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Rural Telephony, Internet Connectivity Now Critical in Nigeria- Smith

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Leigh Smith is the managing director of World Telecoms Lab (WTL)
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Leigh Smith is the managing director of World Telecoms Lab (WTL). Smith, an Australian with Economics degree has been based in Belgium for over 30 years and has held international positions. These positions have enabled him to gain extensive experience in Europe, the Middle East, the US and Japan.  The business areas that Smith has worked are Office Equipment and Telecommications.  The last and current role that he is engaged on is to successfully grow the WTL business in Africa and in particular by having the main WTL business focus now being placed on Nigeria. In this interview with peter ugwu, he spoke on the Company’s role in repositioning the country telecoms sector, while discussing other national telecoms related issues.

World Telecoms Labs (WTL)
WTL is a Belgian based company which has long been a leader in the provision of VoIP switches, pre-paid applications and signalling gateways for emerging carriers and telecom service operators. WTL has an installed base of 100,000’s of voice ports with service providers worldwide switching billions of minutes of VoIP traffic using WTL equipment.

Nigeria’s Telecom Industry Overtime
Under the control and guidance of the NCC the 4 key operators are offering voice, SMS and internet services to a large proportion of Africa’s 180 million inhabitants. This has been a massive achievement but is there still significant QOS improvements to be achieved and estimated 40 million rural dwellers still to be connected. So there is, still major infrastructure investments to be made to get the quality of all the services being offered up to a more acceptable level.

Critical Areas to Address
Specifically, WTL helps in solving key challenges with telecoms networks and businesses, so that they can deliver better, more profitable services, more efficiently and faster. Over the years, in Nigeria we have observed key challenges that need to be addressed. Today the old style TDM switching accounts for over 95% of all the switched Nigerian voice traffic where as in Europe the evolution the VoIP takeover of the TDM traffic is virtually been completed. So Nigeria still has to go through the same evolution. As WTL was one of the VoIP pioneers we are very well equipped to help accelerate the change over from TDM switching into VoIP and the WTL customers are now playing an important role in building up the confidence amongst the key operators that VoIP will allow them to manage traffic more efficiently and at a lower cost.

WTL & ICN’s 2nd Generation VoIP Switches for Voice Traffic Transfer
As was mentioned in the last point, Nigeria is still in the early stages of the transition it using IP and it is not yet evident to the consumers at this point in time. However the process needs to start and the faster the evolution comes the sooner the QOS improvements will start to be seen by the consumers.

Reducing Traffic on Congested Inter-city Links
WTL has a tried and very well tested VoIP protocol which allows the operators to send high capacity traffic over inter-city or intra-city links which requires only one tenth of the bandwidth required to carry each call compared to the transmitting the call with TDM. This is therefore one of the means which available to free up band width on congested networks but it will require the existing operators to invest and install the necessary WTL equipment to optimize the bandwidth available on the existing inter-city links.

Assessment of Mobile Number Portability (MNP)
The consumers are experiencing quality issues with all four (4) of the key operators so the consumers have not been to motivated to change from one operators just to be with another operator who has similar problems so the use of MNP has been quite limited. If one of the operators finds a way to address the QOS issues in a much more efficient way than the others then it would seem most likely that the requests for MNP could go up significantly as consumers mover offer the operator who has developed the higher quality image.

Messaging and SMS Routing Hub & Unsolicited Messages
Yes there are ways to cut the number of unsolicited messages but as the big 4 operators are all sending out daily unwanted messages to their respective client basses then I can see anything changing until they themselves start the process to cut back these messages

ISPs Benefit from WTL’s Value Added Service Product
The ISP’s already have a customer base which they are handling the internet traffic so they can look at ways to offer additional voice and value added services to their existing customers to try to generate more revenue.

Trending Data Vs Telecoms Losing Revenue on Voice Services
I think I disagree with this question as last year the estimated total revenue of the Nigerian operators was $10.0 billion and of this total $ 7.5 billion of the revenue was related to the voice traffic. It is true that the growth of data is going faster but voice is still very much the king when it comes to revenue generation and the voice traffic volume is still growing. The operators need to look at how to reduce the costs associated with carrying all the voice traffic and using WTL’s TDM to VoIP platforms is one way to achieving this.

