Mafab Communications moves to sell its $273.6 million 5G spectrum asset to MTN Nigeria, subject to regulatory approval.
Mafab Communications has started plans to sell its high speed 5G network frequency asset worth $273.6 million to network operator MTN Nigeria.
Industry sources and regulatory updates made public on Thursday, September 17, 2026, confirmed that both technology firms are holding high level discussions to transfer the valuable airwave licence.
The proposed transaction is currently awaiting formal evaluation and final approval from the government industry regulator, the Nigerian Communications Commission.
The major business deal focuses on airwave assets located in Nigeria, where millions of mobile phone users rely on internet signals to browse websites, watch online videos, and run digital shop businesses every day.
Under the proposed agreement, Mafab plans to hand over its 100MHz slot in the 3.5GHz frequency band, which is the special invisible airwave path used to deliver super fast 5G internet across the country.
If government officials approve the transfer, MTN Nigeria will control a larger share of high-speed airwaves, expanding its network power across major commercial cities and surrounding state capitals.
Mafab Communications is transferring its 5G frequency assets due to the extremely high cost of building telecom towers, buying heavy equipment, and expanding network coverage across every neighborhood.
When the government held a big airwave auction in December 2021, Mafab surprised the business world by winning a 5G operating license alongside MTN after paying over $273 million.
However, installing physical phone masts, bringing in foreign equipment, and running powerful generators during tough economic times proved very costly for the smaller firm.
Transferring the license to a larger operator allows the valuable airwaves to be put to active use, preventing high speed internet resources from sitting idle while bringing strong technical backing to mobile users.
This major airwave transfer will help improve internet quality for millions of phone users while shaping the future of mobile business across West Africa.
Joining forces with a bigger telecom giant means fast 5G coverage can reach more rural communities, schools, and business plazas much quicker without long delays.
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Industry experts note that combining network resources helps big companies spend money more efficiently, bringing stronger internet signals to everyday citizens who need reliable connections for daily work.
Industry sources familiar with the matter stated, “Mafab Communications, backed by businessman Musbahu Muhammad Bashir, is seeking to transfer key spectrum assets to MTN Nigeria after facing operational hurdles in deploying network infrastructure nationwide.”
Highlighting how the proposed deal will affect mobile internet quality for everyday consumers across the country, telecom market analysts noted that “the acquisition of Mafab’s 3.5GHz spectrum slot will significantly boost MTN’s network capacity, enabling faster download speeds and wider 5G coverage across major economic hubs.”
Confirming the necessity of government oversight before any licence transfer can become final, regulatory officials pointed out that “any spectrum transfer or transaction of this scale must undergo thorough regulatory scrutiny by the Nigerian Communications Commission to ensure fair competition and protect consumer interest in the telecommunications market.”
This airwave deal marks an important moment for the Nigerian mobile phone industry and the growing African technology economy.
As big phone networks buy more spectrum to serve their customers, everyday people will enjoy faster internet connections, making it easier to run online businesses, learn modern digital skills, and stay connected with loved ones.
