Telecom
Huawei, Ovum Whitepaper Justifies HCC Summit Recommendations
Huawei and Ovum, a leading global technology research and advisory firm, jointly released a Quality Mobile Broadband Network whitepaper.
Focused on achieving quality network, the paper highlights the requirements for mobile network operators to attract and retain subscribers.
Nigeria CommunicationsWeek recalled that at the recent Huawei Cloud Computing Summit in West Africa, held in Lagos, recommendations were made on how developing economies like Nigeria can leverage opportunities and technologies in deepening the broadband access.
In the whitepaper so released, it shows that network quality provides a true competitive differentiator, and investment has commercial benefits for mobile network operators.
Consumers are quick to identify a good-quality network and satisfaction, from personal experience or third-party feedback, plays a huge part in choosing a provider.
An Ovum Global Consumer Survey, published in October 2014, identified the elements that define a good-quality network.
Those metrics include network speed or capacity, consistent performance, responsiveness and footprint. In the whitepaper, Ovum outlines recommended steps a mobile operator should take to improve network quality.
“We believe that quality is the most important element of a mobile broadband network as it gives an operator a true point of differentiation and a clear competitive advantage when it comes to attracting and retaining subscribers. In this paper, we have provided our recommendations for players to improve their network quality.” Said Daryl Schoolar, Principal Analyst, Ovum.
Although at HCC, Huawei’s Global Connectivity Index ranked Nigeria third on the emerging broadband nations, however, the whitepaper released in collaboration with Ovum pointed at the recommendations made by Mr. Peng Song, president of Huawei Western Africa Region.
For instance, the first recommendation is planning. Operators should start by setting clear goals and definitions to improve the performance quality from the customers’ perspective. An assessment of the current performance will help operators identify the key areas of focus and challenges.
A well-defined plan, aligned with business goals, will help operators manage the process and maximize the results. Building in key performance indicators (KPIs) and key quality indicators (KQIs) specific to the network operators’ competitive situation, will provide quantifiable metrics for measuring the network performance.
The second stage is continuous assessment. Operators should continually assess the network performance, competitive situation and challenges during the improvement process. Network quality is not a fixed thing.
While everyday events may not pose a challenge to networks, major events could strain the network, making it unusable. Planning for peaks in demand will help eliminate negative consumer experiences.
In addition, new services put additional requirements on the network, for example voice services, video streaming, or online gaming.
The third stage is looking to large-scale partners to help scope out and manage the network transformation process.
The capabilities and features of a strong partner are outlined in the whitepaper as: a history of performing network transformations; the ability to support revenue opportunities; ongoing investment in customer experience management; and a deep understanding of the technologies that make a good-quality network.
“Huawei has been a long-standing partner to many mobile network providers. Through our key capabilities including service quality modeling, precise service quality demarcation, and multi-vendor and multi-network optimization, we continue support operators with improving their networks. This whitepaper is a must-read for all mobile network operators who are focused on achieving a good-quality network.” said Weibing, Head of Marketing, Global Technical Service Department, Huawei.
Likewise, Song while presenting the GCI in Lagos, said, “Overall, the 2015 GCI shows that 20 per cent growth in Information and Communications Technology (ICT) investment will increase a country’s GDP by 1 per cent. It also identifies five enablers of digital transformation – Data Centres, Cloud Services, Big Data, Broadband, and the Internet of Things (IoTs). These technologies represent the targets that stakeholders should focus their investments on in order to most efficiently transform their economies for the digital age.”
According to him and based on the GCI findings, Huawei came up with three commendations for a better connected West Africa, to include increasing data centre investment, developing economies need to moving from investing in supply to building demand and learning from developing countries’ success, to become leaders in GCI.
“The Global Connectivity Index is not merely a ranking of countries. We see it as a platform to partner with policymakers and enterprise leaders to identify, harness, and create new digital economy opportunities with the aim of building a better connected West Africa,” he said.
Huawei forecasts that by 2025, as many as 100 billion connections will be generated globally, 90 per cent of which will come from intelligent sensors. This increase will be attributed to enterprises becoming enabled by the internet.
Huawei explained that leveraging connectivity to streamline business processes, would not only reduce costs and improve efficiency, but would also enable enterprises to drive innovation and move the focus from a consumer driven internet to an industrial one.
On the hand, the Huawei SmartCare® Network & Service Quality Improvement solution helps operators improve their network quality by offering a superior service experience to end users through optimum delivery of voice, web and streaming services.
As at the end of 2014, Huawei has provided optimization services to over 100 network providers, improving service quality and supporting the development of building a good-quality mobile network.
Telecommunications subscribers in the country could soon be paying 5 percent more for data and voice services if President Bola Tinubu signs Nigeria Tax Bill 2024 into law.
Passed in the Senate on May 8, 2025, the bill reintroduces a controversial 5 percent excise tax on telecom services, a move telecom operators, subscribers and consumer rights groups have strongly opposed.
The bill revived the excise tax first introduced in the Finance Act of 2020 during the administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu had suspended the tax in July 2023, citing concerns that it could exacerbate inflation and hinder access to digital services, especially for low-income Nigerians.
The 2020 Finance Act had expanded the list of goods and services subject to excise duty, including telecom services.
However, the measure drew immediate and widespread criticism from telecom operators and consumer advocacy groups, who argued that the additional cost would burden citizens and increase the price of essential services in an already fragile economy.
Excise duty is a tax on certain goods produced or sold within a country and other activities as may be specified in the enabling law, including services.
