List of Smartphones You Must Have Before Going for Airtel 5G

Airtel Nigeria on Monday announced the launch of its fifth-generation network (5G), rolling out in three states of the federation – Lagos, Cross Rivers and Ogun – as well as the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Abuja.

Airtel assured that beyond the four locations, it will continue to expand the 5G network and its 4G coverage in the country. It promised to commit up to $700 million annual investment to the course for the next three to four years.

Data obtained from the Nigeria’s telecommunications industry regulator, the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), showed that the telco has 60.33 million subscribers on its network as at April ending, out of which 42.53 million have access to internet services.

Beyond the coverage limitation that currently restricts Airtel 5G network availability to the indicated four locations in the country, lack of access to certain 5G ready smartphones could further disenfranchise million of Airtel’s customers even in the four locations from enjoying the newly launched high-speed internet.

What 5G Offers

5G is the 5th generation mobile network. 5G enables a new kind of network that is designed to connect virtually everyone and everything together including machines, objects, and devices.

5G technology offers superfast download speed of up to 50Gbps, high quality streaming, low latency, increased availability, improved reliability, higher performance and stable connectivity.

Mobile Access

Even when telecoms operators offer 5G routers to provide the service to their subscribers, reports have shown that mobile access remain the mostly deployed channel by telecoms users to key into the services, just as the case with 4G, 3G and 2G usages.

Latest NCC industry data corroborates this as the four leading mobile network operators (MNOs) in the country currently have a collective 157.67 million internet subscribers on their networks. Such internet penetration is being driven by smartphones.

This shows that even after deploying the fifth-generation networks in more locations as promised by Airtel, its subscribers would have to invest extra funds to acquire smartphones that are 5G-enabled for the telco deepen its 5G usage.

Range of Airtel 5G-Compatible Mobile Phones

To embrace and enjoy the extraordinary possibilities of 5G on Airtel network, 5G-capable smartphones is required to give its subscribers the experience.

“If your current phone doesn’t support 5G, it’s time to consider upgrading to a new 5G-enabled device which will grant you access to the Airtel 5G network for a seamless internet connectivity like no other,” Airtel told its subscribers after the network launch.

As a special incentive, the MNO promised that upon activating new 5G smartphone on the Airtel network, its subscribers  receive a one-time bonus of 10GB data volume pro bono.

So far, there are five smartphone brands currently recognised by Airtel to work with its 5G network, and they are:

Huawei P40 Series;

iPad Mini, Pro and Air (2021 and above);

iPhone 12, 13 and 14 Series;

Samsung (US and EU Versions);

Tecno Camon 20, Phantom Fold and Spark 10; and 

Xiomi Redmi Note 10 and Note 11.