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2.3Ghz Auction Rings Debate

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The 2.3GHz frequency band evokes so much emotion each time it is mentioned and it did live up to its controversial nature as divergent views greeted the planned  licensing of the remaining slot on the frequency band most commonly used for broadband wireless commercial service delivery. 

The 2.3GHz frequency band is considered very important in the race leading up to broadband revolution because it helps operators provide mobile services that are potentially much more transformative than any lone technological item and it is the next cash cow for financially haemorrhaging telcos.

At stakeholders’ forum on the best option for licensing the remaining slot on the 2.3GHz yesterday, major internet service providers in the country, rejected the plan by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) to auction the 2.3GHz frequency band on which they operate.

They said that licensing another operator on 2.3GHz will not be in the interest of the country.

NCC had already licensed part of the 2.3 GHz frequency band (TDD) in slots of 20 Mhz per operator to three operators- Mobitel, Spectranet and Multi-Links.

Swift Networks on the other hand is a licensed Fixed Wireless Operator operating in the 3.5GHZ frequency Spectrum.

Atul Ojiha, chief operating officer, Spectranet in a paper presented on behalf of Mobitel, Spectratnet and DoPC, advised NCC to allot 10MHz extra each to the three existing operators that had expressed willingness to negotiate and pay for the additional spectrum frequency.

The remaining 10MHz, he said, should be used as guard bands to stop interference (a major technical issue significantly impairing delivery of efficient broadband services) among the three operators.

The absence of guard bands among existing operators in the 2.3GHz band, according to Ojiha, has been the cause of inter-operator interference and inter-system interference with other services on the 2.3GHz band.

The direct consequence of this, he said, was compromise quality of service, leading to poor customer experience as well as low adoption and, by extension, low revenue for operators.

Additional spectrum, according to Ojiha, will provide the affected operators with the needed capacity to deliver efficient and affordable broadband services to consumers.

This, he stressed, would further assist in deepening Internet penetration in the country.

“There is negligible non-existent fixed wire line infrastructure in the country. It’s not viable to build a wire line network due to the exorbitant cost of Right of Way and other bottlenecks; international bandwidth cost is very high in comparison to other parts of the world,” he said.

Nodding in agreement, Charles Anudu, managing director of Swift Networks said though the affected operators were Swift Networks’ competitors, the case on ground required that he should support them.

Anudu, said that rather than complicating the challenges among ISPs by licensing a fourth operator on the 2.3GHz, the NCC should allocate the 30MHz of the remaining slot to the three existing operators.

“Our regulator should not multiply the misery in the segment of the IT industry. We cannot strengthen the weak by weakening the strong. The more we continue to fragment the segment, the more miserable we will become,” he said.

According to him, no ISP in the country is currently offering real broadband experience to its customers due to inadequate spectrum.

“The reasons many ISPs cannot expand to other parts of the country is because they are hardly financially viable. This includes Swift Networks too. If they say they need 30GHz to expand their services, why not give it to them,” Audu said.

Mr. Johnson Salako,  chief executive officer, Mobitel, warned that if the NCC auctioned the additional slot on the band to a new operator, it would compound the problems of the current operators.

He said, “The 2,3GHz spectrum is not the only spectrum that can be used for broadband service. The NCC has said it will be licensing the 2.5GHz spectrum, which means that there are huge opportunities for anybody who requires spectrum.”

According to Salako, limited spectrum restricts operators’ ability to migrate from the current WiMax-based technology, which is being phased out globally, further impairs the development of the sector.

He explained that newer technologies with ability to provide cheaper and more efficient broadband access depended heavily on adequate and dedicated spectrum.

The implication of auctioning the remaining slot on the 2.3GHz band to a new operator, according to the Mobitel boss, is that the three existing operators will remain stuck on the 20MHz and face the risk of being enmeshed in technology lock out.

Dr. Eugene Juwah, executive vice-chairman, NCC, said the forum was in line with the commission’s policy of participatory regulation among other things.

Juwah, who was represented by Okechukwu Itanyi , NCC’s executive commissioner , Stakeholder Management said that the objective was to provide an avenue for stakeholders and users of the 2.3 GHz band to discuss, criticise, exchange ideas and proffer options that would help the NCC in arriving at a decision on the further licensing of the remaining 40 MHz bandwidth in the band for the benefit of all Nigerians.

He  said, “With global development centred on availability of broadband services, the commission is on a regular basis inundated with several requests for frequencies to deliver the services. This has posed severe challenges as the frequencies sought for are scarce.

“In no distant future, the industry predicts the development and indeed deployment of more spectral efficient technologies that would be able to deliver more with less frequency spectrum and also improve on interference mitigation techniques available for a harmonious and interference free coexistence.”


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Airtel Nigeria Leads Telecom Market Surge

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In a recent revelation from the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Airtel Nigeria has emerged as a standout performer in the country’s telecommunications sector, marking significant gains in market share over the past year.

According to the NCC data, by the end of March 2024, Airtel Nigeria has grown its market share over the last year into a remarkable 29%, solidifying its position as a leading telecom provider in the region.

In stark contrast, other mobile network operators such as MTN and 9mobile have faced considerable setbacks, with MTN witnessing a notable 3.19% decline in market share and 9mobile experiencing a 0.5% decrease.

