Telecom
Experts X-ray Spectrum Auctions @ Master Training Class

Spectrum managers and experts in related fields have converged in Lagos for a master training class.
This is in In a bid for a deeper understanding and a better exposure to the global best principles and practices on issues bothering on spectrum auctions.
The five-day event which was held at Radisson Hotel, Ikeja, Lagos, Nigeria was also to prepare Nigerian spectrum custodians, experts and operators ahead of the auction of 3.5 GHz spectrum licence which took place December 13, 2021.
The week long grill focused on spectrum pricing and valuation with emphasis on auctions as a mechanism for awarding spectrum licences.
The over 40 participants which cut across the Ministry of Communications & Digital Economy, the National Frequency Management Council (NFMC) the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC,) the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) and commercial banks, got an in-depth knowledge on the various types of auction designs and their associated risks, global case studies and examples of failed & successful ones.
Speaking at the 5-day intensive training, Engr. Shola Taylor, the chief executive officer of Tetconsult UK/ Digital Tetconsult Nigeria, the convener of the event, said “Auctions have become one of the most transparent ways of selling spectrum which is highly sought after, as it allows the government, the regulator and the operators to have a level playing field where there is clarity on the spectrum packages on offer and the licensing conditions, as well as the reserve price”
Participants were indeed awed by the professionalism, technical capabilities, the grasp of the industry intricacies and the combined years of experience of the resource persons and could not but commend their extensive knowledge of the subject matter.
“The Spectrum Auction master class was very comprehensive and is a great value for regulators and operators alike,” said Engr Oluwatoyin Asaju, director of Spectrum Administration at the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC).
Taylor who was the immediate past secretary general of the Commonwealth Telecommunications Organisation and former chairman of the ITU Radio Regulations Board, co-facilitated the training with Engr. Stephen Bello, Senior Consultant, Tetconsult, former executive commissioner at the NCC & former senior transmission expert with ITT in the United Kingdom, Belgium and Italy.
The country’s auction for the coveted 3.5 GHz spectrum band which took place after the Master Class, produced two winning bidders at a price of US$273.6m as against the reserve price of US$197.4m for each of the two lots on offer after the 11th round.
In a statement, Taylor said “this is a great example of how you determine the market price of highly demanded spectrum. The NCC must be congratulated for managing this process excellently. This is a shining example for the rest of Africa”.
The master class is one of high profile training programmesorganised by Tetconsult. Other similar programmes include: Digital Transformation, 5G as an enabler of broadband transformation, Spectrum Management in a digital era, Data protection (policy, regulation & practice) and Leadership, Governance & Ethics.
Telecom
MTN @ Swish Fusion Summit, Showcases 5G Rollout Strategy

MTN Nigeria Communications Plc has joined other professionals across media, technology, and business gathered in Lagos for the Swish Fusion Tech and Media Summit.
Themed ‘Africa: Big Wins & New Breaks’, the summit drew thousands of attendees and featured more than 40 speakers exploring the intersection of innovation, regulation, and economic growth across the continent.
Among the sessions, MTN Nigeria presented a detailed look at the company’s ongoing 5G deployment efforts and its role in shaping enterprise infrastructure.
Njideka Jack, senior manager for Partnerships in MTN’s Enterprise Business Division, shared details of the investments, reiterating the company’s commitment to delivering high-quality 5G-powered services.
The company’s 5G rollout timeline began in 2022 with license acquisition from the Nigerian Communications Commission. In 2023, MTN moved into pilot testing and infrastructure investment.
By 2024, coverage had expanded to key cities and business hubs.
The company now plans to extend access to more underserved areas throughout 2025 while deepening collaboration with OEMs and regulators.
Beyond the rollout itself, Jack also spoke on the potential of private 5G networks for Nigerian enterprises.
With the ability to offer secure, high-speed, low-latency connectivity, these networks are increasingly being adopted in manufacturing, healthcare, education, and logistics sectors.
The summit’s broader agenda reflected a similar sense of urgency around Africa’s digital future.
Panels and breakout sessions tackled topics ranging from mobile-first product design and regulatory frameworks to the rise of AI in content creation and the realities of funding early-stage tech ventures on the continent.
Speakers from companies like Jumia, Stears and local startups provided perspectives on both the barriers and breakthroughs in building scalable African solutions.
The sessions also sparked conversations about how African businesses are adapting to consumer behaviour shifts and infrastructure limitations.
Telecom
PAT Taps Osi as CEO

Pan African Towers (PAT), a Nigerian infrastructure provider serving 9mobile and Spectranet, has appointed Echezona Osi as chief executive officer.

Echezona Osi
Adefolarin Ogunsanya, company’s, board chairman, explained in a statement that Osi would succeed Oladipo Badru, whose tenure lasted nine months in acting CEO position. Osi has more than 28 years of experience in the telecommunications sector across various regions of Africa.
Prior to his appointment as CEO, he had served as the head of network deployment at Airtel Nigeria, operations director and chief technical information officer at MIC Tanzania, chief technology officer roles at IPT PowerTech Nigeria, Rhino Niger Networks and Biswal Nigeria.
He obtained a degree in electrical/ electronic engineering from the University of Benin and a postgraduate diploma in data science and business analytics from the University of Texas.
Telecom
NCC Introduces N10m Licence Fee for Bulk SMS Service

Companies sending bulk international text messages, also known as Application-to-Person (A2P) messages, will now have apply for a licence that costs N10 million.
This is part of new rules introduced by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) aimed at cleaning up the system, fighting fraud, blocking spam messages and stopping money from leaving the country unchecked.
These A2P messages are the kind customers get from banks, online stores, hospitals and political campaigns, automated texts sent from apps to their phones.
According to the commission, the bulk international text message system has been poorly regulated, allowing misuse and invasion of privacy.
“The International SMS Service Ecosystem in Nigeria has not been fully brought under regulatory control. It has been observed that the excessive use of the Short Message Service has led to fraud, spam and illegal activities,” the NCC said.
The regulator warned that without action, the problem would worsen as more people use mobile phones and digital services.
To solve this, the NCC is creating a central platform, or gateway, through which all international bulk text messages must pass through.
The agency said this would help to monitor messages in real time, ensure proper fees are paid, and make sure the money stays in Nigeria where it can contribute to the economy.
As part of the incoming change, service providers must follow strict rules, including strong data protection, spam filters, and message encryption.
Also, they must also work with local mobile networks and make sure all messages come from a verified sender
The NCC warned that any message without a proper sender ID will be blocked and not delivered to users.
To protect users from unwanted texts, the new rules say companies must get clear permission before sending any promotional content.
The rule also says people must also be able to choose whether they want to receive such messages or not.
Companies are now required to keep records of all messages for at least six months and must clearly state all charges involved.
The NCC said fees for help requests, cancellations, or service info must be transparent and not include hidden charges.
The commission will issue licences to several providers to encourage healthy competition but may limit new licences if needed.
Only companies that show they can stop fraud and safely deliver messages will be allowed to operate. They must also regularly report their message traffic and finances to the NCC.
It warned that any company that breaks the rules risks getting fined, suspended, or having its licence revoked.
Offences like charging illegal tariffs, ignoring security rules, or avoiding taxes will be punished, the NCC said.
The commission added that the new rules follow the Nigerian Data Protection Act 2023 and support the federal government’s goal of strengthening cybersecurity and controlling Nigeria’s digital space.
The framework will also be reviewed from time to time to keep up with new technology and market trends.
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