WTL’s Technology Agenda for New Government in Nigeria
The absolutely need to give basic telephony and internet connectivity to the rural areas which the government has been talking about since I first came to Nigeria 5 years ago and very little has been done. The National Broadband Plan is very commendable but the rural areas could start to benefit from initial and basic connectivity now instead of waiting another 3 – 5 years for more expensive broadband connectivity.

Bandwidth Efficiency: WTL’s Role
As I have already explained WTL has a VoIP optimizing protocol which enables voice traffic to be transmitted using only 6Kbps (kilobytes) per call compared to 26 Kbps per call for standard VoIP calls and 64 Kbps using TDM.

Comparing Broadband in Nigeria to Other Markets
There are many different markets with a whole range of differently priced services so I find this difficult to comment on. The prices still have to reflect to very significant infrastructure investment made by the 4 key operators and the leading data infrastructure company Main One. So if the prices are on the higher side then this is due to the sizeable investment that has and is still being made.

What Should The Market Expect from WTL?
WTL will continue to strive to provide the most reliable, high performance VoIP solutions throughout the period of the market change from TDM over VoIP and we want to continue to build on our growing reputation as one of best support and maintenance organisations in the industry.


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FG Plans N50m STEEM Grant to Support Student Innovation in August

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In a giant stride to support innovation, entrepreneurship and economic transformation, the Federal Government is set to unveil a N50 million grant for Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics and Medical Sciences (STEEM) students in Nigeria’s tertiary institutions.

The project, which is referred to as the Student Venture Capital Grant (S-VCG), is a pioneering initiative designed to empower the students towards building the next generation of scalable, job-creating ventures.

According to a statement by the Director of Press and Public Relations in the Ministry of Education, Folashade Boriowo, Friday, the initiative will be formally unveiled in August by the Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa.

Boriowo stated that the minister made the disclosure during a stakeholders’ engagement session held in Abuja in the presence of vice-chancellors, provosts, rectors, student leaders, academic staff, and development partners, and will chart a collective course for nurturing student-led innovation.

The statement noted that the grant targets full-time undergraduate students in STEMM disciplines (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics and Medical Sciences), specifically those in 300 level and above.

“Each selected student-led project will be eligible to receive startup funding of up to N50 million, along with access to mentorship, incubation services and business development support.

“The initiative will be implemented in partnership with the Bank of Industry (BoI) to ensure financial transparency, impact measurement and effective project execution.

“S-VCG is not just a grant. It’s a launchpad for bold, young innovators to lead Nigeria’s industrial and technological transformation,” said Alausa.

Speaking at the session, the Minister of State for Education, Prof. Suwaiba Sa’id Ahmad, described the grant as a strategic investment in Nigeria’s knowledge economy.

“We’re building a stronger, more competitive future by supporting innovation from the ground up,” she said, adding that the programme’s design was informed by months of consultation with students, faculty and institutional leaders.

Participants at the event welcomed the STEMM-Up Grant as a timely, strategic and high-impact initiative that will drive youth innovation, tackle graduate unemployment, and position Nigeria as a hub for student-led entrepreneurship in Africa.

 


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UK Businesses Look to Africa As Strategic Growth Partners

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New research by UK-based Strategy Management Partners reveals that a growing number of British businesses are identifying Africa as a key strategic growth region – drawn by structural reforms, demographic momentum, and rapid digital transformation across the continent.

The research, based on a survey of senior decision-makers from 250 large UK-based companies, finds that 50% are already active in African markets and planning to expand further.

An additional 28% are considering entry, signalling a clear uptick in long-term interest from international businesses with the resources to scale regionally.

The findings challenge outdated perceptions of Africa as a high-risk or secondary market. Instead, they highlight key drivers behind renewed commercial interest: • 61 per cent of UK leaders cited Africa’s large and growing consumer markets as a major draw. • 61 per cent pointed to the continent’s rapid pace of digital and technological adoption. • 50 per cent highlighted the potential of Africa’s young, skilled, and digitally native population.

The study also suggests that Africa is no longer viewed simply as a market for philanthropic initiatives or shortterm gain. Only 20 per cent of respondents cited philanthropic motives, while most are focused on building commercially viable, long-term operations.

Initiatives like the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), are also laying the groundwork for significant economic growth.

With 23 countries already implementing preferential tariffs, the framework is expected to facilitate smoother intra-regional trade, enable market scale, and support more efficient supply chains.

These structural improvements are making Africa more attractive to global firms with the ambition to operate at scale.

