MAFAB is a new telecommunications company that intends to provide 5G services to Nigerians.
In December 2021, MAFAB was granted a licence to begin 5G broadband services along with MTN and Airtel, who were successfully selected among other applicants.
MTN launched its 5G network in August 2022, while Airtel announced its 5G spectrum capacity early this year. However, for an undisclosed reason, MAFAB Company which has been silent for months, suddenly launched its startup, announcing that the company is out to position Nigeria in the global telecommunications space.
MAFAB announced to kickoff operations in the telecommunications space at its launch on 26th January. Chairman of MAFAB, Dr Mushabu Bashir, revealed the objective of MAFAB; he stated that the company’s aim is focused on building Nigeria into a global technology hub in Africa and the world at large. Bashir iterated, “It’s not strange that the countries that are able to provide their citizens with the latest network infrastructure, which the 5G technology represents, are also the ones that thrive in the coming years.”
MAFAB intends to focus on providing steady 5G 3.5Hz spectrum services even as voice calls are already available from existing technology. Lagos State Governor, represented by Lagos State Commissioner for Science and Technology, Hakeem Fahm, said that the telecommunications industry has contributed to making the state a frontier of economic activities in Nigeria, generating more than $70 billion and tackling unemployment by creating more than 500,000 jobs.
Stating that the launch will aid the state in realizing its dream role in developing and implementing new technologies, transforming Lagos State into a smart city in Nigeria. Fahm says, “The prospect of what we can achieve with 5G technology fills me with high hopes for the future of our economy especially in terms of security”. He added that the 5G technology will cement the existing Popular Yaba District of Lagos, which is currently known as the technological hub of Nigeria, into an “African Silicon Valley.”
MAFAB communications set to penetrate the telecommunications market by meeting Nigeria’s need for data services stating that there are depths still untapped. MAFAB spokesperson, Bayo Onigbanjo, says, “Our quality of services and the partners that we are bringing into the market will allow people to see that we are offering an alternative and that’s what we are asking people to do; that is, consider this an alternative.”
Even with MAFAB’s promise to improve the Nigeria telecommunications sector, its successful operation is still questionable, considering how the new network will reach Nigerians, how to sign up for the network and other technicalities involved.
To prove that MAFAB is out for a smooth operation, Bayo responded that Base Transceivers Stations would be installed across the country as it rolls out its plan. MAFAB also received the Universal Access Service License (UASL) and numbering plans after a 5-month extension in July last year. He also added that the MAFAB telecommunications network has decided to partner with technical partners as they are concerned with delivering quality service and not about technical partners and vendors.
Currently, MAFAB is in cities across the nation; Abuja, Enugu, Lagos, Port Harcourt, Kaduna and Kano. “Any phone that claims to have the 5G options should be able to connect to our network”, MAFAB says.
Do you think MAFAB is strong enough to compete with existing 5G service providers? Even if MAFAB is able to compete, how will it strive through technical partners with personal market interests?
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Photo By MAFAB
