Airtel Nigeria says it is working closely with device manufacturers to bring down the cost of 5G smartphones as part of a broader strategy to make 5G Internet access more accessible to Nigerians.
At a media briefing held on Tuesday, August 5, 2025, CEO Dinesh Balsingh explained that the future of 5G in Nigeria is not just about infrastructure. He described 5G as an ecosystem that requires both network deployment and widespread device penetration to succeed.
“5G is not only about telecom infrastructure. It’s an ecosystem where devices and networks must come together,” he said. “Rolling out the network is important, but it’s just as crucial to ensure that consumers have access to 5G-enabled phones.”
He noted that while Airtel has been expanding its 5G coverage in major cities and already offers 100% 4G coverage — except for a handful of hard-to-reach areas — the company recognises that network availability alone is not enough. Without affordable 5G phones in the hands of consumers, usage will remain limited.
To address this, Balsingh said Airtel is actively engaging with device manufacturers to reduce the unit cost of 5G smartphones and make them more accessible to the Nigerian mass market.
“We are actively talking to device manufacturers,” he said. “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.”
He also hinted at possible plans to introduce incentives or standard operating procedures (SOPs) that could support price reductions or bundling models in partnership with original equipment manufacturers (OEMs).
In the meantime, he said Nigerians should expect more rapid 5G rollouts over the next few months, as the company plans to continue deploying infrastructure ahead of widespread device adoption.
However, there is no clear timeline for when device penetration might catch up.
According to the Global System for Mobile Communications Association (GSMA), 4G penetration in Nigeria still hovers around 60%. Angela Wamola, Head of Sub-Saharan Africa at GSMA, recently noted that device affordability remains one of the biggest barriers to deeper 4G adoption in the country.
With many Nigerians still unable to afford 4G smartphones, Airtel’s plan to reduce the cost of 5G devices raises difficult questions.
While the intent to work with manufacturers is commendable, it may take more than partnerships to overcome the deep structural barriers that limit access to smartphones in Nigeria.
