5G technology. Everyone is hyped up about 5G technology and the crazy data speeds it would come with, even the NCC Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) approved tests for the 5G spectrum in Nigeria but the question is this – Is Nigeria Ready For 5G technology ?

I know all the paid marketing platforms has been heating up considerably over the past few weeks, pushing out different spectacular theories on how 5G is going to change the way we work, live, and copulate.(Again, at least one of those items is my own nonsensical creation, but I’d argue that all of them are equally absurd.)

I’ll tell you this, you can safely ignore all these regardless of who or what is saying anything about it. So as an ardent lover of tech. I strongly advise you observe from a distance with a hot cup of cappuccino and box of chocolates for now without investing an ounce of your own money or mobile tech energy in the effort.

Let’s get to the reasons

5G Technology Is A Short Range Network Spectrum And Very Limited

If you remember clearly 4G only started functioning in Nigeria around 2015-2016 when it was available in other parts of the world for years. It was like a dream come true before it dawned on us that we have one of the slowest 4G speeds in the world. Globacom even had to put their bandwidth on one that isn’t available on most devices to make sure their 4G doesn’t slow down as much as their 2G masked as 3G.

No matter how much our network providers might hype it, 5G is going to be extraordinarily limited in real-world application in Nigeria right now in 2019 unless it’s limitations are actually fixed before launch in Nigeria

Unlike 4G that signals can be received from over 30 miles, 5G cannot go more than a mile and if you’re in a building it’s very likely the speeds would drop drastically. For 5G to work in Nigeria their needs to be multiple network towers and the only logical way to have that is to fix them on electricity poles just like Verizon is doing in the United States but this is Nigeria, there’s an adept lack of maintenance culture.

I can’t count the number of things that could go horribly wrong here if those towers are mounted on electric poles, be my guest and help out with a list.

Also the nature of these new 5G towers is raising fresh concerns over cancer risks, We don’t have a functional health care system here. So until there’s assurance from network providers and it is verified that it’s safe for use, those towers shouldn’t be mounted 3m close to anybody’s house

5G Network is Horribly Expensive

You know how data finishes extremely quickly on 4G especially on MTN, on 5G you can finish your data bundle within 30 seconds, ignoring all the limitations.

Network providers are willing to do anything to make more money, who wouldn’t anyway… 5G technology just happens to be a perfect way to charge customers more money something I know won’t go down well with many Nigerians.

The phones that support 5G don’t come cheap either. Samsung’s 5G S10 variant costs almost  $1000. Keeping 5G services a premium service that’s not going to be available for everyone unless we end up getting affordable phones from brands like Xiaomi that support 5G.

Possible Lack Of Cross Carrier Compatibility

I’m talking about this with information based on countries that already have 5G being tested. Now unlike  3G or 4G that have bands supported by a wide range of smartphones. 5G isn’t going to give us that luxury. We know our network providers go mad once in a while and we can easily switch to another SIM easily but 5G might just make us change that. Carriers in the United States are adopting their own personal 5G standards and I believe other networks in the world might do the same.

Unless there’s a certain 5G standard each network provider here would use. You would end up stuck with a device that supports only one network’s 5G band.

Kabiru Rabiu, Group Executive Director of Bua Group, a leading Nigerian conglomerate held the soft launch of Hollaport, a payment and messaging mobile application he founded on Saturday July 6th at the Tech Park Zone, Gbagada, Lagos.

At an event attended by the Nigerian technology players, the media and friends & family, the founder of Hollaport explained that the journey of the App started about 2 years ago and was borne of the need to ease transaction and increase financial inclusion in Nigeria. He went on to explain that the app will evolve into an expanded platform with added features that will make it exciting and extremely convenient to transfer money and make payments not only in Nigeria but throughout the African continent.

 The app is a multi-layered messaging and financial technology platform on which people can send and receive money using their phone contacts. Other features on the App include airtime top-up; cable, electricity and data subscription; and paycode – a technology that enables recipient withdraws cash from an ATM without the need to have a card or bank account.

Financial Inclusion is a major issue in Nigeria, with over half of the adult population being unbanked and only a fraction of the banked using technology in their processes. Seeing this disconnect, Hollaport Technologies aims to reduce the learning curve associated with mobile applications and has taken time to develop a lifestyle tool that can fit in all areas of life, while maintaining ease-of-use.

“The question has never been one of when, but of how– and this is the gap we intend to fill in the Nigerian market” said Micheal Olowojesiku, Hollaport’s General Manager.

Despite the simple user-interface,The app is packed with features such as media functionalities where you can send photos, videos and documents. Users can request or send money within the chat area for a seamless experience and can also pay bills, utilities and make subscriptions.

Over 85% of Nigerian adults own a mobile device, 103 million have active internet subscriptions, and a large percentage of this data size have a presence on social media. The app aggregates instant messaging features with financial technology to ensure the app is as relevant as it is functional.

Download Hollaport

 The app is available on both the Google Playstore and the iOS Appstore, and can also be downloaded at www.hollaport.net/downloads

To learn more about Hollaport, please visit www.hollaport.net or send an email to [email protected]