Smile Nigeria, a prominent telecommunications network provider, was established in 2007. The company was founded with the primary focus of delivering high-quality, reliable, and easy-to-use broadband services across Nigeria. Smile Nigeria is owned by a blend of Nigerian and international investors, with the Al Nahla Group, a Saudi Arabian company, holding a majority stake. The company has been at the forefront of introducing innovative telecommunications technologies in Nigeria, setting benchmarks in the industry.
Country
Nigeria
Type
Mobile Network Operator
Smile logo uganda

3G Network

Smile Nigeria did not launch a 3G network. The company focused its efforts on deploying 4G LTE technology, bypassing the 3G phase that many other telecommunications providers went through.

Date Event Subtype

4G Network

Smile Nigeria made significant strides in the telecommunications sector with the launch of its 4G LTE network. In 2013, Smile launched the first 4G LTE network in West Africa, starting in Ibadan, Nigeria. This launch marked a revolutionary step in how people accessed the internet in the region. The 4G LTE radio network was deployed in partnership with Ericsson, enabling Smile to provide advanced telecommunications technologies and standards. The network initially operated on the 800 MHz spectrum, with commercial services piloted in Ibadan and Lagos in February 2013. Smile was the first to launch LTE technology in West Africa, with plans to expand to more locations across Nigeria. The company signed a three-year network deployment agreement with Ericsson to develop over 1,100 LTE sites across the country. This agreement included responsibilities for project management, system integration, interoperability testing, network design, and implementation. In 2016, Smile Nigeria became the first in the country to launch Voice over Long Term Evolution (VoLTE) on its 4G LTE network. This technology allowed consumers to benefit from superior quality voice, video, and data services on a single device and data plan. Smile also introduced the SmileVoice App in March 2016, providing SuperClear voice services with data and voice over LTE on mobile phones.

4G Frequency Bands
Network Frequency Band Max. Channel Bandwidth Status
B20 (800 MHz)
10
Active
Date Event Subtype
Launch of 4G Network
Launch

5G Network

As of December 2024, Smile Nigeria has not yet launched a commercial 5G network. There is no available information indicating that Smile Nigeria has conducted 5G trials or testing. The company has not been awarded any spectrum for 5G services, and no announcements have been made regarding future plans for 5G deployment.

Date Event Subtype