Telecom
Blame e-Banking, Other Services for Deteriorating QoS- Bello
Participants at Nigeria Communications Commission (NCC) organized workshop for legislators at weekend were told that e-banking and services relating to cashless economy are putting a lot of pressure on the telephone networks leading to deteriorating quality of service (QoS).
Stephen A. Bello, principal partner, KayafasKonsult Limited, in a paper titled: “The Impact Of ICT Infrastructure on Economic Development- An Appraisal Of Existing Infrastructure,” said that the effect of extra traffic imposed on the existing networks pose serious degradation in quality of service.
Bello who started with a call for improved infrastructure, said that one of the main indices for measuring economic development is the growth achieved by a nation over a period of time.
He said that growth in turn can only happen if there is additional investment in an economy.
Bello said: “Countries and economic blocks constantly make effort to attract both local and foreign investment to themselves. Nigeria, like any other nation has to compete for the limited investible capital available in the world’s economic system.
“Investors generally establish criteria for selecting and deciding on where and how to invest their surplus capital, one of these is the infrastructure available in the country. Good infrastructure lowers the cost of investment, thereby generating more return on capital or greater shareholder value”.
He identified ICT infrastructure as helps to lower the cost of doing business, and has multiplier effect in encouraging investment in other industrial sectors.
While appraising existing ICT infrastructure in Nigeria in terms of their availability, affordability, quality and adequacy, he classified infrastructure in this regard into Physical and institutional infrastructure.
The physical he listed to include: telephone, internet, while Institutional infrastructure entail ICT regulations, laws, guidelines, acts of parliament and executive orders.
He said that equal emphasis should be placed on both types of infrastructure if the ICT sector is to have a balanced and accelerated development.
On affordability, Bello said, “Cost of intercity-transport and international access are still very high; cost of voice calls moderate but still a lot of room for improvement. Roaming cost is very high even within the ECOWAS sub-region.
“Availability: (a) signal is available to about 70% of the population and 50% of land area. There is still a lot of ground to be covered. (b) A lot of international bandwidth is stranded in Lagos due to inadequate long distance infrastructure to carry it to the hinterland.
“Quality: the telephone network was designed and optimized for voice calls. It’s now made to carry a lot of extra traffic from smartphones, ( twitter, Facebook) which are data hungry devices.
“E-banking and services relating to cashless economy are putting a lot of pressure on the telephone network. The effect of this extra traffic is serious degradation in quality of service”.
Reeling out statistics on the internet structure in the country, he said that on availability only about 30% of Nigerians have access to the internet or have ability to use it, while the cost of internet service at about N1500/Gigabytes of data or N10,000 month for unlimited download is still too high.
“This translates to 55% of minimum wage as against 5% recommended by the International Telecommunications Union.
On quality, he said, “internet speed which averages about 100kbits/sec is grossly inadequate and service is also unreliable.
Bello told the participating legislator that, to address the challenges needs a review of the Acts establishing most of the institutional infrastructure under telecommunication circuit.
“Most parastatals that are concerned with the regulation or development of ICT have enabling acts which gives them legal authority to regulate the industry. However, many of these enabling laws are due for review in order to incorporate new technical development and services. ICT is a fast changing industry, hence enabling acts governing ICT should be reviewed every 10-15 years,” Bello said.
He further called for convergence hence the dividing line between ICT services is getting more blurred year by year.
The workshop organized by the NCC had as it theme: ‘’ ICT Infrastructure As A Key Driver For Economic Development: What Role For The Legislature?’’
MTN Nigeria, has pledged the company’s renewed commitment to transparency and responsiveness in addressing customer concerns.
Karl Toriola, chief executive officer, MTN Nigeria,
Karl Toriola, chief executive officer, MTN Nigeria, stated this at the telecoms provider its first-ever Customer Engagement Day (CED) in Lagos.
Speaking during the event, Toriola fielded real-time questions from customers, responding to issues ranging from data quality to customer service gaps.
“We’ve invested heavily to build a network that delivers value for money. While data in Nigeria remains among the most affordable globally, our priority is quality and consistency that truly powers ambition. Today is about transparency: answering your questions, listening to your concerns, and showing that MTN is not just a service provider; we are a partner in your journey,” he said.
The company emphasised that the Customer Engagement Day was designed as an open forum for dialogue between MTN executives and customers.
The hybrid event, themed “We See You. We’re With You,” featured sessions on digital literacy, data usage, youth mentorship, and financial inclusion, aimed at improving subscriber experience and usage efficiency.
Ayham Moussa, chief operating officer, MTN Nigeria, in his opening remarks, highlighted the company’s long-standing connection with Nigerians, noting that its operations were built with input from ordinary citizens.
“When MTN began, it was built by people like you: engineers, entrepreneurs, everyday Nigerians. Today, we connect over 80 million people, and our focus remains simple: to stand with you in your hustle, support your ambitions, and make life easier. This journey is about listening, improving daily, and being a shield for homes and businesses across Nigeria,” he said.
A key session on Data Usage and Management offered participants practical guidance on how to manage and conserve data, with many customers raising questions about consumption patterns and transparency in billing.
