Telecom
3G Technology and Access Challenge
The 3G race in the space begun when the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) signified its intension to award the licenses to Global System for Mobile communications (GSM) operators in 2006 barely five years after GSM service was launched in the country.
The competition complete with media blitz of the first to get the license and the first to launch the service began.
The three Major operators Celtel, MTN and Glo eventually secured the license and began the process of deploying the technology in order to launch the service.
3G is radio communications technology that creates a "bit pipe" for providing mobile access to internet-based services. It enhances and extends mobility in many areas of our lives.
In essence, mobility won’t be an add-on; it will become a fundamental aspect of many services. Consumers expect high-speed access to the internet, entertainment, information and electronic commerce (e-commerce) services wherever we are-not just on our desktop computers, home PCs or television sets.
3G services add an invaluable mobile dimension to services that are already becoming an integral part of modern business life: Internet and intranet access, video conferencing, and interactive application sharing.
We are not just talking about "road warriors" who spend their entire lives traveling. It’s more a question of supporting new, flexible working practices where employees need access to a wide range of information and services via their corporate intranets, whether they are at their own desk or anywhere else.
Employees spend some of their working at home, Accountants that carry out audits at client premise, on-site maintenance engineers who need access to detailed instruction manuals, such as mobile emergency services who need a video link with a hospital or doctor for specialized advice. These are a few situations where 3G will play a valuable role.
We’re likely to see 3G services enter our day-to-day lives in all sorts of new ways: for instance, in shopping, especially internet "mail order" (e-commerce), banking, or playing interactive computer games over the net.
We’ll think nothing but sitting on the train and using a mobile palmtop with internet browser to log into our bank accounts. While on-line we’ll be able to check our accounts, pay a few bills and click on a screen icon to immediately set up a video-conference to discus our account with a bank clerk.
On vacation, we’ll be able to use our mobile palmtop to obtain local tour guides, make a last minute reservation at a hotel, find and call the nearest taxi firm, and send video postcards. We’ll expect location-independent mobile access to a personalized set of services that matches the way we live and work.
Increasingly, machine-to-machine communications will also be enabled and enhanced with future mobile network technology. Domestic appliances will have built-in-radio modems to provide remote control and diagnostics. Our refrigerators will have built-in sensors that detect which items need restocking and automatically send a reminder message to our Personal Digital Assistants (PDAs). We could even get the refrigerator to send an order direct to our local store. Likewise, vending machine will be able to tell the warehouse when they need restocking.
In what many describe as an effort geared towards kick starting all the various benefits of 3G services that Celtel, MTN and Glo launched the service late last year. But the manner and subsequent luster attitude to drive the service to potential subscribers leave much to be desired.
The launch of the service which should have been celebrated as another major achievement in our process of development in the telecommunications sector of the economy turned out as a source of competition. While MTN had planed the launch of its branded 3.5G to the media and business community, Glo sent press release to media houses claiming that it’s 3G plus was live on its network.
Mohammed Jameel, group chief operating officer, Globacom, explained that the Glo Mobile 3G Plus network will, in addition to giving customers high speed mobile internet access, allow them to do video calls and video streaming on their 3G enable handsets. He continued thus "it also offers other advanced mobile services such as video greeting kiosk, video mail box, video conferencing on both phones and PCs and such other services as are possible on the 3G High-Speed Downlink Packet Access(HSDPA) network which enables speeds up to 3.6 Mega bytes per second(Mbps)." he stated. He said that the services available on Glo 3G Plus include video calling, high speed internet access either on 3G phone or laptop via data cards, video and audio streaming and mobile TV. "As to the mobile TV, the channels available for now are CNN, Sliverbird TV and Fashion TV just as the Glo COO promised that more are coming soon. And that the 3G Plus network will revolutionize the way data is transferred and relayed digitally as it enables a much faster transmission of data, voice, broadband internet and multimedia services over a range of frequencies," Jameel explained.
