Telecom
GSMA Report Reveals How Cybersecurity and Revenue Growth are Driving Enterprise Digital Transformation

A new report from GSMA Intelligence (GSMAi) shows that enterprises are focusing more on improving cybersecurity and boosting revenue rather than cutting costs, as they speed up their digital transformation.
The research, “The rise of digital industries: navigating enterprise needs, investments and supplier decisions” reveals that 60% of businesses prioritise revenue growth, customer experience, and competitive positioning over cost-related goals for their digital transformation.
Investment in digital technologies is projected to increase substantially over the next six years to meet business needs, with organisations surveyed planning to allocate 9% of enterprise revenue during 2024–2026, growing to 11% during 2027–2030.
Focus on 5G and AI
85% of enterprises see 5G networks and connectivity as important, with almost half marking them as extremely important, for their digital transformation success. Enterprises plan to spend 21% of their digital transformation budgets on connectivity and associated devices, 13% on mobile (including 5G), and 8% on fixed and Wi-Fi networks. Enhanced security (57%) and connectivity (52%) are the top 5G features they value most and investment in 5G between 2024 and 2030 is projected to be 2.5 times more than in 4G, especially in high mobility sectors such as automotive, transportation, logistics and warehousing.
AI is also a significant factor, making up 14% of enterprise technology expenditures, implemented to elevate customer experiences, strengthen security protocols and increase productivity among employees. Generative AI has swiftly gained importance in the digital strategy of companies, with 90% of them incorporating it, but only 33% are utilising it in advanced ways, indicating potential for further development.
IoT adoption is progressing, with businesses transitioning to more advanced use of IoT technology, including greater use of 5G. Moreover, enterprises show high interest in using eSIM for their IoT deployments, due to its scalability and enhanced security features. Enterprises expect eSIM to account for 42% of the total IoT cellular market by 2030.
Enterprise wants full stack suppliers
As enterprises accelerate their digital transformation journeys, they are opting to work with a broad range of suppliers to meet their technology needs. The research shows a preference for generalist suppliers – such as hyperscalers and telecoms network/equipment vendors – that offer nearly full-stack solutions.
Pablo Iacopino, Head of Research at GSMAi, said: “Enterprises of all sizes are eager to advance their digital transformation and are making the necessary investment. As a result, supplier competition is fierce.
“Telcos need to go beyond just providing network services since enterprises are increasingly looking for partners who can help them throughout their full digital transformation journeys, combining technologies such as 5G, AI, IoT and cloud to improve efficiency, security and drive revenues.
“The cost of implementation and complexity of tech integration are the top two deployment challenges faced by enterprises. This means the role of tech orchestrator will become even more important, and demanded in the future, which presents new opportunities for multi-service suppliers.”
Financial services leads in AI; automotive and mobility push 5G
The report highlights the vertical sectors driving digital transformation each with different priorities and technology investments:
- Financial services: 92% are already using generative AI technology, and they lead in both wider AI adoption (92%) and spending on digital transformation (10.4% of revenue).
- Media and entertainment: This sector leads in revenue growth as a top digital transformation objective, with 65% citing it as an extremely important objective. Also, 91% of media and entertainment enterprises are already using generative AI.
- Utilities and energy: 51% of utility and energy enterprises are making advanced use of cloud technology—the highest of all sectors. 37% are prioritising generative AI for their financial spending through 2026 and allocating 16% of their digital transformation budgets to AI in the longer term.
- Manufacturing and industrial: 33% of manufacturing enterprises identify a lack of internal expertise as a key challenge to AI deployment, the highest across all sectors. Manufacturing ranks high in its focus on cybersecurity, with 55% of enterprises making advanced use of these technologies.
- Transportation, logistics and warehousing: This sector shows strong engagement with AI, including working with MNOs for AI solutions in any forms. This sector also stands out for its focus on IoT, with 36% of enterprises making advanced use of IoT technologies.
- Healthcare: Healthcare enterprises allocate 14% of their digital transformation budgets to AI, and 41% of enterprises cite cybersecurity as one of their top five areas of financial spending over the next few years.
- Automotive and mobility: This sector leads in terms of its focus on 5G, with 54% of enterprises rating 5G as extremely important to digital transformation.
- Retail: 63% of retailers prioritise revenue growth as an extremely important digital transformation objective. They are also quickly adopting generative AI, with 87% using the technology and 34% making advanced use of it.
- Public sector: The public sector is investing heavily in digital transformation, allocating 10.1% of its revenues to these initiatives.
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing: This sector shows the lowest digital transformation score overall, leaving potential for improvement in areas such as IoT, AI and 5G.
