indicators (KPIs) and enhanced staff engagement and customer satisfaction.

Hossam served as the Key Account Manager and Country Manager of Ericsson Angola under Customer Unit West Africa and Morocco, prior to his appointment as Head of Global Customer Unit MTN and Customer Unit MTN Africa within Market Area Middle East and Africa.

Commenting on his new role, Hossam Kandee says: “I am thrilled to take on this new role and I look forward to leveraging my industry wide expertise to build high performing teams that grow Ericsson’s regional business and deliver value to our partner MTN and their Ambition 2025 strategy. I am committed to finding new ways that add value to the services and solutions we provide our partners and innovate our client offerings to support the ongoing digital transformation momentum in the region.” 

Throughout his career at Ericsson, Hossam Kandee has been focused on driving organizational performance and building exceptional team capabilities. He has served in different capacities and locations including Egypt, Sweden, and the Middle East.

He remains committed to his motto and believes passion, curiosity and perseverance are the fuel to business success.