Telecom
A4AI Decries High Cost of Internet as Adoption Slows

Over two billion people live in countries with unaffordable internet, many of them in Africa, which is resulting in a slowdown in adoption rates.
That is according to the fifth annual Affordability Report released by the Alliance for Affordable Internet (A4AI), which finds that as little as 1GB of mobile data is too expensive for billions people across the world, with African countries especially expensive.
This is a situation that has barely improved over the last year, with progress on the policy front painfully slow, meaning more than 2.3 billion still cannot afford 1GB of data.
As a result, there has been a serious slowdown in the rate at which people are coming online. Last year’s report predicted that global internet penetration would hit 50 per cent by the end of 2017, but a downturn in the growth of internet access and use means A4AI has now revised the date for this to mid-2019.
“Inability to afford a basic internet connection remains one of the most significant – and solvable – barriers to access,” the report said.
“This issue is particularly acute in low- and middle-income countries, where 1GB of data costs over five per cent of what people earn in a month – a price that is well over the affordable threshold of 1GB of data priced at two per cent or less of average income.”
The report lays the blame for this on the fact that policy progress is slowing, with not enough governments adopting mechanisms such as universal service funds (USFs) to ensure more people can afford internet connectivity more quickly.
“Despite increasing recognition of the critical relationship between online access and economic growth, the pace of policy change to drive internet prices down marked its slowest improvement to date, with policy scores increasing by just one per cent since last year,” said the report.
In all, over 60% of countries have unaffordable internet. Of the 61 countries studied, just 24 had affordable internet, with seven of these African: Mauritius, Morocco, Nigeria, South Africa, Ghana, Botswana and Tunisia.
“While we have seen a few bright spots of the policy leadership needed to advance affordable internet access, we are deeply concerned to see that policy progress has largely stagnated. Failure to prioritise needed broadband policy reforms has left billions of people offline, and has contributed to a significant slowing in the rate of people coming online,” said A4AI executive director Sonia Jorge.
“Every moment that these billions are unable to participate in digital development is a lost opportunity for economic, social, and political growth. Policymakers, the private sector, and civil society must come together to take immediate action to develop and implement the policies needed to connect everyone and accelerate internet growth.”
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.
Telecom
Telcos Warn of Nationwide Telecom Blackout over Diesel Shortage

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.
Telecom
Nigerians Spend N5.3 Trillion on Telecom Services

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
- Telecom2 days ago
Celebrating African Creativity: Made by Africa, Loved by the World’ Returns for Its Fifth Year
- E-Financial2 days ago
Peter Obi Denies Secret Meeting with Tinubu over Fidelity Bank
- E-Financial2 days ago
CBN Introduces AML to Fight Financial Terrorism, Gives Banks Deadline
- Broadcasting2 days ago
Luft Pay TV Launches in Lagos, Promises to Revolutionize Entertainment
- E-Financial2 days ago
PremiumTrust Bank Reassures Customers of Continued Security after Cyberattack Foil
- General News2 days ago
Over 250,000 Cyberattacks Disguised as Anime – Report
- E-Financial2 days ago
Fidelity Bank’s N10.5tr assets base reinforces stakeholders’ confidence -Insiders bid for more equity stakes
- E-Business2 days ago
INEC Sets Up AI Division to Strengthen Electoral System