MTN and Etisalat have become the latest Nigerian mobile operators to introduce commercial LTE networks, following the launch of Globacom’s 4G service in nine cities last week. Market leader MTN Nigeria’s network is currently available in the cities of Lagos, Abuja and Port Harcourt, but coverage will be expanded to other parts of the country in the near future. It utilises the 2600MHz frequencies acquired by MTN from the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) at auction earlier this year. A wide selection of 4G mobile data tariffs are offered by the South African-owned cellco, ranging from NGN100 (USD0.3) for a daily allowance of 30MB to NGN50,000 for 85GB (valid for 90 days).
Etisalat Nigeria’s LTE network, meanwhile, operates in the 1800MHz frequency band and is currently only available in Lagos. Unlike MTN, however, Etisalat customers do not need to acquire a new 4G SIM card, as all of the UAE-owned cellco’s SIMs are already LTE-enabled. ‘The 4G LTE technology offers customers increased access to high speed data and quality voice services real time,’ commented Etisalat Nigeria’s CEO Matthew Willsher, adding: ‘With the new technology, our customers will enjoy efficient broadband internet and uninterrupted connectivity to clearer voice calls, increased access to online streaming and ultra-high definition videos.’