Challenges thereafter
Although some of the challenges in being experienced by GSM operators in the launch of 3G services were envisaged before the launch, but were of view that those challenges will be address as the services takes root. Among the challenges is limited access, this could be explained in two folds, for the service to be accessed by subscribers there should be provision of the service by the operator on its network by making the service live on its network and on the side of subscribers, they need to have 3G compactable mobile phones that will enable them enjoy the service. Today, months after the launch Nigeria CommunicationsWeek investigation can reveal that the service is still restricted to three major towns claimed as commercially viable, they are Lagos, Abuja and Port Harcourt. One wonders the sense of hooking up to a service that is restricted to very few cities, if such situation is not going to limit the use of the service. Imagine one who lives in Lagos but has to travel for business to Kaduna, Benin; Kano and Enugu not enjoy the service while in these cities. State government official in states outside the three presently covered states can not enjoy the service considering that most of them are heavy spenders in communications.
More so, there are paltry, 300,000 3G mobile phones in the country according to Mr. Bola Akingbade, chief marketing officer, MTN when it launched the service, he argued that the number is too small for competition when the service was launched. This he said was responsible for the network’s look warm attitude towards launching its 3.5G service commercially. He noted that they are partnering with mobile phone manufacturers towards reducing the cost of acquisition of 3G compatible phones to increase the number.
This effort Nigeria CommunicationsWeek gathered could not be realized as GSM network operators was faced with the issue of poor quality of service that led to Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) to ban all promotions geared towards increasing their subscriber base that may result in compounding the poor quality of service.
Against this backdrop, that the current promo on MTN/DSTV mobile television from MTN is attributed to Multichoice as the sponsor in order not to be sanctioned by the regulatory body.
Nigeria CommunicationsWeek investigations however, revealed that the ban has made it difficult for Celtel now Zain Nigeria, MTN and Glo Mobile to reap the economic value of the service. It was also gathered that the Blackberry that the three major GSM networks are selling to the same class of subscribers that will make use of 3G services is adversely affecting the marketing of 3G services.
Although, there are some differences between what Blackberry can do compared to 3G technology, A BlackBerry, is a push technology with an Enterprise Server or Desktop Redirector software that ‘pushes’, or redirects, new e-mail, calendar updates, documents and other data straight to the user over the Internet and the cell phone network.
The software determines the capabilities of the BlackBerry and lets people establish criteria for the information they want to have delivered. The criteria can include message type and size, specific senders and updates to specific programs or databases. Once all of the parameters have been set, the software waits for updated content. When a new message or other data arrives, the software formats the information for transmission to and display on the BlackBerry. It packages e-mail messages into a kind of electronic envelope so the user can decide whether to open or retrieve the rest of the message.
The BlackBerry listens for new information and notifies the user when it arrives by vibrating, changing an icon on the screen or turning on a light. The BlackBerry does not poll the server to look for updates. It simply waits for the update to arrive and notifies the user when it does. With e-mail, a copy of each message also goes to the user’s inbox on the computer, but the e-mail client can mark the message as read once the user reads it on the BlackBerry.
MTN Nigeria has taken legal action against more than 20 banks as it intensifies efforts to recover nearly ₦6 billion in interconnect debt from SleekChip Technologies Limited, a licensed international direct access and transit service provider.
Karl Toriola, chief executive officer, MTN Nigeria
This move comes on the back of a court judgment awarding the telecom giant the right to reclaim funds owed through garnishee proceedings.
The Federal High Court in Abuja, presided over by Justice Peter Lifu, ruled in November 2024 that SleekChip must pay MTN $1.97 million—or its naira equivalent at the Central Bank of Nigeria’s official rate at the time.
The court also granted interest on the debt at a rate 2% above the Nigerian Interbank Offer Rate, backdated to January 31, 2022, until full repayment is made.
At the heart of the dispute lies a 2019 interconnection agreement between MTN and SleekChip, which permitted the exchange of calls and messages between their networks.
MTN alleged that from January to October 2022, SleekChip accumulated significant unpaid charges.
Despite repeated demand notices and a formal acknowledgment of debt by SleekChip in May 2023, no repayment was made.
With the judgment in hand, MTN has proceeded to enforce it by seeking court orders to freeze and seize SleekChip’s funds held across Nigerian banks.
The telecom operator pegged the naira value of the judgment debt at over ₦3.28 billion based on the exchange rate of ₦1,665.84 to the dollar as of November 7, 2024, with interest claims pushing the amount beyond ₦5 billion.
