Telecom
12 Nigerian ISPs Unable to renew license in 1st Half of 2024
The number of active Internet Service Providers (ISPs) in Nigeria has dropped from 252 in May to 242 in July, according to the latest data from the Nigerian Communication Commission (NCC).
While two new companies—Sulfman Consulting Ltd. and NGCOM Lastmile Solution Ltd.—received ISP licenses on July 1, twelve other ISPs surrendered their licenses in June.
The ISP sector is being limited by factors such as anti-competitive practices, insufficient spectrum, high bandwidth costs, expensive Right of Way, and poor corporate governance have contributed to this decline.
Again, the rollout of 5G by major mobile operators like MTN and Airtel has prompted some enterprise customers to switch to 5G routers, further impacting traditional ISPs.
The industry regulator, the NCC, seems concerned over the declining number of ISPs and has pointed out that many have opted not to renew their licenses.
This trend is not new; around March 2022, 568 licensed ISPs become inactive. The issue of non-renewal has been attributed to competitive pressures and unfavourable regulatory conditions.
Biodun Omoniyi, CEO of VDT Communications Limited, one of Nigeria’s leading internet service providers, has called for government intervention to support the ISP sector.
He noted that ISPs, mostly small and medium enterprises (SMEs), are essential for achieving the goals outlined in the National Broadband Plan 2020-2025.
Omoniyi pleas for regulatory adjustments that would better support smaller ISPs and prevent the market from becoming monopolized by larger mobile network operators (MNOs).
Despite the challenges, internet service providers remain vital in extending internet services to underserved areas. However, the supremacy of MNOs like MTN, Airtel, Globacom, and 9mobile, which collectively had 163.8 million active internet subscriptions in Q1 2024, is a huge competition.
In contrast, the leading ISPs had a combined total of 262,206 active customers during the same period.
The recent NCC study states that to sustain ISPs, there may need to be a regulated increase in data prices, as the current market conditions have led to artificially low data prices due to intense competition.
This measure could help ensure the survival and growth of smaller ISPs, enabling them to continue contributing to Nigeria’s digital infrastructure.
Telecom
Celebrating African Creativity: Made by Africa, Loved by the World’ Returns for Its Fifth Year
The “Made by Africa, Loved by the World” campaign is back for its fifth year, celebrating African creativity and global influence. This year’s theme, “Where Culture Meets Connection,” highlights how social media fosters conversations around cultural moments worldwide.
The campaign features three cinematic films premiering on the Meta Africa page, showcasing the groundbreaking work and personal stories of six dynamic African creatives.
These artists, from Nigeria, Kenya, Ghana, and South Africa, represent diverse disciplines, including rap, animation, dance, photography, fashion, and videography.
Here are some of the featured talents:
- Ladipoe (Nigeria) – A BET-nominated rapper known for blending global hip-hop with African rhythms.
- Fatboy Animations (Kenya) – An animation studio founded by Michael Muthiga, recognized by Forbes for its original African storytelling.
- Lisa Quama (Ghana) – A dancer who gained fame after appearing in Beyoncé’s “Already” music video.
- Gilbert Asante (Ghana) – A photographer and creative director featured in GQ and Glam Africa.
- David Tlale (South Africa) – A fashion designer whose bold designs have been showcased at major fashion events, including the Met Gala.
- Ofentse Mwase (South Africa) – A filmmaker with over 24 international awards for his unique visual storytelling.
Kezia Anim-Addo, Communications Director for Africa, Middle East & Turkey, emphasized that the campaign not only celebrates individual success stories but also showcases how culture and social media drive meaningful connections and inspiration.
Association of Telecommunications Companies of Nigeria (ATCON), has raised the alarm over a diesel supply crisis caused by an ongoing strike by the National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG).
Mr Tony Emoekpere, president, ATCON in a statement said that the fuel supply disruption is critically affecting telecom base stations, pushing them to the brink of a shutdown and threatening millions of mobile and internet users in the region.
“This strike, which stems from the persistent harassment of tanker and petroleum product drivers by police officers in Lagos State, has effectively halted all truck loading operations and fuel movements,” Emoekpere stated.
He explained that diesel supply to telecom infrastructure has been severely impacted, leaving critical sites with dangerously low fuel levels.
According to him, if urgent measures are not taken, the situation could escalate into a full-blown network blackout, disrupting essential services, including mobile and internet access, business operations, emergency response systems, and daily communications.
ATCON has called on the governors of Lagos and Ogun states to intervene immediately by facilitating the release of diesel from depots to telecom operators to prevent further deterioration of the situation.
“This is not just a telecom issue—it is a national emergency that could cripple economic activities and compromise public safety,” Emoekpere stressed.
The association also appealed to security agencies and petroleum unions to resolve the crisis swiftly to safeguard Nigeria’s connectivity and economic stability.
ATCON emphasised that a prolonged disruption in fuel supply to telecom infrastructure could have far-reaching consequences for both businesses and individuals who rely on stable communication networks for daily operations.
In 2023, Nigerians spent a total of about ₦5.3 trillion on telecommunications services, which includes calls, data, SMS, and other telecom services, according to the Leadership.
Specifically for voice calls, Nigerians made approximately 408.5 billion minutes of local calls, generating around ₦3.28 trillion from outgoing calls and ₦3.23 trillion from incoming calls, totaling about ₦6.51 trillion in call-related revenue according to projections based on 2023 call volumes and tariff data.
However, the ₦5.3 trillion figure represents the overall telecom sector revenue, with voice calls being a major component but also including data and other services.
For individual spending, MTN subscribers spent an average of ₦2,508 monthly on voice calls in 2023, showing a 14.4% increase from 2022, while Airtel customers spent about ₦1,694 monthly on voice calls.
Total telecom spending (calls, data, SMS, etc.): ₦5.3 trillion in 2023
Estimated revenue from voice calls alone: around ₦6.5 trillion based on call minutes and tariffs
Average monthly spending on calls per subscriber: ₦1,694 to ₦2,508 depending on the network
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