Telecom
Cautious Optimism over NATCOM’s Take over of NITEL/MTel
Stakeholders in the information and communications technology (ICT) sector are cautiously optimistic about news of the ratification of NATCOM Consortium as preferred bidder for Nigerian Telecommunications (NITEL), and MTel, its mobile subsidiary.
Engr. Sam Adeleke, immediate past president, Internet Service Providers Association of Nigeria (ISPAN) and chief executive officer, Steineng Ltd, expressed reservation over the ownership of NATCOM and warned that “if government has any percentage share in the consortium, that it is doomed to die, but, if it 100 percent owned by private sector, it will succeed”
He said that management is the major tool that determines success of any organization and that telecommunications being driven by technology makes it scope for the future wide.
“The areas they can focus on include broadband services provision, cheaper calls, better quality of services and land line network among others,” he said.
Adeleke stated that the two most important assets of any telecommunications operator are frequency and subscriber base.
“Their major strategy should focus on how to acquire large subscriber base. Telecommunications business is a business of numbers if they want to succeed, they can do this by reviving the cable network and broadband services,” he added.
Also Deolu Ogunbanjo, president, National Association of Telecommunications Subscribers of Nigeria (NATCOMMS), said that reviving NITEL by NATCOM when the deal is completed will ensure broadening of the telecom market, citing the innovative services that Glo and Etisalat introduced when they launched which helped in deepening competition in the industry.
“Now that the industry has fully embraced co-location and operators selling off their towers to infrastructure services providers it will be easier for them to rollout GSM service. Reviving NITEL land line will be a major boost in the broadband penetration effort,” he stated.
Gbenga Adebayo, chairman, Association of Telecommunications Operators of Nigeria (ALTON), said that unless the new owners of NITEL are coming to the market with ideas that are not already in the market they will have to struggle to make impact.
He noted that reviving the land line is not going to be easy going by the fact that they are private investors that will go through approval process of ‘right of way’ as well as vandalization among others challenges associated with fixed network provision in the country.
“NITEL’s existing telecommunications infrastructure are obsolete and may not enhance their rollout plans,” he added.
It would be recalled that the National Council on Privatisation (NCP) has formally ratified the sales of the Nigerian Telecommunications Limited and its subsidiary Mobile Telecommunications Limited to NATCOM Consortium.
The ratification was given at the council’s fourth meeting, presided over by Vice President Namadi Sambo at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
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.
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.
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
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