Court records show that on May 16, 2025, representatives from MTN and several banks appeared before Justice Lifu.
MTN submitted that most banks had filed affidavits disclosing the status of any accounts held by SleekChip.
The court subsequently discharged over 10 banks that confirmed they had no financial ties to the debtor.
Some banks raised objections to MTN’s request to extend searches using the debtor’s BVN, arguing that the court had issued no such order. The court has scheduled the next hearing for June 26, 2025, to continue the garnishee proceedings.
This case adds to a growing list of MTN’s debt recovery efforts across Nigeria’s telecom sector. In 2023, the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) approved MTN’s request to disconnect several service providers over similar unpaid interconnect charges—including SleekChip and Exchange Telecommunications.
The ongoing legal enforcement signals MTN’s strategic shift toward reclaiming debts through court-backed recovery rather than relying solely on regulatory pressure.
With mounting operational costs and network expansion demands, telecom operators are becoming less tolerant of defaults, especially in interconnect fee obligations.
Africa has launched its first continental space agency to enhance Earth observation and data sharing at a time when a more challenging global environment is restricting access to climate and weather information.
The African Space Agency was inaugurated last month under the African Union’s umbrella and is based in Cairo.
Currently in the process of establishment and recruiting key personnel, the agency will oversee coordination of existing national space programs.
Its goal is to strengthen the continent’s space infrastructure by deploying satellites, installing weather stations, and ensuring data sharing across Africa and beyond.
“Space activities across the continent have been very fragmented,” explained Meshack Kinyua, a space engineer and experienced African space policy expert who now leads capacity-building at the agency.
“The African Space Agency introduces a coordination framework and economies of scale — it places all African Union members on an equal footing regarding access to gathered data based on their needs.”
Africa is the poorest continent globally, and its people are among the most vulnerable to extreme weather events worsened by climate change, despite contributing far less to global warming than those in developed nations.
The absence of high-resolution weather and climate data hinders governments from warning citizens about approaching extreme weather, and scientists cannot accurately forecast long-term trends because their models lack detailed data.
The African Space Agency represents a move toward changing this, Kinyua said.
The agency also seeks to expand some successful projects across the continent, such as early warning systems for fishermen in West Africa and the Congo River Basin, he added.
Though long planned, the agency’s launch comes shortly after the Trump administration dismantled the US Agency for International Development (USAID), which had been a major funder of various programs in Africa.
When 80% of USAID’s projects were canceled, initiatives like SERVIR—a joint effort by USAID, NASA, and space organizations in developing countries to address climate change, food security, and natural disasters—were among those affected.
“We need to ensure that African satellites can improve measurements and fill data gaps,” Kinyua stated.
“These gaps will always exist, so we must fill some ourselves and collaborate with other agencies.”
The African agency has already partnered with the European Space Agency to train experts and exchange knowledge, including in data processing and satellite construction.
In Europe, national space agencies share the costs of launching new Earth observation satellites, which can reach up to €800 million ($897 million), said Benjamin Koetz, head of the long-term action section at the European Space Agency. Countries also share the data gathered by these satellites.
“Not every country needs to invest in and build the same satellite,” Koetz explained.
Cairo launched Africa’s first satellite in 1998, and since then, over 20 African nations have established their own space agencies.
Eighteen of these countries have launched a combined total of 63 satellites.
The African Union plans to fund the African Space Agency on a project-by-project basis.
“Securing financial resources is a challenge because there is so much to accomplish, and our resources are limited,” Kinyua explained.
“However, we must take small steps before we can start running.”
Africa’s early space leaders — including Nigeria, Egypt, and South Africa — took a considerable amount of time to establish their agencies and become operational because they had to begin from the ground up, noted Danielle Wood, an associate professor and director of the Space Enabled Research Group at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
“It shouldn’t take that long anymore since many African countries now have space experience, and ideally, new countries can learn from existing examples and collaborate to move faster,” she added. “While other players like the US and Europe will pursue their own interests, the African Space Agency will remain focused on Africa, so it should support every country on the continent.”
Bosun Tijani, Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, has revealed that at least 68% of Nigerian women lack access to smartphones, a barrier that limits their participation in the digital economy and access to essential online services.