Ugonwa Nwoye, chief customer relations & experience officer, MTN, stated, “We know how essential data is; it’s how we live, work, and connect. From parents streaming classes to small businesses on Zoom, we see your daily realities. That’s why we’re focused not just on providing data but on helping you use it better, with practical tools and tips that put you in control. We hear you, and we’re acting on what you’ve told us today.”
Onyinye Ikenna-Emeka, chief marketing officer of MTN Nigeria, reiterated the importance of continuous engagement: “Today has been about listening, learning, and connecting with you. We’ve heard your complaints, your ideas, and even your personal stories. From parents balancing their children’s needs to businesses working tirelessly online, be assured that we listen, we care, and we do. Your trust means everything to us, and we’re committed to turning today’s conversations into real actions.”
Ikenna-Emeka stressed that MTN Nigeria seeks to reposition itself not only as a telecom operator but also as a listening partner in the everyday lives of its subscribers.
The event also provided a platform for small businesses, young professionals, and digital creators to interact with MTN leaders during Speed Mentorship sessions, where they shared their goals and received guidance on navigating the digital economy, technology adoption, and entrepreneurial strategy.
Visitors engaged with various thematic lounges, including MoMo PSB, MTN’s fintech subsidiary, where tools for financial inclusion were showcased.
Other activities included a digital skills academy, interactive tech demonstrations, and a startup pitch challenge, reflecting MTN’s efforts to align services with evolving customer needs.
Airtel Africa Plc increased its capital expenditure in Nigeria to $39m in the second quarter of 2025, up 1.7 per cent from $38m in the same period last year.
According to the company’s financial statement the marginal increase highlights Airtel’s continued investment in its largest and most strategic market, despite a broader slowdown in group-level capital spending this quarter.
The Punch newspaper reported that the increase in capital spending by Airtel comes at a time when telecom subscribers are expecting tangible improvements in service quality, following a 50 per cent tariff adjustment approved by the Nigerian Communications Commission earlier this year.
It added that Telcos have begun to show signs of commitment to network upgrades, bolstered by the recent delivery of telecom equipment valued at $1bn.
“In Nigeria, capital expenditure for the quarter ended 30 June 2025 was $39m, compared to $38m in the same period last year,”.
According to the statement, the Group-wide capital expenditure stood at $121m in the three months ended June 30, representing a decline from the previous year, which the company attributed to timing differences in project execution.
However, Airtel maintained its full-year capex guidance at between $725m and $750m, indicating that more spending is anticipated in the coming quarters.
Capital expenditure, or Capex, refers to the funds used by a company to acquire or upgrade physical assets such as network towers, fibre infrastructure, and IT systems.
In Nigeria, the $39m spent during the quarter was likely directed toward expanding and modernising the operator’s mobile and broadband networks, enhancing service coverage and capacity in urban and rural areas.
MTN Nigeria Communications Plc has achieved a historic milestone, becoming the first listed company on the Nigerian Exchange Limited (NGX) to reach a market capitalization of ₦10 trillion, as its share price closed at ₦480 on Friday, August 1, 2025.
The telecommunications giant’s shares gained ₦8 or 1.69% during Friday’s trading session, pushing the company’s market value past the ₦10 trillion threshold.
This remarkable achievement comes just two days after MTN Nigeria released its stellar half-year 2025 financial results on Wednesday, which showed exceptional performance across all key metrics.
The timing is not surprising based on what was said in the company’s H1 results, which revealed a dramatic turnaround from losses to profitability.
The telecoms operator reported service revenue growth of 54.6% to ₦2.4 trillion, while EBITDA surged by 119.5% to ₦1.2 trillion with margins expanding significantly to 50.6%.
Most importantly, the company achieved a profit after tax of ₦414.9 billion, marking a stunning recovery from the loss of ₦519.1 billion recorded in the same period last year.
Speaking on the H1 2025 results that have driven investor confidence, Karl Toriola, CEO, MTN Nigeria, said: “We are excited by the progress made in the first half of 2025, reflecting the successful execution of the strategic priorities we previously communicated to the market.”
Toriola emphasized the company’s strong operational momentum, stating: “Building on the momentum from the first quarter, we delivered strong growth in service revenue for the period under review. This was driven by robust demand for our services, proactive customer value management and price adjustments, mainly in Q2.”
The CEO’s confidence in the company’s trajectory was evident in his commentary about future prospects.
“In light of the strong momentum in our business, we have upgraded our FY 2025 and medium-term guidance and we remain firmly on track to restore our balance sheet to a positive net asset position by the end of Q3,” Toriola declared.
This optimistic outlook, backed by upgraded financial guidance targeting service revenue growth of “at least low-50%” and EBITDA margin of “at least low-50%” for FY 2025, has clearly resonated with investors.
Toriola highlighted improving operating conditions that have supported the company’s performance: “The macroeconomic conditions in Nigeria showed notable improvements in the period under review, including a relatively stable naira, improved foreign exchange (forex) liquidity and easing inflationary pressures.”
He noted that “this backdrop helped to enable our improved business performance and set a more supportive context for increased long-term investments.”
The ₦10 trillion market cap milestone represents extraordinary value creation for shareholders.
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