Airtel Nigeria has revealed 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 across the country.
Speaking at a media briefing on Tuesday, 5 August 2025, Airtel Nigeria CEO, Dinesh Balsingh, stressed that the success of 5G in Nigeria extends beyond network rollout. He described 5G as a connected ecosystem that relies on both strong infrastructure and wide 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 highlighted that although Airtel has significantly expanded its 5G coverage in major cities and already provides near-universal 4G coverage—except in a few remote areas—network availability alone cannot drive adoption. Without affordable 5G smartphones, mass consumer uptake will remain slow.
To tackle this issue, Airtel is actively collaborating with device manufacturers to lower the cost of 5G smartphones and make them more accessible to the Nigerian market.
“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 suggested that Airtel may introduce initiatives such as incentives or standard operating procedures (SOPs) to support price reductions or bundling models in collaboration with original equipment manufacturers (OEMs).
While these partnerships develop, Airtel intends to ramp up its 5G network rollout across Nigeria in the coming months, ensuring the infrastructure is ready to support increased demand as more affordable devices become available. However, there is currently no set timeline for when 5G device adoption will reach a tipping point.
The scale of the challenge is reflected in industry data. According to the Global System for Mobile Communications Association (GSMA), 4G penetration in Nigeria remains at approximately 60%. Angela Wamola, Head of Sub-Saharan Africa at GSMA, recently pointed out that device affordability remains one of the key barriers to deeper 4G adoption in the country.
With many Nigerians still unable to afford 4G smartphones, Airtel’s efforts to make 5G devices more affordable prompt questions about how quickly structural barriers such as low purchasing power and high import costs can be addressed.
While Airtel’s commitment to partnering with smartphone manufacturers marks a step in the right direction, experts believe that achieving widespread 5G adoption will require a multi-pronged approach, incorporating innovative financing options, local manufacturing, and supportive government policies.
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