Tijani revealed this during a press briefing in Abuja to mark the 2025 World Telecommunication and Information Society Day (WTISD), observed every year on May 17th.
Represented by Adeyemo Olugbenga, Director of the National Frequency Management Council Secretariat, Tijani emphasised that as Nigeria fast-tracks its digital transformation, it remains committed to inclusivity, ensuring that no one, particularly women and girls, is left behind.
The Minister reaffirmed the government’s commitment to equipping 70% of Nigerian women and girls with advanced digital skills by 2027.
He also revealed that the government is collaborating with the African Development Bank (AfDB), the World Bank, and private investors to offer grants and low-interest loans to women-led tech startups, supporting inclusive growth in the digital sector.
Represented by Adeyemo Olugbenga, Director of the National Frequency Management Council Secretariat, Tijani emphasised that the digital revolution can only be truly transformative if it is inclusive.
He stressed the importance of building a future where gender equality is not just an aspiration but a lived reality.
While acknowledging Nigeria’s progress in achieving 46.2% broadband penetration, he noted that the digital economy goes beyond infrastructure and innovation; it is ultimately about people.
He warned that when half the population continues to face barriers to access, skills, and leadership in technology, the nation is not only failing its women but also undermining its overall potential.
The Minister emphasized that achieving gender equality in the digital age cannot rest solely on the shoulders of government.
He urged the private sector to play a pivotal role by adopting gender-responsive hiring practices, investing in women-led tech hubs, and implementing workplace policies that empower women.
Highlighting the government’s commitment to inclusive digital growth, he noted that the ministry has launched several key programmes and initiatives aimed at fostering broad-based participation in the digital economy.
Among these is the National Gender Digital Inclusion Strategy (NGDIS) 2004–2077, designed to create safe online spaces for women and support their advancement in technology-driven sectors.
In terms of skills development, the minister pointed to the expansion of impactful programmes such as the 3 Million Technical Talents (MTT) initiative, the Nigeria Artificial Intelligence Research Scheme, Digital Nigeria, and efforts to strengthen local content and capacity.
Recognising the growing need for online safety, he added that the ministry is actively enhancing cybersecurity and anti-harassment frameworks to better protect women in digital spaces.
He also stressed the importance of challenging gender stereotypes by encouraging young girls to pursue Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) education from an early age.
Tijanii called on civil society organisations and the media to amplify the achievements of women in tech and hold decision-makers accountable for inclusive policy implementation.
Speaking on the theme of this year’s World Telecommunication and Information Society Day, “Gender Equality in Digital Transformation,” the minister described it as both timely and essential.
He warned that when women and girls are excluded from accessing technology, acquiring digital skills, or leading in tech sectors, it is not just their potential that is stifled—but the world’s.
The minister reaffirmed the significance of WTISD, which serves as a platform to raise global awareness about the transformative power of ICTs.
He noted that digital innovation, such as leveraging artificial intelligence to combat climate change and eradicate poverty, holds immense promise in addressing some of the world’s most urgent challenges.
MTN Nigeria Drags 20 Banks to Court over N6Bn Debt by SleekChip
Manager, Others Arraigned for Allegedly Hacking into Premium Trust Bank’s Server
Africa Launches First Continental Space Agency
DBI Clocks 21, to Train 5m Workers
CAC, NIBSS Unveil Platform for Data Access to Private Firms
E-Financial3 days agoAccess Holdings Sets Benchmark in Fraud Prevention With ₦193.5Bn Tech Investment
E-Financial3 days agoMTN’s Digital Lending Arm Disburses $592m Loans in Q1
E-Financial3 days agoFG Verifies 2m Households for Cash Transfer
E-Financial3 days agoAccess Bank, Deloitte Partner to Equip SMEs with Tools for Growth
News3 days agoSERAP Asks Ojulari, NNPC CEO to Account for Missing N500Bn or Face Legal Action
E-Business3 days agoFG Launches Online Citizenship, Business Management Platform
Telecom3 days agoEquinix Expands Digital Footprint in Nigeria with Launch of LG2.3 Data Center
General News3 days agoNOTAP Urges South Eastern Entrepreneurs to Embrace Franchising as Business Model