Telecom
Ghana Hosts Regional Prep Meeting for ITU World Telecom Development Conference

The Regional Preparatory Meeting for Africa, ahead of ITU’s World Telecommunication Development Conference 2014, opened yesterday in Accra, Ghana, to access the ongoing implementation of the Hyderabad Plan of Action agreed at the last edition of the Conference in 2010 and identify priority areas for ICT development strategies in the African region.
The meeting, will be in session until October 4 and is expected to push for ICTs as agents of development and empowerment in Africa.
ITU’s sixth World Telecommunication Development Conference (WTDC-14) will take place in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt, March 31 to April 11, 2014.
The gathering of policy makers, regulators and experts from around the world will forge a plan of action for telecommunication and ICT development over the next four years.
The preparatory meeting in Accra will address key areas of interest for the African region.
Hamadoun I. Touré , ITU secretary-general, welcomed the opportunity to hold the preparatory meeting for WTDC-14 in Accra. “Ghana has been endowed with natural resources like many other African countries, but it has built on its human capital and innovation to develop high economic growth and count among top per capita GDP rates on the continent,” Touré said in his message.
“This is an inspiration for us to invest in ICT development in Africa and capitalize on the inherent talent for innovation among African people to generate overall economic growth and achieve the goals of sustainable development.”
Ghana enjoys over 100% mobile cellular subscriptions with 26.33 million subscribers recorded in February this year.
Mobile broadband subscriptions surpassed 33 per cent with over 17 per cent of the population using the Internet.
Addressing the opening session of the meeting, ITU Deputy Secretary-General Houlin Zhao, said, “ITU is committed to connecting the world, and to bring the benefits of ICTs to the world’s people. We will continue to make bold steps in accelerating progress towards meeting the Millennium Development Goals.”
Noting that the RPM aims to advance openness and inclusion in the discussions of ICT for development and ITU’s commitment to connecting the world serves as “a catalyst for Africa’s attainment the Millennium Development Goals”, Mr Edward K. Omane Boamah, minister for Communications and Technology of Ghana, remarked, “Over the past five years, Africa’s mobile market overtook fixed lines in 2001 and now outnumber fixed telephone lines by nearly ten to one, with mobile cellular subscribers set to grow to more than 300 million by the year end.”
He noted that this potential for development brings Africa into the Information Technology Age.
The African region has experienced remarkable growth in mobile-cellular networks and services development since 2008, allowing an increasing number of the almost 850 million people in the region to get connected and join the information society.
Within five years, the region’s mobile-cellular penetration rate has doubled from 32 to 64 per cent and active mobile-broadband penetration, which was practically non-existent in 2008, has grown to almost 11 per cent.
ICT uptake in the region has been growing faster than in other regions, with the 2008-2013 growth rates of key ICT services well above the global average.
“Credit goes to governments for their political will, to the private sector for investing in the ICT sector, and to the citizens for a high uptake of these new technologies,” said Brahima Sanou, director of ITU’s Telecommunication Development Bureau. “I believe the future is very bright for Africa.”
Sanou pointed to the global population of young people born in the digital age that are nurtured on information and communication technologies as an integral part of their lives.
“More than 20 per cent of the population in Africa consists of young people within the 15-24 age range – as compared to 12.4 per cent in Europe,” Sanou noted.
“As the future is in the hands of the youth, the prospects for Africa are very good.”
The RPM was preceded by the Regional Development Forum (RDF) for Africa. The Forum provided a platform for open dialogue, cooperation and partnerships among telecommunication/ICT policy makers, regulators, industry, academia, regional and international development agencies and organizations on telecommunication/ICT issues of regional concern.
Based on ICT for Development and Empowerment in Africa – IDEA, the sessions focused on broadband as an enabling agent for development and empowerment in Africa, examining innovative ways and initiatives to bring broadband applications and services to users, especially in the areas of governance, healthcare, commerce, agriculture and education.
Particular attention was given to the ITU m-Powering Development initiative and the potential for mobile applications to change lives.
Enhancing cybersecurity featured prominently with an emphasis on creating a safer cyberspace for children, electronic transactions, and personal data protection with the establishment of Computer Incidence Response Teams (CIRT).
Countries of the region welcomed the opportunity to contribute to the preparations for the upcoming world conference in 2014. A series of regional meetings have taken place around the world this year to provide inputs to WTDC-14, with two more of the six preparatory meetings remaining.
Telecom
Nigeria Hits 1 Terabit Internet Traffic Milestone

