Telecom
Ericsson Predicts First Commercial 5G Rollouts this Year
This year will see the first commercial rollouts of 5G networks, led by North America, and large-scale deployments of cellular IOT.
Globally, major 5G deployments are expected from 2020. Ericsson forecasts over 1 billion 5G subscriptions for enhanced mobile broadband by the end of 2023, accounting for around 12% of all mobile subscriptions.
According to the Ericsson Mobility Report for 2018, 5G will kick off with enhanced mobile broadband as its first use case.
In North America, all major US mobile operators are planning to roll out 5G between late 2018 and mid-2019. First-generation, 5G data-only devices are expected from the second half of 2018, says the study.
By end of 2023, close to 50% of all mobile subscriptions in North America are forecast to be for 5G, followed by North East Asia at 34%, and Western Europe at 21%, it states.
The massive ramp-up of 5G subscriptions worldwide is expected to be fuelled by third-generation chipsets, which will be available from 2020 on a variety of frequency bands, it says.
5G in Africa
In the Middle East and North Africa, significant 5G subscription volumes are expected in 2021, and in Sub-Saharan Africa in 2022, notes Ericsson.
Although some operators in South Africa are trialling the technology, it will likely not be a commercial reality in SA for a few more years.
In January, MTN and Ericsson announced their first 5G technology and applications trial in Africa, and Vodacom also announced in November it had signed a memorandum of understanding with Nokia to support efforts to launch 5G in SA.
Telkom says it’s waiting for the 5G standards to be finalised before it does any major investing in the next-generation technology.
In SA we have witnessed different operators in the industry announcing their 5G joint ventures, says Fahad Nisar, technical marketing director at ZTE South Africa. Testing laboratories and research facilities are well underway and many service providers are busy with Pre5G leading to 5G wireless trials, he says.
At the end of 2017, close to 20% of all mobile subscriptions were for LTE in the Middle East and North Africa, while in Sub-Saharan Africa, LTE only accounted for around 5% of subscriptions, says Ericsson.
Cellular IOT deployments
Ericsson has also doubled its forecast for cellular Internet of things (IOT) connections as high-speed 5G networks arrive to handle their traffic.
It predicts there will be 3.5 billion IOT connections by 2023, from the 1.7 billion it predicted in November 2017. The growth will mainly be driven by ongoing large-scale deployments in China.
“China is driving a major paradigm shift in the global cellular IOT industry”, says Tobias Ryberg, senior analyst for Berg Insight.
“The country has embarked on one of the world’s largest digital infrastructure projects that will result in billions of new connected devices in the coming five years. NB-IOT has been designated as the country’s preferred low-power wide-area technology and plays a key role in the national policies.”
The telecom equipment maker says new massive IOT cellular technologies such as NB-IOT and Cat-M1 are fuelling this growth, giving service providers opportunities to improve efficiencies and enhance customer value.
Mobile operators have launched more than 60 cellular IOT networks worldwide using these technologies over the same underlying LTE network to support a diverse range of use cases, observes Ericsson.
Both technologies are being deployed in parallel as a complement to each other across regions worldwide, it says. Large-scale deployments, and the resulting high-volume chipsets, are expected to reduce chipset prices, it says. This is leading to further acceleration of the growth in cellular IOT connections, it adds.
In North America, these cases are centred on logistics and fleet management, while in China they are centred on smart cities and smart agriculture, it adds.
“2018 is the year 5G networks go commercial as well as for large-scale deployments of cellular IOT,” says Fredrik Jejdling, executive vice president and head of business area network for Ericsson.
“These technologies promise new capabilities that will impact people’s lives and transform industries. This change will only come about through the combined efforts of industry players and regulators aligning on spectrum, standards and technology.”
At the recently concluded NextNow Business Forum in Victoria Island, MTN Nigeria electrified the business community with a live demonstration of its forthcoming Communication Platform as a Service (CPaaS), a solution engineered to redefine how Nigerian enterprises connect with their customers.
Unlike traditional communication systems, MTN’s CPaaS is built for the realities of a mobile-first market. The platform unifies SMS, voice, WhatsApp, email, and more into a single, intuitive interface. This approach is especially significant in Nigeria, with over 107 million internet users, 45.4% of the total population, according to Data Report. This figure underscores the necessity for businesses to meet customers where they are.
During the demo, attendees witnessed how CPaaS enables two-way, real-time conversations between brands and customers. The platform’s support for rich media, instant analytics, and seamless integration with business workflows drew particular attention. These features are designed to empower businesses with data-driven insights and the agility to personalise every interaction, whether it’s a service notification, marketing campaign, or customer support exchange.
Akinbulejo Onabolu, Head of Enterprise Segment at MTN Nigeria, articulated the vision: “CPaaS gives enterprises the flexibility to interact with their customers on their preferred platforms; whether it’s chat, voice, or messaging, in a way that feels personal and immediate. We’re looking forward to the value this will unlock for businesses across industries once it launches.”
