Telecom
ATCON Converges Stakeholders On 70% Broadband Target
The Association of Telecommunications Companies of Nigeria, ATCON, has announced date for its inaugural Sectoral Forum aimed at bringing together telecom and ICT stakeholders to brainstorm on meeting the New Broadband Target of 70% by the year 2025.
The forum Themed: “Meeting the Interests of Government, Consumers and Telecom & ICT Companies in the Era of COVID-19 and Post COVID-19 Pandemic for Digital Economy Development,” is billed to hold on Thursday, August 6, 2020, via teleconferencing platform, Zoom, and will be beamed live on Facebook and other social media platforms.
Dr. Isa Ali Ibrahim Pantami, minister for Communications and Digital Economy, has confirmed his availability to present a principal keynote address on theme of the Forum with special focus on the Ministry’s Policy Directions.
Also, Prof Umar Garba Danbatta, executive vice chairman/CEO of Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) and Mr Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi, director general, National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) would constitute the panelists from the government establishments and they will be making presentations on the theme of the event with special focus on what the Commission’s and Agency’s are doing in respect of consumers.
In a press release on Monday, Ajibola Olude, executive secretary of ATCON, said, “We have the following representatives from the angle of those that represent consumers in Nigeria: Prof. Chiso Ndukwe-Okafor, Executive Director, Consumer Advocacy and Empowerment Foundation (CADEF); Mrs Sola Salako Ajulo, President/Founder, Consumer Advocacy Foundation of Nigeria (CAFON); Mr. Bayo Olugbemi, FCIB, President/Chairman of Council, Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria (CIBN); Prince Igho Majemite, Chairman, Industry Consumer Advisory Forum (ICAF); Chief Adeolu Ogungbanjo, National President, National Association of Telecommunications Subscribers (NATCOMS); Mr Rasak Adekoya, Programme Lead, DFID Inclusion Works, Sightsavers; Comrade Moses O Igbrude, Chairman, Consumer Rights Awareness Advancement And Advocacy Initiative (CRAAAI) and Prince (Amb.) Sina Bilesanmi, National President, Association of Telephone Cable Tv and Internet Subscribers of Nigeria (ATCIS) and their role is to give feedback on Telecoms and ICT Service delivery.
“Also, we have the following representatives from the angle of those companies that provide telecoms and ICT Services: Mr Biodun Omoniyi, MD/CEO, VDT Communications Limited; Mrs Abimbola Alale, Managing Director, NIGCOMSAT; Prof Muhammad Bello Abubakar, MD/CEO, Galaxy Backbone; Mr Oyaje Idoko, Managing Director, Layer3 Limited; Mr Toba Obaniyi, Vice President, Nigeria Internet Registration Association (NiRA); Mr Mohamad Darwish, Managing Director, IHS Nigeria Limited and Mr Abayomi Adebanjo, General Counsel, MainOne Cable Company Nigeria Limited. Their role will be to tell us what they are doing to meet the need of consumers as more people come online.
“This Sectoral Virtual Forum would address the need of telecom and ICT Consumers in the COVID-19 and Post COVID-19 Pandemic cum Digital Economy era with the principal goal of meeting the new broadband target of 70%. This time around ATCON is providing a veritable platform for Governments, Consumers (corporate and personal) and Telecommunications and ICT Companies to rob minds on how consumers can be better off in terms of effective delivery of telecoms and ICT services and products in Nigeria.
“The centrality of consumer to the projected growth of the Nigerian telecoms and ICT Sector cannot be overlooked in the area of the needed investment to accelerate the progress of our sector. With the emergence of digital economy in Nigeria coupled with the COVID-19 pandemic, many economic transactions would be done digitally going forward”, he said.
Olude added that the strategic objective of this very important sectoral forum is to converge regulator’s interests -to ensure a competitive telecom market and fast track development of telecom industry; Operator’s Interests – an enabling environment for businesses and protection of investment in the sector; and Consumer’s Interests – to be satisfied in terms of quality of services, affordability and access; for Digital Economy Development.
“Let me reiterate it that the interdependence among the government, telecom and ICT Companies and Nigerians are clearly obvious but each of them have limitations and potentials hence the forum would make an attempt to address their limitations and turn them to advantage for the development of Nigerian Telecom and ICT Sector in the era of COVID-19 and Post COVID-19 Pandemic”, he added.
Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has dismissed claims of a telecommunications tariff hike allegedly set to take effect in January 2025.
The Commission described the reports as false and unfounded, urging subscribers to disregard the misinformation.
A senior NCC official, emphasised that the regulatory body operates under a transparent framework guided by the Nigerian Communications Act, according to Punch Newspaper.
According to the official, this framework requires stakeholder consultations and strict adherence to due process before any tariff adjustments are approved.
“These rumours are baseless and misleading. The NCC is committed to protecting consumers and ensuring that any potential tariff changes are communicated clearly and transparently,” the official stated.