IXPN, Nigeria’s leading Internet Exchange Point, is proud to announce a landmark achievement: crossing 1 Terabit per second (1Tbps) in aggregate peak domestic internet traffic for the first time.
This milestone signifies a major leap forward in developing Nigeria’s internet infrastructure and underscores the critical role of local internet infrastructure in driving economic growth, innovation, and connectivity for millions of Nigerians.
“This milestone is more than just a number. It’s a symbol of Nigeria’s digital maturity and our united strides towards becoming a tech-driven nation. By keeping local internet traffic within Nigeria, we reduce costs, improve speeds, and ensure our digital economy thrives with homegrown infrastructure.” said Muhammed Rudman the CEO of IXPN.
“Achieving 1 Tbps is a significant victory for Nigeria’s ICT ecosystem, a breakthrough for domestic internet traffic. It serves as a catalyst, enabling millions of Nigerians to enjoy faster, more affordable, and resilient internet connectivity.”
1 Terabit per second is a game-changer for Africa’s most populous country. To put it in perspective:
- Mega Video Calls: A speed of 1 Tbps can support over 1 million concurrent Zoom calls, allowing students, entrepreneurs, and professionals to connect and drive Nigeria’s digital revolution.
- Streaming Frenzy: With 1 Tbps, more than 200,000 people can stream HD Nollywood films or movies on Netflix simultaneously without any buffering or interruptions.
- Data Superpower: This speed enables the transfer of the entire contents of 50,000 smartphones—including photos, apps, and videos—in just one second.
For Nigeria, hitting this milestone means reducing reliance on international bandwidth, decreasing latency for local services, and strengthening our position as Africa’s digital heartbeat. This milestone is a testament to the power of collaboration, innovation, and the relentless pursuit of a faster, more connected Nigeria.
This accomplishment goes beyond technical advancements; it has significant economic implications. By encouraging local traffic exchange, IXPN reduces dependency on international bandwidth, leading to:
- Significant Cost Savings: By utilizing local data exchange, Nigerian businesses can save millions of dollars annually on international bandwidth fees.
- Enhanced Speed and Connectivity: With reduced latency, users experience smoother streaming, gaming, and real-time services, enhancing their overall online experience.
- Increased Resilience: Strengthening Nigeria’s internet infrastructure protects against global disruptions, ensuring consistent access to vital services such as healthcare and education.
- Improved Efficiency: Optimizes digital services like fintech, edtech, e-commerce, and e-health, propelling innovation and growth in these sectors.
Surveys conducted among IXPN members over the years have shown a growing percentage of local internet traffic in Nigeria. A recent report indicates that some connected members can localize or domesticate up to 70% of their internet traffic through IXPN.
“As more content providers, ISPs, banks, and public institutions localize their traffic through the IXP, end users benefit directly,” added Raphael Iloka (Marketing Manager). “We’re not just routing data — we’re building the foundation for Nigeria’s digital economy.”
The 1 Tbps peak highlights the remarkable impact of collaboration among all stakeholders. This milestone is a significant achievement not only for IXPN, but for the entire ICT ecosystem. IXPN deeply appreciates the vital contributions of all stakeholders involved.
To our Members and Partners: Your trust and participation have been essential to our growth. Together, we have established a hub where networks can interconnect, innovate, and thrive.
To the Government and Regulators: We express our sincere appreciation to the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) for all its support over the years and its vision of a digitally inclusive Nigeria.
To our Team: We extend our gratitude to our engineers, network administrators, and all other staff who work tirelessly behind the scenes to push boundaries.
To the Global Community: We are grateful to partner organizations like the Internet Society (ISOC). Your support and advocacy in domestic peering empower us all.
Reaching 1 Tbps is just the beginning. As data demands skyrocket with AI, IoT, 5G, and immersive technologies, IXPN is committed to staying ahead of the curve. Here’s how:
- Scaling Infrastructure: We are investing in advanced hardware and software to support multi-terabit capacities.
- Enhancing Resilience: We are strengthening our network to ensure uptime, security, and adaptability in an ever-changing digital landscape.
- Empowering Underserved Communities: We aim to expand our reach to rural areas, bridging the digital divide, and supporting agritech, edtech, and telehealth.
- Strengthening Africa’s Digital Sovereignty: Partnering with regional IXPs to keep Africa’s data on the continent.
Telecom
TD Africa’s TecHERdemy Empowers 400 Women to Lead in Tech

On April 17, 2025, the atmosphere at Yudala Heights was electric with pride, hope, and inspiration as TD Africa, the leading tech distribution company in Sub-Saharan Africa, celebrated the graduation of 400 young Nigerian women from its flagship TecHERdemy program.
Over the past six months, these incredible women immersed themselves in rigorous, hands-on training in Cybersecurity, Data Science, Artificial Intelligence, and Software Development. They are now confidently stepping into the tech world, ready to make their mark.
The event brought together top voices in the industry, including Dr. Leo Stan Ekeh, Chairman of the Zinox Group, who commended the graduates for their resilience and brilliance. In his keynote speech, he shared a hopeful vision for Africa’s future, calling these young women “the pioneers of a new, inclusive era of tech leadership on the continent.”
Mrs. Chioma Ekeh, CEO of TD Africa, also delivered a heartfelt message, urging the graduates to let their values guide them as they navigate their careers.
“Hold tightly to your values. Let integrity guide your work, let innovation fuel your dreams, and let your impact speak louder than your résumé,” she encouraged.
The ceremony was filled with emotion as graduates shared their personal stories of transformation. One of them, Yetunde Kayode, now a certified data scientist, summed it up beautifully: “This program changed my life. I’m walking away empowered, skilled, and deeply grateful to Mrs. Ekeh and the TecHERdemy team for believing in us.”
Fifteen exceptional participants were also honoured for their outstanding performance and leadership during the program, reminding everyone that excellence comes in many forms.
TecHERdemy, which launched in November 2024, was built with a simple but powerful mission: to equip young Nigerian women with globally relevant digital skills and open doors to a tech career. But what happened over those six months went beyond just skills; it sparked a movement.
This graduation wasn’t just the end of a program. It was the beginning of a brighter, more inclusive future for tech in Africa.
Telecom
MTN Nigeria Faces Class Action Lawsuit over Alleged Data Mismanagement

Nigerians have launched a class action lawsuit against MTN Nigeria, accusing the telecom giant of unexplained data usage and rapid depletion.
The controversy erupted after a viral post on X (formerly Twitter) showcased an individual’s interest in taking legal action, along with evidence of unusual data activity.
This post rallied many others to join the cause, sharing their own grievances and pledging support.
A Google Form was circulated to collect names of affected users, highlighting issues such as false data top-ups and excessive costs without value.
Comparisons to data usage and pricing in other countries only fueled the frustration, and numerous Nigerians expressed their determination to pursue justice.
Social media buzz amplified the issue, with mixed reactions ranging from encouragement to skepticism about the lawsuit’s potential impact.
Meanwhile, MTN Nigeria has not yet released an official response to these allegations.
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