Telecom
Nigerians Develop SIMless Operator, Digital Walking Stick
Researchers at the Federal University of Technology [FUT] in Minna, Niger state have developed prototypes of SIMless multiple operator and mobile communications-enable walking stick, thanks to grant by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC).
The two innovations demonstrated at the NCC headquarters in Abuja on Monday, are expected to solve problem of drop calls associated with bad quality network among the telecom operating companies in the country, and could reduce domestic accidents among the aged people who often live alone, according to the researchers.
Prof. Abiodun Musa Abinu, lead researcher, said the SIMless data and voice connection over multiple operator-enabled SIM card will enable Nigerians to have just one SIM card that can automatically have access to all the telecom operators’ networks.
‘’We are talking about you having one SIM card for all networks or having one mobile phone with one SIM card for all networks we are talking about applying this thing to all available network.
‘’We are talking about disrupting the eco-system in the telecommunication industry in the sense that with just one SIM card you can access the available network without porting or buying multiple SIMS’’, Prof Abinu who is a mechatronics engineer said.
According to him, the walking stick is about having a walking stick that has anything you can imagine – your mobile phone is embedded in it, obstacle avoidance and then it has means of communicating with your healthcare givers.
He said, ‘’People carry a lot of phones or SIMs as a result of quality of service and you are not certain of the network strength of an area. So using basic engineering and the technology behind Mobile phone we infused in it artificial intelligence system to be able to take intelligent decision on behalf of the user to switch from the network with poor quality of service to another with better quality service what this means is that subscribers are now the king and can enjoy quality of service even without having more than one phone and the product will soon hit the market.’’
Prof Umar Garuba Danbatta, executive vice chairman of NCC, said the SIMless card innovation is in keeping with the consideration for national roaming that is being promoted now by the commission.
Prof Umar Garuba Danbatta
Prof Danbatta who was represented by Engr Ubale Maska, NCC’s Executive Commissioners Technical Services, said the commission was pleased with the results shown by the researchers because it showed ‘’that they have been able to accomplish every single thing with the grants given by the NCC.’’
He said, “they are visionary enough to look beyond what we expect them to do, and they are determined to take it to the next level.
‘’You notice today there are phones that have multiple SIM cards you have to consciously choose the SIM you want but their project on super SIM card can automatically select the SIM with the available network based on pre-determined instructions so it is very relevant.
‘’The industry is very dynamic and this certainly looks at the future of a device that selects any network that is available is something that all the network operators will accept and it is in keeping with the consideration for national roaming that is being promoted now by the commission.
‘’The fund is about N4million. We had hoped they would do it within a year so that they will get more but it has taken the last three years but we are happy because normally work like this is usually on-going all the time.
‘’We will encourage them to get investors who will continue to explore their possibility; it is something that is keeping to the mandate of the commission, the eight point agenda of the current leadership.’’
Lynda Saint-Nwafor, chief Enterprise business officer, MTN Nigeria, has assured the network subscribers that the new end-user billing system for the use of USSD services will jot affect them.
USSD, otherwise Unstructured Supplementary Service Data codes are commonly used for banking transactions, airtime recharges, and other mobile services.
The telco said that there is no significant impact or change other than the fact that they will now pay the same N6.98 per session (120 seconds) with their airtime instead of direct bank debit.
Saint-Nwafor, said this during a chat with MTN MIP fellows, explaining that the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) have ordered telecom operators to ensure that the new billing model resolves trust issues and ensures transparency in the billing process.
“Our regulator insisted that at the end of every month, we are going to be providing history and statistics on the performance of the service across the board”, she explained.
Saint-Nwafor added that the new billing model has standardized messaging across all operators and ensures consistent communication with customers.
“We will take all the error codes and map them into messages that are standardised across the board. So, if you initiate a transaction, you will know if it is failing. And, when the transaction fails, you will know if it is from your bank or the telco,” she explained.
The U.S. government has recovered $225 million in what is now the largest seizure of funds linked to a cryptocurrency investment scam.
In a statement released Wednesday, June 18, the U.S. Attorney’s Office said the recovery followed an extensive investigation by the FBI and the U.S. Secret Service, using blockchain analysis and other forensic tools. The statement did not confirm whether any arrests had been made.
According to the authorities, the stolen funds originated from fraudulent cryptocurrency investment schemes that tricked victims into believing they were making legitimate investments. More than 400 individuals around the world, including dozens in the United States, were reportedly affected.
The operation involved a sophisticated money laundering network that carried out hundreds of thousands of blockchain transactions to obscure the source and ownership of the stolen assets.
“These scams prey on trust, often resulting in extreme financial hardship for the victims,” said Shawn Bradstreet, Special Agent in Charge at the U.S. Secret Service office in San Francisco.
Bradstreet added that U.S. officials hope the recovered funds can eventually be returned to the rightful victims.
Cryptocurrency investment fraud accounted for over $5.8 billion in reported losses in 2024 alone, according to the statement.
In a rousing declaration that is electrifying minds across the continent, Hon. Nnaemeka Ani, Special Adviser on ICT to Enugu State Governor, Dr. Peter Mbah, has called for a homegrown digital revolution under the banner “Africa Will Rise: By Code, By Courage, By Us.”
Hon. Nnaemeka Ani
The message, part challenge, part philosophical—seeks to galvanize African innovators to move beyond buzzwords and build technology with impact and legacy in mind.
“Let’s stop building for hype. Let’s start building for legacy,” Ani urged while speaking to ICT journalists over the weekend. “Let’s stop waiting for someone else. Let’s start creating the future—on our own terms.”
At the heart of Ani’s vision is a shift from tech consumerism to tech authorship. With innovation hubs sprouting across cities like Enugu, Lagos, Kigali, Jo’Burg, and Nairobi, and a growing community of developers, engineers, and entrepreneurs determined to solve Africa’s unique challenges, the movement is already taking shape.
Ani emphasized that Africa’s future lies not in flashy apps or international admiration but in persistent, intentional solutions that uplift communities—solutions that digitize public services, bridge rural-urban divides, empower women and youth, and build resilience in food and climate systems.
“We have the talent,” he said. “Now it’s time to harness it—to stop building for likes and start building for lasting impact.”
With support from leaders like Ani and rising momentum in Africa’s tech corridors, it seems that a new chapter is being written—one line of code at a time.
MTN Says New N6.98 USSD Charge Won’t Affect Airtime Recharge
Sofri Microfinance Bank Rejig Digital Platforms for Better Customer Experience
DLM Group Unveils Innovative Sovereign Bond Backed Composite Notes
Study Reveals 7% of Industrial Organizations Tackle Vulnerabilities Only When Necessary
NITDA, NCFRMI Forge Strategic Alliance for Inclusive Digital Transformation of Displaced Nigerians
General News2 days agoNASRDA, Galaxy Space Firm Sign MoU on Satellite Connectivity
Telecom2 days agoOver 1m Nigerians Reached through MTN Staff’s Digital and Community Outreach
Telecom2 days agoMafab Gets 0724 Number Series, Launches Mcom 5G Brand
News2 days agoDBN Awards N13m in Grants to Tech Startups
Telecom2 days agoNCC to Name, Shame Telecom Infrastructure Vandals
News2 days agoFCCPC Shuts France, Belgium, and Italy Visa Centres in Abuja Over Alleged Consumer Rights Violations
Telecom2 days agoWSIS Review: Nigerian ICT Leaders Urged to Shape Global Digital Future
E-Financial2 days agoBank Customers Petition CBN over Illegal Deductions, Demand Action