The fireside chat added depth to the conversation, with Omowunmi Olatunbosun, Head of SME Segment at MTN Nigeria, and Stephen Agbi of Bayobab, highlighting how digital engagement bridges the gap between businesses and audiences.
They emphasised that today’s consumers demand immediacy, relevance, and ease, qualities that CPaaS is built to deliver.
The stakes for digital transformation in Nigeria are high. In a report by Punch, the country’s enterprise tech market is projected to reach $22 billion by 2027, reflecting a surge in demand for scalable, cloud-based solutions that drive efficiency and customer loyalty.
The CPAAS Acceleration Alliance have estimated that globally, the CPaaS market is expected to grow from $14.7 billion in 2025 to $72.4 billion by 2035, at a compound annual growth rate of 18.4%, a testament to the platform’s transformative potential.
The event’s closing keynote from META’s Korhan Yunak reinforced the strategic value of digital channels like WhatsApp, which are now indispensable for business communication and engagement at scale.
As MTN Nigeria prepares for the Q3 2025 launch, the anticipation is unmistakable. With its promise of flexibility, intelligence, and seamless integration, MTN’s CPaaS platform is set to become the backbone of next-generation business-customer engagement in Nigeria, enabling enterprises to not just communicate but to connect, adapt, and grow in a digital-first era.
MTN Uganda is seeking input from stakeholders on a plan to structurally separate its mobile money service, MoMo, from its core telecoms business.
According to the company, the proposed change will be discussed at the upcoming extraordinary general meeting on July 2.
If approved, the telco’s fintech business will be run by a new company controlled by MTN Group Fintech Holdings B.V. and a trust benefiting minority shareholders following a merger.
Additionally, the restructuring also aligns with MTN Group’s ambition 2025 strategy which aims to unlock value, attract new investors, and strengthen regulatory compliance by creating standalone fintech entities in Uganda, Ghana, and Nigeria.
The company’s fintech division has over 13 million customers, with an 18.4% revenue increase in the first quarter of 2025, driven by 19.0% growth in mobile money services, 19.8% growth in transaction volumes, and a 31.4% increase in transaction value.
Reports say the decision is part of the telco’s compliance with the National Payment Systems Act 2020, which mandates mobile money businesses to operate as standalone entities, and to align with MTN Group’s regional fintech strategy.
MTN Uganda, which is led by CEO Sylvia Mulinge, highlighted that the implementation of the proposed transaction will be subjected to a number of conditions and regulatory procedures.
“The implementation of the proposed transaction shall be subject to a number of conditions, including the company and MTN MoMo receiving all required regulatory approvals and no-objections and complying with any regulatory conditions,” said MTN Uganda in notice.
Netflix has announced plans to invest more than €1 billion in Spanish film and television productions over the next four years, reinforcing its commitment to Spain as a key creative hub in Europe.
The announcement was made by co-chief executive Ted Sarandos at an event held at Netflix’s production studios near Madrid, celebrating the company’s 10-year presence in the country.
Sarandos emphasized that the investment would contribute significantly to Spain’s economy, create jobs, and enable the streaming platform to produce more local content. He was joined by Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez in unveiling the initiative.
Netflix first established its international production studios in Madrid in 2019, following the success of the Spanish-language hit series Money Heist.
Since then, its 22,000-square-meter facility has become one of Netflix’s major production centers within the European Union.
The company currently supports over 20,000 jobs in Spain, highlighting the nation’s growing influence in global entertainment.
The investment reflects Netflix’s ongoing strategy to expand its presence in European markets through original content and local talent.
China Expands Zero-Tariff Trade for Nigeria, 52 Other African Nations
Sterling Bank Pledges ₦2bn to Fully Fund University Scholarships
MTN Nigeria Unveils CPaaS Platform to Transform Business Communication
Aliko Dangote Signs out @ Dangote Sugar Refinery as Chairman
Court Declines Access Bank’s Request to Freeze MTNN Account over N180Bn Claims
General News2 days agoAfDB to Provide $184.1mfor Africa’s Largest Solar Energy, Battery Storage Project
News2 days agoReport Reveals New Malware Posing as an AI Assistant Steals User Data
General News2 days agoCourt Declines Access Bank’s Request to Freeze MTNN Account over N180Bn Claims
Telecom2 days agoMTN Mulls Establishment of Fintech Firm in Nigeria, Others
News2 days agoAliko Dangote Signs out @ Dangote Sugar Refinery as Chairman
E-Business2 days agoFG Mulls Fibre Optic Layout to Bridge Internet Gaps
E-Financial2 days agoFG to Train 100,000 Youths Annually in Forex Trading and Financial Skills
E-Financial1 day agoSterling Bank Pledges ₦2bn to Fully Fund University Scholarships