Mafab Communications, the Nigerian telecommunications company supported by businessman Musbahu Muhammad Bashir, is seeking approval from regulators to transfer significant 5G spectrum assets to MTN Nigeria, a move that could conclude its tenure as one of the nation’s 5G network providers.
The proposed deal involves Mafab’s 2x20 MHz spectrum block in the 2.1GHz band as well as its 100MHz allocation in the 3.5GHz band.
Both Mafab and MTN paid $273.6 million for 100MHz lots in Nigeria’s inaugural 5G spectrum auction held by the Nigerian Communications Commission in December 2021 after surpassing Airtel Networks in bidding; MTN also spent an additional $15.9 million to secure its preferred frequency block.
MTN commenced its commercial 5G services in September 2022, while Mafab initiated its rollout in January 2023, having received an extension for its deployment deadline, with initial focus on Abuja and Kano.
In contrast to MTN and Airtel, which launched into the 5G arena with existing infrastructure, Mafab faced the challenge of developing much of its network from the ground up as a new operator, a situation made more difficult by regulatory setbacks, connection obstacles, foreign exchange issues, and the escalating costs of imported equipment.
As of the time of publication, neither MTN Nigeria nor Mafab had officially confirmed the transaction, although industry insiders suggest that discussions are at an advanced stage and awaiting regulatory approval.
The adoption of 5G in Nigeria is still limited compared to 4G; data from the NCC indicates that 5G made up 4.74 percent of total mobile connections in July 2026, in comparison to 54.31 percent for 4G, although that percentage has rapidly increased from 0.12 percent in July 2023.
A joint report from the NCC and Ookla on the quality of experience for the second quarter of 2026 indicated that active 5G usage among compatible devices was around 46 percent in Lagos and slightly over 53 percent in Abuja, suggesting that approximately half of 5G-capable devices in those urban areas remain disconnected from the network.
If the transfer is finalized, it would give MTN, which already commands more than half of Nigeria’s mobile market, additional contiguous spectrum capacity amid rising data demand, while signaling Mafab’s strategic withdrawal from directly competing with established telecom operators in the country.
