MTN to boost 5G adoption in Nigeria with smartphone financing

13 Oct MTN to boost 5G adoption in Nigeria with smartphone financing

Telecommunications giant, MTN Nigeria has said it is following up its 5G rollout with an initiative that will allow many Nigerians to own 5G-enabled smartphones.

Through a smartphone financing initiative supported by Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) such as Samsung, TECNO, Nokia, Infinix, and iTel, among others, MTN said Nigerians will now be able to acquire smartphones with ease.

Before now, industry experts have identified the high cost of smartphones, especially, 5G-enabled ones as a major barrier to 5G adoption in Nigeria.

MTN, at a press conference in Lagos on Wednesday, said it has also discovered this as a major challenge.  It said this informed its decision to partner with Intelligra, an open platform for smartphone financing in Nigeria, the OEMs, Stanbic IBTC Bank, and popular gadget retail store, Slot, to own smartphones and pay over a long period without any initial deposit.

Speaking at the press conference, the chief marketing officer of MTN Nigeria, Adia Sowho said: “Smartphones have become the computer for many Nigerians today. Unfortunately, the high costs of these devices have made them out of reach for many. Factors such as forex fluctuation, chipset shortages, and inflation are continuously driving up the cost of phones.”