I just read that MTN is launching its 4G LTE Network in selected Nigerian cities in July. They are going to do this using the 800MHz frequency they secured from Visafone earlier this year. By the end of this year, they should have 1,500 LTE sites transmitted with fibre optics.
According to MTN CEO, Mr. Ferdinand Moolman, Visafone subscribers will be migrated onto the MTN network so they can clean up their frequency and launch the LTE services.
The chosen cities for this launch have been selected as a result of MTN’s analysis of data usage across the country. Right now, they haven’t disclosed what cities these are so we’ll just have to wait and see.
While it’s great that a mobile network is releasing LTE services in Nigeria, I’m just wondering why MTN didn’t release this in Nigeria earlier. We’re definitely one of their largest markets but it seems they don’t think as highly of us. I mean, there’s been anticipation for a while now, but nothing substantial has been forthcoming until recently.
To show how late this is, MTN already launched LTE services in other countries like Rwanda and Uganda before it “decided” to launch here.
I know, maybe the whole friction with the NCC has left MTN a bit sore, but still. Now, I’m just wondering if they’ve decided to finally launch because Ntel launched their LTE service in April, and they don’t want to be left behind.
Ah, well, competition is good and it gives variety for consumers – which is basically what capitalism is about. Let’s see how MTN pulls this off, shall we?