To explore the full findings and insights from the Global Digital Transformation Survey 2024, full access to the report and dashboard can be found here.
In addition, there is a GSMAi webinar on 3 December (10:30am – 11:30am GMT) where Pablo Iacopino and Christina Patsioura, IoT and Enterprise Research Lead Analyst from GSMAi, will explore the key findings and insights from the survey research, and their implications.
Telecom
Anambra Cracks Down on Illegal ISPs, Cites Security, Service Concerns

Anambra State Government has begun a crackdown on illegal Internet Service Providers (ISPs) operating across the state, citing concerns over data breaches, poor service quality, and environmental defacement.
The enforcement, led by the Anambra State Physical Planning Board (ANSPPB) and the Anambra State ICT Agency, follows numerous complaints about unauthorized road excavations and the indiscriminate erection of poles, which deface infrastructure.
Investigations revealed that several ISPs were operating without approval or submitting deployment plans, a violation of regulations governing telecommunications infrastructure.
Authorities stress that the objective is not exclusion but compliance, ensuring only registered ISPs approved by the Nigeria Communications Commission (NCC) operate in the state.
Residents are urged to report unlicensed ISP activities via the dedicated hotline 02014143039.
Speaking on the development, Barr. Chike Maduekwe, Executive Chairman of ANSPPB, said: “This isn’t about shutting anyone out but about ensuring everyone follows the right process. If you want to offer internet services in Anambra, go through the proper channels. We will support those who comply, but we will not tolerate shortcuts.”
Similarly, Chukwuemeka Fred Agbata (CFA), Managing Director/CEO of the Anambra State ICT Agency, emphasized: “The internet is no longer a luxury—it’s a necessity. Governor Soludo has implemented a zero right of way policy to encourage players, but the first step for any ISP must be regulatory approval. The people of Anambra deserve services from providers they can trust.”
The Anambra State Government remains committed to fostering a safe, fair, and well-regulated digital landscape where residents can enjoy secure, high-quality internet services without fear of exploitation.
The enforcement drive signals a new era of accountability in the state’s fast-growing digital space.
Telecom
Instagram Unveils Teen Safety Features in Nigeria

In a significant step towards enhancing online safety for teenagers, Meta is proud to announce the launch of Teen Accounts on Instagram in Nigeria. This initiative is part of Meta’s broader commitment to ensuring safe, private, and positive online experiences for teens across Africa.
As more Nigerian teens join Instagram, it is crucial to prioritise their safety and privacy. Parents want to feel confident that their teens can use social media to connect with their friends and explore their interests, without having to worry about unsafe or inappropriate experiences.
Teen Accounts were designed to better support parents and give them peace of mind that their teens have the right protections in place. Teen Accounts have built-in protections that limit who can contact them and the content they see, and we’ll automatically place teens in Nigeria into Teen Accounts, and teens under 16 will need a parent’s permission to change any of these settings to be less strict.
Key protections offered with Teen Accounts include:
Private Accounts: Teen accounts are set to private by default and teens under 16 can only change this setting with parental guidance.
Messaging Restrictions: Teens can only receive messages from people they are already connected to.
Sensitive Content Control: Teen Accounts are automatically set to see less sensitive content in search results and recommended content in Explore, Feed and Reels.
Limited Interactions: Teens can only be tagged or mentioned by people they follow, and the strictest anti-bullying feature, Hidden Words, is enabled by default.
Time Limit Reminders: Notifications prompt teens to exit the app after 60 minutes of daily usage.
Sleep Mode: Enabled from 10 PM to 7 AM, this feature mutes notifications and sends automatic replies to DMs overnight.
“We’re excited to bring these features to Nigeria and help families navigate online spaces safely. Teen Accounts are designed to give parents peace of mind, allowing teens to connect with friends and explore interests without worrying about unsafe experiences,” said Sylvia Musalagani, Safety Policy Manager, Africa, Middle East & Turkey (AMET) at Meta.
Since Meta started reimagining its apps for teens with Teen Accounts globally in September 2024, Meta has enrolled 54 million teens into Teen Accounts on Instagram, with 97% of those aged 13–15 remaining within the strict default protective settings.
While Teen Accounts come with built‑in safety protections, Meta understands many parents want to take a more active role in their teens’ online experiences. With the enhanced supervision tools, parents can:
See who their teen has interacted with: While message content remains private, parents can now view a list of people their teen has messaged over the past seven days.
Set daily time limits on Instagram: Parents can decide how long their teen can spend on the app each day. Once the limit is reached, Instagram will be inaccessible for the rest of the day.
Schedule downtime from Instagram: Parents can block access to Instagram during specific hours, like bedtime, with just a tap.
