{
  "id": 8157555,
  "title": "MTN Moves to Acquire Mafab’s $273.6m 5G Spectrum as Discussions Intensify",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/18/mtn-moves-to-acquire-mafabs-273-6m-5g-spectrum-as-discussions",
  "topic": "business",
  "section": "Business",
  "published": "2026-09-18T02:50:21.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "This Day",
    "slug": "this-day",
    "url": "https://www.thisdaylive.com/2026/09/18/mtn-moves-to-acquire-mafabs-273-6m-5g-spectrum-as-discussions-intensify/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Nigerian businessman Musbahu Muhammad Bashir's company, Mafab Communications Limited, is reportedly in discussions to sell its $273.6 million 5G spectrum asset to MTN Nigeria. The potential acquisition is awaiting regulatory approval, industry sources told THISDAY. Mafab, backed by Bashir, won the 5G license auction alongside MTN in 2021 but has kept the spectrum unused since then. The proposed deal would strengthen MTN's network capacity as demand for mobile data grows. Both MTN and NCC have not responded to inquiries for confirmation, as of press time.",
  "summary": "Emma Okonji Mafab Communications Limited, backed by Nigerian businessman, Musbahu Muhammad Bashir, is planning to sell its $273.6 million 5G spectrum asset to MTN Nigeria, THISDAY investigation has revealed. Although",
  "key_points": [
    "MTN Nigeria aims to acquire Mafab's $273.6 million 5G spectrum",
    "Potential acquisition pending regulatory approval",
    "Mafab, backed by Musbahu Muhammad Bashir, won 5G license in 2021"
  ],
  "editors_take": "The potential acquisition of Mafab's 5G spectrum by MTN Nigeria would strengthen MTN's network capacity as demand for mobile data grows, giving it an advantage in the market.",
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}