Telecom
Lack of IPv6 Upstream Service Providers Frustrate Uptake in Nigeria
The quest for more Tier-3 networks to migrate to Internet Protocol version 6, IPv6, is being frustrated by inability of some Tier-2 internet service providers also known as upstream service providers to migrate to the new internet protocol, Nigeria CommunicationsWeek has learnt.
Mohammed Rudman, chairman, Nigeria IPv6 Council, explained that the internet distribution channel flows from Tier-1 operators who are at the landing station of submarine cable, then to Tier-2 who are wholesale ISPs before Tier-3 that are telcos delivering to end users.
“Some networks such small telcos, university networks among others cannot migrate to IPv6 if the Tier -2 ISPs selling internet to them have not migrated. Their upstream service provider required equipment that is compactable with IPv6 for the networks of Tier-3 to be IPv6 active.
“Today, most of the Tier-2 ISPs have not migrated to IPv6 making it impossible for the networks that buy internet from them to be active on the new protocol even if they have acquired it. Other challenges include lack of technical know -how and core, metro and edge equipment compatibility issues,” he added.
On state of IPv6 in Nigeria, Rudman said that there are only 23 active IPv6 networks out of 161 Autonomous Systems (Ases) network as at June 1, 2020 representing 14.2 per cent. More so, the country has issued 70 IPv6 prefixes representing 7 per cent.
As a way forward in adoption and migration to IPv6, Rudman advocated for IPv6 awareness and capacity building by organizing seminars and trainings, possibly incorporating IPv6 into university curriculum.
“Regulate the ration of Public to Private IP address translation by the service providers. Provide some profit incentives to internet industry as encouragement for them to adopt IPv6 based Infrastructure. These incentives could include reduction in regulatory fee and tax rebates. All new IT equipment supplied to Government should be IPv6 compliant and Government to set target date for MDAs to have IPv6 compliant networks,” he said.
He noted that IPv6 has potential of preserving more of everything good in today’s Internet, which includes but not limited to auto-configuration, seamless mobility, automated network management, end-to-end-security and new optional service levels.
“The developed world has already embraced IPv6, with countries competing for positions in the global ranking on IPv6 adoption. The major content producers such as Google, Facebook, Microsoft etcetera have all adapted IPv6 giving the opportunity to IPv6 networks access to their content.
“Regrettably, most of African countries are late comers on this mass migration, with Nigeria particularly lagging behind even within Africa, this should not be taken lightly considering that we have the largest number of Internet users in Africa as of today and the seventh in the world.
Chris Uwaje, chairman, Connect Technologies, said Africa may not be globally competitive if the governments fail to adopt IPv6 on time, noting that IPv6 will one day become the absolute default Prefixes for the Internet.
“Globally, the next battlefield for sustainable development and wealth creation resides in IPv6 and IoT strategic knowledge configuration. Africa stands at the dawn of technology opportunity and will benefit immensely, if government and industry lead the advocacy to passionately promote innovation -through IPv6 adoption and IoT transmission as combined accelerator to create something and change everything,” he stated.
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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