A new partnership between Play Network Africa and European technology firm MediaKing is set to introduce a wide-scale public Wi-Fi network across major Nigerian cities, with an initial rollout planned for Lagos and Abuja.

The project marks MediaKing’s entry into the Nigerian market, where it intends to deploy thousands of high-density internet hotspots in public areas. The initiative is expected to focus on locations with high foot traffic, including transport corridors, commercial districts and public institutions.

Play Network Africa, founded by Charles Okpaleke, better known as Charles of Play, is leading the local partnership, while the rollout will operate under a new entity, MediaKing Nigeria.

According to details shared by the companies, the first phase will target Lagos, Abuja and another commercial hub, with between 5,000 and 10,000 hotspots planned in each city. The aim is to create clusters of reliable connectivity in densely populated areas where network congestion is often a challenge.

MediaKing’s technology has previously been deployed in European cities, including Split in Croatia, where the company established a public Wi-Fi network across key urban locations. The system was designed to handle large volumes of users simultaneously while maintaining consistent speeds.

Founder of MediaKing, Darko Kraljevic, said the company’s approach focuses on network architecture that can support high user demand without significant performance drops. He noted that the experience gained from previous deployments informed the company’s expansion strategy into emerging markets.

“In Split, we deployed across some of the busiest public spaces, where thousands of people connect at the same time every day,” he said. “What we demonstrated is that high-density public Wi-Fi can be both stable and fast when it is designed differently. That experience showed us that city-scale connectivity is not a limitation of demand, but of architecture.”

He added: “We see Nigeria as one of the most important digital growth markets globally, with a population that is young, connected, and rapidly urbanising. Our vision is to build infrastructure that can scale with that growth, not just for access, but as a foundation for how cities communicate, operate, and evolve over time.”

The Nigerian rollout is positioned as part of a broader effort to improve internet access in urban areas while also creating infrastructure that can support digital services. Beyond basic connectivity, the platform includes a communication layer that allows institutions to share information directly with users when they connect to the network.

Chief Executive Officer of MediaKing Nigeria, Afam Anyika, said the system could be used by public and private organisations for service delivery and awareness campaigns, adding that it offers a consistent channel for reaching large audiences.

“What this platform enables goes beyond internet access,” he said. “It creates a consistent channel through which governments, institutions, and organisations can communicate with people at scale, whether it’s public awareness, service delivery, or national initiatives. At that level, it becomes part of the infrastructure that supports how a country informs, engages, and moves forward.”

The companies also indicated that the project would involve local capacity development, including training for Nigerian engineers and the establishment of operational teams within the country.

Nigeria remains one of Africa’s largest digital markets, with increasing urbanisation and demand for internet access continuing to shape infrastructure investments. Projects of this scale are often linked to wider ambitions around smart city development and digital inclusion.

For now, the partnership signals a push to expand public connectivity, with implementation expected to depend on coordination with local authorities, infrastructure providers and regulatory agencies.