Telecom
MTN, Opera Software Partner to Improve Internet Access

MTN, Opera Software and Naij, an online platform have announced a partnership that offers every mobile subscriber on MTN network in Nigeria the opportunity to enjoy free internet access.
Goke Olaegbe, country group head at Naij.com, said the platform purchased one million web passes on Opera Mini browser to be delivered to subscribers on the MTN network.
“This is a way through which we are trying to encourage more Nigerians to come online. As a company committed to providing engaging online content for Nigerians, we’re thrilled to also provide them with a day of mobile internet,” he said.
He added that through this initiative his company is helping to bring free mobile internet to Nigerians via the MTN network and this has been made possible through Opera’s Sponsored Web Pass, which allows operators to package their data in a user-friendly way. At the click of a button, users can get online and explore what the mobile internet has to offer.
Richard Monday, VP Africa for Opera Software, said this is the first time such an initiative would be deployed in any part of Africa to promote internet adoption.
According to him, while mobile penetration is high in Africa, internet penetration is still low as many low-end feature phone users are yet to experience internet. This set of people he said are the targeted beneficiaries of this offer – although every MTN subscriber is eligible for the offer.
“This is a first-of-its-kind initiative in Africa. MTN users will be able to activate their free day of internet and will be able to browse all websites using Opera Mini. Together with Naij and MTN, we are working together to boost mobile internet usage in Nigeria. Millions of Nigerians are yet to come online. And it’s only when they do so that internet-based businesses can reach more people. So this is an initiative that this market needs. And we are glad they are deploying this through the compression capabilities of the Opera Mini browser,” said.
“Connecting more people, wherever they are and helping them to do more with their data will always be in the forefront of what we do at Opera. Partnerships like this are key to achieving our goals.”
Whilst Nigeria’s mobile penetration is rapidly expanding, mobile data usage is still low at around 38%. Industry watchers said the initiative may not be enough to give targeted users a complete internet experience because of the fact that it does not support downloads or streaming actions – this is also in addition to the 10MB data cap.
However, they added that it could stimulate the curiosity of new mobile internet users.
“Like they said, they are not really targeting heavy internet users because there is basically nothing serious that such people can use with the 10MB. But for people who have not used the internet before, they can appreciate what they are missing when they are able to use websites such as Wikipedia and could search for stuffs online. The 24-hour free internet could spur them to go and buy more data to explore the internet further,” said Wale Ladipo, a tech reviewer.
On the part of MTN, Tsola Barrow, acting chief Enterprise Solutions Officer at MTN Business, said the network further supported the initiative as it in line with the network’s vision to deliver a bold, new digital world to its customers.
“It also underpins our mission to make the lives of customers on Africa’s largest network a whole lot brighter. We also truly believe in the power of bringing people online via the devices they use every day. Opera’s Sponsored Web Pass helps take the fear out of using mobile internet for the first time,” he said.
Naij.com’s Olaegbe added that similar offers could soon be announced for subscribers on other telecoms networks operating in Nigeria.
Telecom
Telcos Warn of Nationwide Telecom Blackout over Diesel Shortage

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.
Telecom
Nigerians Spend N5.3 Trillion on Telecom Services

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
Telecom
MTN Chairman, Industry Leaders Honour Late Dr. Pascal Dozie’s Legacy at NGX Tribute

Nigeria’s corporate elite gathered recently to bid farewell to one of the nation’s most influential business titans, Dr. Pascal Gabriel Dozie.
The Nigerian Exchange Group’s headquarters in Marina, Lagos, played host to an ‘Afternoon of Tributes’ that saw industry captains, financial moguls, and family members celebrate the extraordinary legacy of a man who helped reshape Nigeria’s economic landscape.
MTN Nigeria Chairman, Dr. Ernest Ndukwe, captured the mood of the gathering when he described the late Dozie as “a visionary leader, a true patriot, and a trailblazer” whose impact continues to reverberate across Nigeria’s business terrain.
“Thanks to his remarkable foresight and unwavering dedication, MTN Nigeria didn’t just find its footing—it soared,” Ndukwe told the distinguished audience.
“Today, it stands not only as the largest telecommunications company in the country but also as one of the most highly valued corporations on the NGX Premium Board.”
The symbolic bell-ringing ceremony—a highlight of the event—paid homage to Dozie’s pivotal role in transforming both Nigeria’s capital market and telecommunications sector.
Speaker after speaker painted the portrait of a man whose influence transcended conventional boundaries. Beyond founding Diamond Bank and steering MTN Nigeria to unprecedented heights, Dozie was celebrated for embodying the rare combination of business acumen and ethical leadership.
Throughout the afternoon, the late business icon was remembered not merely as a successful entrepreneur but as a nation-builder whose contributions spanned critical sectors from banking and telecoms to public policy and education.
More than his corporate achievements, however, it was Dozie’s personal qualities that dominated tributes—his uncompromising integrity, innovative thinking, disarming humility, and lifelong commitment to service.
As the event concluded, it became clear that the gathering was more than a memorial—it was a celebration of possibilities, a testament to what can be achieved when purpose meets passion and when leadership is firmly rooted in service to others.
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