Even Glo, a prominent player in the market, saw a decline, albeit less pronounced, with a 0.58% drop in its share of internet subscribers.

Airtel Nigeria’s success story goes beyond market share gains. The company has also witnessed a substantial surge in its share of internet subscribers, boasting an impressive 165% basis points increase.

This surge correlates with the launch of Airtel 5G, which the company began rolling out in June 2023 and underscores the telco’s continued push to grow its customer base nationwide.

Airtel Nigeria’s ascendancy in the telecom market comes at a pivotal moment when mobile network operators face challenges of rising operations cost and exchange rates volatility. The company’s recent results solidify its position as a frontrunner in Nigeria’s telecom landscape.

 


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Airtel Boosts NIPR Public Relations Week with Onsite Unlimited Data Connection

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Telecommunications service provider, Airtel Nigeria has collaborated with the Nigeria Institute of Public Relations (NIPR) to provide with unlimited internet access at the institute’s inaugural edition of the Nigeria Public Relations Week.

The trailblazing event themed ‘Leveraging Public Relations as a Critical Asset for Nigeria’s Economic and Reputation Renaissance’ is set to run from Monday, April 22nd to Friday, April 26th, 2024, and will welcome thousands of delegates across Nigeria to the prestigious June 12 Cultural Centre, nestled in the heart of Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital.

Speaking on the strategic collaboration, Femi Adeniran, Director, Corporate Communications and CSR, Airtel Nigeria, expressed enthusiasm about the partnership, stating, “Airtel is proud to support the Nigeria Institute of Public Relations in its endeavor to advance the field of public relations.

“The relevance of public relations practice in Nigeria cannot be overstated, as it plays a vital role in shaping perceptions, managing reputations, and influencing public opinion. Hence, our support is a demonstration of our commitment to empowering individuals and organizations with innovative solutions that drive progress and create an enabling society.”

According to NIPR, through the PRWeek Organizing \Committee Chairman, Mr Yomi Badejo Okusanya, the NPRW will gather over 2,000 experts in the fields of economics, PR, and nation-building to discuss strategies for effectively communicating government policies and initiatives to the public.

Other activities at the NPRW will include conferences, the annual general meeting, workshops, induction of new members, breakout sessions with students as well as traditional rulers and a tour of some legacy projects in Ogun state.

With Airtel’s provision of onsite unlimited data connection, attendees and participants can enjoy unparalleled access to online resources, real-time updates, and interactive engagements throughout the duration of the event. This will significantly support the exchange of ideas, foster networking opportunities, and elevate the overall experience for all stakeholders involved.

Airtel Nigeria remains committed to offering unwavering support for initiatives aimed at driving innovation, collaboration, and nation-building.


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World Earth Day: Kuda Partners with Wecyclers to Clean up Communities in Lagos

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In a landmark partnership aimed at promoting sustainable waste management practices, Kuda Microfinance Bank and Wecyclers collaborated to commemorate World Earth Day on April 22, 2024. The collaboration featured a series of impactful activities designed to raise awareness and foster environmental stewardship.

The activities on the day included a webinar session facilitated by renowned expert in environmental management and head of ESG at Wecyclers, Omobolanle Olowu, during which she shared startling data on plastic pollution in Nigeria. She also discussed the importance of proper waste management and its significance in preserving the planet for future generations, providing valuable insights and practical tips on reducing, reusing, and recycling waste.

In a published study on plastic pollution in Nigeria, the country ranked ninth globally for plastic pollution with an estimated 2.5 million tons of plastic waste generated annually and less than 12% of those waste materials recycled.

Also on the day, Kuda staff volunteered for an environmental cleanup exercise, during which they took to parts of Apapa Road, Ebute Metta to empty gutters and collect plastics and other recyclable materials for recycling.

In addition, volunteers from Kuda gained firsthand knowledge of innovative waste management solutions during a guided tour of Wecyclers’ facility in Ebute Metta. The tour showcased Wecyclers’ pioneering efforts in recycling and waste upcycling, demonstrating how technology can be leveraged to address environmental challenges effectively.

Speaking about the collaboration, Emmanuel Femi-Adejobi, Senior Brand Manager at Kuda, expressed enthusiasm for the partnership’s potential to drive positive change. “We [Kuda] are committed to promoting sustainability and environmental consciousness. We also believe that our responsibility is not only to our customers and other stakeholders but also the environment that we all share. Partnering with Wecyclers allows us to inspire communities to adopt eco-friendly practices,” he said.

“Our initiatives towards achieving a sustainable environment and achieving a green earth goes beyond just recycling. We aim to inspire a broader commitment to waste minimization, reusing materials and proper sustainable waste management. As we commemorate World Earth Day, we encourage our staff, customers and general public as a whole to embrace actions that promote a green, safe earth for all,” he added.

Likewise, Esther Chibueyin Fagbo, Head, Human Resources and Partnerships at Wecyclers, emphasised the importance of collective action in addressing environmental issues. “It is very important for organisations to collaborate on initiatives that help save the environment. We are excited about this partnership because such partnerships are crucial to creating awareness and educating people about the impact of plastic waste on the planet and how they can contribute to a change that we all deserve.”

Kuda’s collaboration with Wecyclers emphasises its commitment to sustainability and championing proactive efforts through education, engagement and action to create an environmentally conscious population and a sustainable tomorrow.


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