“Subscribers can rest assured that no tariff increase has been approved,” he added.
The NCC also appealed to journalists and industry stakeholders to verify information before publication, stressing the importance of accurate reporting to avoid unnecessary public panic.
Reiterating its commitment to consumer interests and the stability of the telecommunications industry, the Commission assured Nigerians that updates on tariffs or related matters would always be communicated through official channels.
The Association of Telephone, Cable TV, and Internet Subscribers of Nigeria (ATCIS) also addressed the rumours.
Speaking in Lagos, Mr Sina Bilesanmi, national president, ATCIS, stated that the association sought clarification directly from the NCC on December 24, 2024.
“The NCC confirmed there is no truth to claims of call charges increasing to N15.40 per minute from N11, SMS charges rising to N5.60, or 1GB of data costing N1,400 instead of N1,000.
“Any changes in tariffs, if necessary, will follow due process and involve input from all stakeholders, including ATCIS. There is no cause for alarm,” Bilesanmi said.
Both the NCC and ATCIS emphasised their commitment to consumer protection and urged subscribers to rely on verified information from credible sources.
Telecom
UnoTelos and Niral Networks Forge Strategic Partnership to Revolutionize Connectivity in Africa
UnoTelos, a leading telecommunications innovator in Nigeria, has announced a groundbreaking strategic partnership with Niral Networks, an advanced Private 5G and EDGE AI computing solutions provider from India.
This collaboration marks a significant milestone in addressing connectivity challenges and driving digital transformation across Africa.
Transformative Connectivity Solutions
The partnership between UnoTelos and Niral Networks emerges from a shared vision to overcome critical network infrastructure limitations that have traditionally hindered technological progress in the region. By combining UnoTelos’ deep understanding of the African market with Niral Networks’ cutting-edge NiralOS 5G Core and Edge AI technology, the collaboration aims to deliver secure, low-latency, and scalable connectivity solutions.
“This partnership is more than a technological alliance—it’s about empowerment,” said Jude Egbokwu, Founder & CEO of UnoTelos. “We are not just solving connectivity problems; we’re creating opportunities for businesses to innovate, grow, and compete on a global stage.”
“Our collaboration with UnoTelos represents a pivotal moment in the digital transformation journey across Africa. By integrating Niral Networks’ advanced Private 5G and Edge AI technologies with UnoTelos’ profound system integration capabilities and market insights, we are not just deploying telecom infrastructure—we are engineering ecosystems for innovation. This partnership is strategically designed to address the continent’s most critical connectivity challenges, enabling industries from mining to oil & gas to leapfrog technological barriers and compete on a global scale,” said Abhijit Chaudhary, Founder & CEO of Niral Networks.
Strategic Focus and Initial Deployments
The initial partnership will concentrate on pilot projects across key strategic sectors, including:
- Mining
- Oil and Gas
- Manufacturing
- Shipping & Ports
- Aviation & Airports
- Logistics & Warehousing
The modular design of NiralOS Private 5G and Edge provides the flexibility to customize solutions that meet the unique requirements of each industry, ensuring efficient and targeted deployment.
Technological Innovation and Market Differentiation
By leveraging NiralOS Private 5G and Edge, UnoTelos is positioning itself at the forefront of telecommunications innovation. The partnership enables enterprises in Nigeria to access advanced connectivity solutions that were previously unavailable or prohibitively expensive.
Key technological advantages include:
- Secure and reliable private network infrastructure
- Low-latency communication
- Scalable edge computing capabilities
- Tailored solutions for specific industry needs
Economic and Developmental Impact
The partnership is expected to catalyse digital transformation across multiple sectors. Potential applications include smart factory solutions, enhanced remote operations, and sophisticated IoT-enabled systems that can dramatically improve operational efficiency and competitiveness.
Future Outlook
Looking ahead, UnoTelos and Niral Networks envision expanding their collaboration, with plans to:
- Increase deployment scope
- Develop more advanced connectivity solutions
- Support the development of Private 5G & EDGE infrastructure
- Advance critical sectors like telemedicine and autonomous systems
Since Friday, December 27, 2024, when Starlink, Elon Musk’s satellite internet service, announced an increase in its monthly subscription prices across Nigeria, effective immediately for new customers and starting January 27, 2025, for existing users, the industry regulator, Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), is yet to react officially.
In an email to its subscribers on Friday, the company stated that the price adjustments are necessary to enhance its network infrastructure and maintain the delivery of high-quality internet service across the country.
The new pricing structure is as follows: Standard (Residential) ₦75,000, Mobile – Regional (Roam Unlimited) ₦167,000, and Mobile – Global (Global Roam) ₦717,000.
“These changes reflect our commitment to investing in the infrastructure needed to support and improve your experience with Starlink,” the company said.
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