However, despite rising optimism, significant operational and policy challenges remain. The top four barriers to investment cited by UK business leaders were: political and country risk (68%); safety and security issues 66.4%); regulatory barriers and tariffs (60.4%); and the complexity of cross-border transactions (60%).

Addressing these issues will be crucial to unlocking Africa’s full potential for UK investment. UK companies are showing the most interest in sectors that align with Africa’s core strengths, such as natural resources, agriculture, a young and expanding population, and infrastructure development.

These areas are seen as the backbone for long-term commercial growth, offering opportunities to build local supply chains, expand digital services, scale manufacturing, and meet rising consumer demand.

However, for companies looking to invest or expand into Africa, success also depends on key enabling conditions. According to business leaders surveyed, the top factors supporting investment are: • The size of market and consumer demand (49.6%) • Reliable and consistent energy supply (48.4%) • Access to affordable, educated and capable talent (44.8%) • Efficient transportation networks, such as roads, ports, airports (38%) • A favourable macroeconomic environment: low interest rates, low inflation, stable exchange rates, and seamless cross-border transactions and repatriation of earnings(38%).

“UK businesses are increasingly seeing Africa as a strategic growth market, driven by structural reforms, digital adoption, and the momentum behind the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA),” says Muibat Ijaiya, Partner at Strategy Management Partners.

“But real progress will depend on practical cooperation with African governments. The AfCFTAis a pivotal step forward – what’s needed now is a deeper alignment between public policy and private investment to address trade, regulatory and infrastructure barriers, and unlock long-term, sustainable growth.”

 


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Experts Champion Sustainability at Lagos Green Economy Forum

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Lagos State’s transition to a greener economy is gaining momentum, with female leaders from top corporations taking the lead and the state government beginning to record early wins from its plastic bag policy.

At the Lagos Green Economy Forum held on July 23, senior executives from MTN Nigeria, IHS Towers, TechnoServe, and other large organisations highlighted the role of corporate innovation in advancing sustainability.

The all-female panel also emphasised the urgent need to integrate Nigeria’s thousands of small and medium enterprises (SMEs) into the country’s green transition.

“We’re not just here to share strategies,” said Temilade Olabanji, Senior Manager, Sustainability and Shared Value, MTN Nigeria. “We are here to build local resilience. Our Project Zero is not only helping us cut emissions but also equipping our suppliers with the knowledge to do the same.”

MTN’s Project Zero aims for net-zero emissions by 2040, with a 50% reduction target by 2030. The company is already powering base stations and data centres with renewables, while training suppliers to understand carbon footprints and adopt circular practices. MTN has pledged that by 2026, 80% of its top suppliers will align with its sustainability goals.

Titilope Oguntuga, Director of Sustainability, IHS Towers, reinforced this approach, noting that the company’s Project Green is decarbonising its over 16,000 tower sites across Nigeria by switching to renewable energy. “Project Green is enabling all sites to run effectively with more renewable sources of energy rather than the typical fossil fuels,” she said. IHS also runs Clinic Without Walls, a free micro-health insurance scheme for underserved communities.

From the nonprofit sector, Juliet Ezeani, Senior Business Advisor of TechnoServe, explained how the organisation supports vendors through environmental impact assessments, sustainability training, and responsible procurement.“For all our projects, we look at how the project runs and especially how it affects the environment,” she said.

Meanwhile, the Lagos State Government provided an update on its green policy efforts, especially the plastic bag ban introduced two months ago.

“All of what we have done so far is towards making the economy of Lagos or the quality of life of the average Lagosian much better,” said Dr. Babatunde Ajayi, General Manager of the Lagos Environmental Protection Agency (LASEPA), who represented the Honourable Commissioner, Mr. Tokunbo Wahab.

On the plastic bag ban, he added: “What that [the ban] has also done is to free up our drainage from the plastic waste. In some way, we have reduced flooding, reduced pollution, and reduced the headache and the cost of maintaining drainages and labourers.”

Dr. Ajayi emphasised that green transition is not just a compliance issue for SMEs but an economic opportunity. “It helps them drive their engines, their entire businesses in a more sustainable manner.”

As Lagos accounts for nearly 30% of Nigeria’s GDP, the increasing alignment between corporate leaders and public policy towards a greener economy is positioning the state as a model for inclusive, environmentally responsible development.


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