Airtel Nigeria has announced that it is working closely with smartphone manufacturers to reduce the cost of 5G-enabled devices, as part of a broader strategy to make next-generation internet access more affordable and accessible to Nigerians.
Speaking at a media briefing on Tuesday, August 5, 2025, Airtel Nigeria CEO, Dinesh Balsingh, emphasized that the success of 5G in Nigeria goes beyond network deployment. He described 5G as an interconnected ecosystem that requires both robust infrastructure and widespread device availability.
“5G is not only about telecom infrastructure. It’s an ecosystem where devices and networks must come together,” Balsingh said. “Rolling out the network is important, but it’s just as crucial to ensure that consumers have access to 5G-enabled phones.”
Balsingh noted that while Airtel has significantly expanded its 5G coverage in major cities and already provides near-universal 4G coverage—except for a few hard-to-reach areas—network availability alone is not enough to drive adoption. Without affordable 5G smartphones, consumer uptake will remain limited.
To address this challenge, Airtel is actively engaging with device manufacturers to lower the unit cost of 5G smartphones and make them more accessible to the mass market in Nigeria.
“We are actively talking to device manufacturers,” he explained. “We are exploring ways to bring down the cost of a 5G device, how we can re-engineer the components, and how we can partner with them.”
Balsingh also hinted at potential initiatives such as introducing incentives or standard operating procedures (SOPs) to support price reductions or bundling models in collaboration with original equipment manufacturers (OEMs).
In the meantime, Airtel plans to accelerate its 5G rollout across the country over the coming months, ensuring that infrastructure is in place ahead of widespread device adoption. However, there is currently no clear timeline for when 5G device penetration will reach critical mass.
Industry data underscores the challenge ahead. According to the Global System for Mobile Communications Association (GSMA), 4G penetration in Nigeria remains around 60%. Angela Wamola, Head of Sub-Saharan Africa at GSMA, recently highlighted that device affordability continues to be one of the biggest barriers to deeper 4G adoption in the country.
With many Nigerians still struggling to afford 4G smartphones, Airtel’s ambition to make 5G devices more affordable raises important questions about how quickly these efforts can overcome structural barriers such as low purchasing power and high import costs.
While Airtel’s commitment to partnering with manufacturers is a positive step, experts suggest that achieving widespread 5G adoption will require a combination of strategies, including innovative financing models, local manufacturing, and government support.
