Telecom
MTN Nigeria Denies Sharing Identifiable User Data
MTN Nigeria has refuted claims it is sharing identifiable customer data with third parties as part of efforts to curb the spread of COVID-19, according to IT Web Africa.
Digital rights campaigners, including Paradigm Initiative, have expressed concern over consumer privacy.
On April 6, the GSMA released COVID-19 privacy guidelines, which includes to help counter misinformation and raise awareness of data sharing.
The Nigerian Governors Forum (NGF) is understood to have collaborated with telcos regarding response to the COVID-19 pandemic, and according to a Paradigm Initiative report, MTN entered into a data-sharing partnership with the state governors to mine and provide its users’ data “to profile States vulnerability to the spread of the coronavirus.”
Paradigm Initiative Nigeria stated that regardless of the intention, the reported sharing or potential sharing of users’ personal data by MTN with the NGF will constitute a breach of users’ trust and a violation of their right to the privacy of their data – especially if the data being shared is personally identifiable
The online rights organisation insisted that MTN has no power to use, distribute or grant third-party access for the processing of users’ data as information such as travel history, current location, and others are private and not commodity.
Adeboro Odunlami, legal officer, Paradigm Initiative, said: “MTN and other network mobile operators must stay within bounds of industry ethics including the principles surrounding data sharing and data protection in conducting any CSR initiative (if this is the claim) in this austere time. We stated in the press release that the mobile network operator could share non-personally identifiable data; that is, data that cannot be used on its own to trace or identify a person/data subject. We are not certain that MTN is sharing personally identifiable data and we stated as much in the press release, but this also raises another duty of MTN to be transparent with its subscribers on its relationship with the NGF and the kinds of data being shared.”
Odunlami referred to the role of the Nigeria Data Protection Regulation (NDPR) and National Information Technology Development Agency regarding data privacy legislation.
He said: “While we yet advocate for a proper Data Protection Law and more expansive legislation around subjects like this, I believe the NDPR can provide a bit of guidance on this. To be honest, Nigeria needs to do better in protecting data subjects and providing laid down laws and regulations that define processes of such nature.”
Tobechukwu Okigbo, chief corporate services officer at MTN Nigeria, said the company’s contribution to the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control as well as to federal and state governments through the NGF has been “to ensure they can stay connected, have the data they need to target response including a bespoke vulnerability assessment for each state, and can continue to deliver governance remotely during this period.”
Okigbo insisted that this does not involve sharing of identifiable user data.
“In doing this, it is important to note that we are not breaching any privacy regulation, because we are not offering customer data to the NGF. The analysis will be done using completely anonymised data. The data will be external, aggregated, non-identifiable with no single subscriber information, which is fully in compliance with GSMA standards on COVID-19 use cases and the NDPR.”
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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