View the topics their teen is exploring: Parents can see which age-appropriate interest areas their teen is choosing to follow and engage with.
“Meta’s new policy aligns with several core priorities outlined in NITDA’s strategic roadmap, particularly concerning data privacy and protection for minors, now under the purview of the Nigerian Data Protection Commission, and child online protection and digital well-being, which we have collaboratively addressed with our sister agency, the Nigerian Communications Commission.
“NITDA has been a strong advocate for child online protection through various initiatives, including national strategies and proposed legislation, such as the Online Harms Protection Bill, which addresses age verification and parental controls.
“This policy reinforces the need for age-appropriate online experiences and promotes digital well-being.” commented, Barr. Emmanuel Edet – Director Regulations and Compliance Department, NITDA
To mark the launch, Meta hosted an exclusive event where parents, content creators, policy stakeholders, media and teens could engage on the available safety features and tools.
Meta remains committed to developing tools, resources and partnerships that protect teens and foster safer online experiences for families in Nigeria.
For more information about Teen Accounts and updates to parental supervision tools, visit here
Telecom
Telcos Threaten to Disconnect Banks over Misinformation on New USSD Charges

Telecommunication companies have threatened to withdraw their Unstructured Supplementary Services Data (USSD), services from banks over what they called misinformation.
MTN Nigeria, Airtel, Globacom and 9Mobile- the telcos disclosed that the banks’ notice to their customers on the new billing system and airtime deductions for USSD services was misleading.
Also, Association of Licensed Telecom Operators of Nigeria (ALTON) also denied that the directive was from the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC).
USSD is done via shortcodes on mobile phones and allows bank customers to make transactions in places with limited or no internet service.
Recall that banks earlier this week claimed that NCC has directed them to begin charging them from their airtime rather than from customers’ accounts.
The notice from the banks read in part: “In line with the directive of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), please be informed that effective June 3, 2025, charges for USSD banking services will no longer be deducted from your bank account.
“Going forward, these charges will be deducted directly from your mobile airtime balance in accordance with the NCC’s End-User Billing (EUB) model.
“Under this new billing structure, each USSD session will attract a charge of ?6.98 per 120 seconds, which will be billed by your mobile network operator.
“You will receive a consent prompt at the start of each session, and airtime will only be deducted upon your confirmation and availability of the bank to fulfil this service.
“If you do not wish to continue using USSD banking under this new model, you may choose to discontinue use of the USSD channel.”
Reacting, ALTON, umbrella body of telecom operators in Nigeria, said the banks’ notice is a gross misinformation deliberately hatched to suit their selfish interests.
Hence they threatened to withdraw network support to the banks’ USSD services.
Engr Gbenga Adebayo, chairman of ALTON told Vanguard: ” I don’t understand why the banks are twisting agreements and distorting information just to favour their selfish interests. In the first place, the information wasn’t a directive from the NCC but a joint regulatory agreement between the NCC and the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN witnessed by the telcos and the banks. The agreement was that if the banks finally cleared all USSD debts owed to the telcos by June 2, 2025, they are free to migrate to the end-user billing method, so long as the model of migration is transparent and agreed upon by the telcos.
“The reason for that clause was because the telcos insisted that the process of migration is such that will not allow a customer to be billed twice; in other words, that a subscriber would not have his airtime deducted and also have his or her money deducted for same services from his or her bank account.
” As we speak, some of the banks have cleared their debts, but the majority are yet to do so. So, even if all the modalities of migrating to end-user billing have been perfectly carried out, the implementation cannot even begin because the banks are yet to clear the USSD debt owed to the telcos.
“Our position now is that if that is the way the banks want to treat the agreement, we may withdraw support for their USSD services. It is not a must-have. They can do without it. But, they should clear the debts as agreed,” he added.
- E-Business3 days ago
AXIAN Telecom Invests in Jumia Post-MTN Era
- E-Financial3 days ago
UBA Compiles with NCC, to Deduct USSD from Customers’ Accounts
- E-Business3 days ago
Nigeria Strengthens Cybersecurity, Launches National Cleanup Plan
- News3 days ago
ARCON to Crackdown on AI-Generated Fake Ads
- Telecom3 days ago
Union Bank and PAPSS Revolutionize Cross-Border Payments
- News3 days ago
FG, UNICEF Partner to Train 20m Youths on Digital Skills
- Telecom3 days ago
MTN Nigeria Unveils 21 Days of Y’elloCare to Empower Communities through Digital Tools
- Telecom2 days ago
Telcos Threaten to Disconnect Banks over Misinformation on New USSD Charges