MTN, Africa’s largest mobile operator, has acquired additional spectrum in Nigeria, its biggest market. The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has approved the transfer and assignment of the 10MHz frequency division duplex (FDD) in the 2.6GHz spectrum band from OpenSkys to MTN Nigeria.
- The acquisition of this additional spectrum will enable MTN Nigeria to enhance its network capacity and improve the customer experience. It will support the growing demand for data in the country and contribute to the federal government’s plan to deepen broadband penetration in Nigeria.
- MTN sees the acquisition of the 10MHz FDD spectrum as an important milestone in the execution of its Ambition 2025 strategy. It will help the company roll out network capacity more efficiently and align with its sustainability priorities.
- The license for the acquired spectrum is due for renewal on April 16, 2033. The effective date for the license is September 7, 2023.
- In May, the NCC approved a spectrum lease transaction that allowed MTN Nigeria to lease 5MHz of FDD spectrum in the 900MHz band and 10MHz of FDD frequencies in the 1800MHz band from ntel. This lease transaction covered 19 states and aimed to enhance MTN’s network coverage.