Airtel Will Work with Smartphone Manufacturers to Make 5G Devices Affordable in Nigeria

Airtel Nigeria is working hard to make 5G devices affordable in Nigeria by teaming up with smartphone makers. Their big goal is to help more people get connected to faster 5G Internet without paying too much. This is an important part of their bigger plan to spread 5G access all over Nigeria.

On August 5, 2025, Airtel’s CEO, Dinesh Balsingh, spoke to the media about how 5G will grow in Nigeria. He made it clear that 5G is more than just building new networks. He said, “5G is not only about telecom infrastructure. It’s an ecosystem where devices and networks must come together.” This means that even if the network is ready, people still need phones that can use 5G. Without affordable 5G phones, the faster internet won’t be very useful to most Nigerians.

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Airtel has already been expanding its 5G network in big cities and gives almost 100% 4G coverage, except in a few hard-to-reach places. But Dinesh Balsingh pointed out that the network alone is not enough. “Airtel will work with smartphone manufacturers to lower the price of 5G phones,” he said. This is so more Nigerians can afford these devices and enjoy the benefits of 5G Internet.

He also explained that Airtel is having talks with smartphone makers to find ways to bring down the cost of 5G devices. “We are exploring ways to make 5G devices less expensive, like changing some parts or working closely with manufacturers,” Balsingh explained. There might also be special offers or new deals that help cut prices or bundle 5G phones with data plans.

While Airtel is rolling out its 5G network quickly, it’s still uncertain when affordable 5G devices will be widespread enough. The company plans to keep improving its network while waiting for more people to get 5G phones.

Right now, about 60% of Nigerians use 4G phones, according to the Global System for Mobile Communications Association (GSMA). Angela Wamola from GSMA said that many people still find smartphones too expensive, which slows down 4G use. This shows why making 5G devices affordable in Nigerian will be a big challenge.

Airtel’s cooperation with phone brands like Samsung, Tecno, and Infinix has already brought some low-cost 5G phones to Nigeria. Examples include the Samsung A14 5G, Tecno Camon 201, and Infinix Hot 30 5G. These efforts prove how serious Airtel is about helping Nigerians connect to 5G technology.

Even with these good steps, it’s not clear if just working with makers will solve all problems. Many Nigerians face bigger issues like poverty and high import costs that make buying smartphones hard.

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In short, Airtel’s plan to make 5G devices affordable in Nigeria is a key part of their strategy to spread 5G Internet across the country. By working closely with smartphone manufacturers, Airtel hopes to bring down phone prices and speed up 5G use. They believe 5G will only truly succeed when both the networks and the phones are ready and affordable.

As Airtel pushes forward with fast network rollouts, making 5G devices affordable in Nigeria is what will really open the door for more Nigerians to enjoy the power of 5G Internet. This shows the company’s dedication to making sure 5G technology is not just for a few but for all Nigerians who want it.

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