As contained in the 2022 Finance Act, the tax is chargeable on all services regulated by the Nigerian Communications Commission (“NCC”) listed as postpaid and prepaid services at the rate of 5% for 2022, 2023 & 2024.
According to a report by PWC at the time, prior to the suspension of excise duty on certain goods in 2009, excise duty was applicable on recharge cards/vouchers.
The telecommunication companies are to pay the tax based on the excisable value of postpaid and prepaid services.
In July 2023, President Tinubu signed an Executive Order suspending the “5% Excise Tax on telecommunication services as well as the Excise Duties escalation on locally manufactured products.”
Mastercard Economics Institute (MEI) has released its annual Travel Trends 2025 report, revealing the latest consumer spending insights and motivation when it comes to travel.
Cross-border movement is often influenced by the most pressing economic factors of the moment, such as exchange rates and geopolitical tensions. However, these are not the only factors driving consumers’ travel spending decisions, including those in Africa. Personal and purpose-driven factors remain powerful even when economic uncertainty looms.
Building on the resilience of the global travel sector seen last year, the 2025 report highlights how destinations across the African continent are increasingly appealing to tourists and, creating additional opportunities for local markets to develop tourism.
“Africa is emerging as a global leader in purpose-driven travel, where nature, wellness, and culinary experiences are redefining the continent’s tourism landscape. These trends present a powerful opportunity to drive inclusive growth, support local economies, and position Africa as a key player in the future of global tourism,” said Mark Elliot, division president, Africa, Mastercard.
Whether drawn by Namibia’s wellness retreats, South Africa’s wilderness experiences or Morocco’s vibrant culinary scene, travelers are expanding their horizons beyond traditional hotspots.
“Tourism is playing an important role in Africa’s growth story. Travelers are increasingly drawn to the continent’s natural beauty, culinary diversity, and wellness experiences. While economic and geopolitical factors matter, the pursuit of meaningful, purpose-driven travel remains strong. The Mastercard Economics Institute’s report sheds light on how countries are tapping into this trend to attract visitors and boost local economies,” said Khatija Haque, chief economist EEMEA, Mastercard Economics Institute.
By exploring a full range of travel motivations, the report identifies the main themes shaping travel today:
Africa trends:
- Nature-fueled adventures: South Africa and Zambia dominate cross-border spending around national park areas. Spending around South Africa’s major national parks far outpaced that of other countries, with nearly a quarter of the cross-border spending occurring within these zones. Zambia is also highly ranked as an outdoor adventure destination.
- Culinary crossroads: Marrakech ranks highly on the foodie list with its median restaurant hosting tourists from many different countries, often to enjoy meals of tagine and b’stilla. Cape Town is also on the list, with its bobotie dish proving popular with visitors.
- Wellness in the wild: Africa is establishing itself as a global leader in wellness-centered travel as consumers prioritize rejuvenation and self-care. Namibia, South Africa and Botswana are among the top destinations for travelers seeking spa-style and nature-based retreats and immersive eco lodges. Kenya is also ranked among the top 20 destinations for wellness In the Mastercard Wellness Index 2025.
Other global trends:
- Spa, summit and savor: Personal passions and goals motivate travel choices. Adventure-seekers are heading to the Nordics, where Finland’s national parks account for 7.1% of cross-border spending in the country.
- Summer destination draws: The Asia-Pacific region commands the list of trending summer destinations. Flight booking data reveals the top global destinations gaining most momentum for June-September travel, relative to last year. Tokyo is the number one trending spot for summer 2025, followed by Osaka and then Paris.
- Fuelled by fans: Fans travel internationally to see their favorite teams and athletes play. Case in point? During Shohei Ohtani’s World Series debut, spending by Japanese visitors in Los Angeles surged by 91%, six times the broader cross-border boost.
- Money matters: Despite geopolitical tensions and fluctuating prices, the factors that motivate consumers to travel are often more complex than just economic. But currency depreciation can make certain destinations, like Japan, more attractive due to their better value for money.
- Wheeling and dealing closer to home: In general, business travelers favor longer trips within their own regions, driven by hybrid work models and geopolitical uncertainty. However, there are exceptions, with UK businesses spending a growing share of their travel budgets in Asia, Europe, the Middle East and Africa.
Mastercard is dedicated to helping the global tourism sector grow through market analysis and high-frequency, data-driven insights that enhance the travel experience. By empowering destinations and businesses to better understand evolving consumer trends, Mastercard is helping to shape a more connected and resilient future for travel across Africa.
You can view the full “Travel Trends 2025: Purpose-driven journeys” and other reports and insights from the Mastercard Economics Institute can be found here.
Nigeria is set to receive telecommunications equipment and fibre optic infrastructure worth $3 billion in June 2025, according to Bosun Tijani, minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy.
Speaking during a panel session at the Nigeria Development Update (NDU) organised by the World Bank, Tijani revealed that the equipment valued at $1 billion was expected to arrive in the country by mid-2025.
He added that an additional $2 billion worth of fibre optic cables would soon be delivered to boost Nigeria’s telecommunications infrastructure.
According to him, the initiative aims to significantly enhance communication services across the country and bridge the connectivity gap.
Tijani also noted that a pilot phase targeting over 20 million Nigerians who currently lack access to any form of telecommunications would soon be launched.
The Nigeria Development Update (NDU) is a bi-annual World Bank report that assesses the country’s recent economic and social developments, policy directions, and provides recommendations to address emerging challenges.
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