Telecom
NCC, Stakeholders Dialogue on Best Spectrum Auction Model
Players in the telecommunications industry have tabled their positions hoping to influence the Nigeria Communications Commission (NCC) in the sale frequencies in the 2.6GHz Spectrum.
Arguments swung left and right but majorly for the maintenance of the present pattern of national licensing.
Another handful called for a regional licensing approach that will create room for more players and improved deployment phase.
Speaking at the Forum, Engineer Peter Igoh, chairman, Nigerian Communications Commission said that, the transparent way in which the Commission had conduct its licensing processes, including auctions, have been globally recognized.
He said, the Forum was part of NCC’s consultative disposition in which it strive to ensure inclusiveness in its decision-making processes, fairness and openness in dealings, and predictability in the nation’s telecom regulatory atmosphere.
On his part, Engineer Austin Nwaulune, director, Spectrum Administration at NCC, also said that the Commission has 2 x 70 MHz Slot in the 2.6GHz Band up for sale.
He said they were determined to put it up for the most qualified organizations to utilize them for the benefit of the nation.
Listing issues involved in the process such as the possibility of introducing spectrum caps, licensing options, tenures, roll out obligations and some key issues that the Commission’s auction committee may have put up for consideration, Nwaulune said the Commission’s transparent disposition in the ways and manners in which the auction will be conducted is not negotiable.
Engineer Lanre Ajayi, president, Association of Telecommunication Companies of Nigeria (ATCON), applauded the sense of seeking stakeholders’ views on the process but sought to know why close to 30 companies expressed interest during the sale of 2.3GHz band earlier in the year, but only two went ahead to bid.
He urged NCC to review the process, create changes for business viability.
According to him, most organizations might become skeptical about the bidding should NCC fail to declare its intentions on time, citing the sale of 2.6GHz few months after the 2.3GHz as unpalatable for ventures.
On the Modalities licencing model, Ajayi said he believes in Spectrum Trading, where a company with either a National or a Regional Licence can have the leverage of selling the same to another company without been queried by the NCC.
Nwaulune swiftly explained that spectrum trading might be unfavourable for the industry, as some companies could arm-twist others to get the licence, whereas the end-users bear the blunt.
But, Engineer Bayo Banjo, president, Nigeria Internet Group (NIG), has a different view, saying that the industry should learn from past experience that allocation of licences on National bases has not alleviated the broadband penetration challenges.
According to him, National frequency allocation has caused more harms than good, creating hiccups for organizations during deployment and recouping of investments hard to attain.
He opined that such practice can become viable if the bidders and eventual winners are meant to sign agreement to cover the 36 States and the FCT, and no redundancy in spectrum utilization in any of the States.
Nodding in agreement, Chidi Ibisi, chief marketing officer, Broadbased Communications, said that Regionalization of the licencing is the way forward, hence it will boost chances of local companies participation and help in building Companies, which has been the primary focus of Dr. (Mrs) Omobola Johnson, led Ministry of Communication Technology.
On his part, Mr. Aremu Olajide, head of Network Operations, Globacom, said that NCC should work towards ensuring that organizations with pedigree in spectrum administration are given opportunity to manage the scarce resources for the best interest of the nation’s broadband availability and affordability plans.
He urged NCC not to depart from the objectives of these programmes centered on deepening competition and improve broadband penetration in the Country.
Meanwhile, Igoh said that the Commission has commenced the processes for the selection of Infrastructure Companies for Lagos and North Central Region in line with the Open Access Model that was launched in 2014.
In due course, qualified companies will be selected in that process to give impetus to the drive to achieve robust deployment and service provisioning for broadband services across the country.
Four people have been killed, with over 20 injured after a fire at Cairo data centre disrupted telecom services nationwide.
A fire at a major Telecom Egypt facility in Cairo on Monday has left four workers dead and at least 22 others injured, plunging parts of the capital into a communications crisis.
According to Hossam Abdel Ghaffar, spokesperson for Egypt’s Health Ministry, most injuries were due to smoke inhalation.
The blaze, which broke out at a key data centre operated by Telecom Egypt, the country’s primary fixed-line and internet provider, was brought under control later that day.
However, it caused widespread disruptions, halting phone services, affecting internet connectivity, and even interfering with digital banking operations.
Internet monitoring group NetBlocks reported that national connectivity dropped to just 62% of normal levels following the incident.
Residents across Cairo struggled with poor network access, and banks—although already closed for the day—reported interruptions in ATM services and online transactions.
In a statement on Tuesday, Telecom Egypt mourned the loss of its employees and pledged support to their families.
Amr Talaat, Egypt’s minister of Communications and Information Technology, assured the public that service restoration was underway and expected to be completed within 24 hours.
To address the disruption, the Health Ministry released alternative emergency contact numbers across Egypt’s governorates, in case its primary ambulance hotline remained unreachable.
The state-run MENA news agency reported that the fire was prevented from engulfing the entire building and nearby rooftops, thanks to the efforts of emergency responders.
A preliminary investigation suggests the fire was likely triggered by an electrical short circuit, according to a security source cited by MENA.
As the nation works to restore full connectivity, the incident has raised fresh concerns about the vulnerability of critical infrastructure and the need for enhanced fire safety protocols in sensitive tech facilities.
Tech faints, Globalcom, on Tuesday unveiled three exciting digital products aimed at rewarding customers. The products, Animation World Promo, Treasure Spin and Sport Brain, also provide subscribers with the opportunity to play and win instant prizes.
Globalcom in a statement in Lagos said that the company is dedicated to providing value-added service to its ever-growing customers.
The first digital product, which is Animation World Promo, is an innovative trivia-based service aimed at challenging customers culinary knowledge of Nigerian food. With it, subscribers engage in answering food related questions, earn points and win delicious prizes.
For Treasure Spin, customers are availed the digital treasure spin experience. With each spin Glo subscribers stand a chance to win instant prizes, making every participation exciting and rewarding.
In addition, Globalcom captures the heart of football lovers with Sport Brain. Subscribers are allowed to predict football scores in matches across top leagues all around the world. Customers get to select their preferred leagues. “It’s a fun and competitive way for football lovers to test their instincts and knowledge,” the company noted.
Customers who subscribe to any of the three services stand a chance to win fantastic daily, weekly, and monthly prizes. Every day, 20 participants will receive ₦1,000 cash, ₦1,000 airtime, and 3.5GB data. On a weekly basis, five lucky winners will walk away with ₦100,000 each, while one grand prize winner will receive ₦1 million every month.
To participate, customers are required to dial *13055*2# for Animation World Promo,*13199*3# for Treasure Spin and *13199*2# for Sport Brain. Each plan can be activated either as a one-time purchase or Auto Renewal.
Globacom further explained that all products are available at an affordable subscription rate of ₦100 for a daily plan, ₦300 for weekly plan and ₦500 for monthly plan.
In concluding, the company disclosed that the services are available to all Glo prepaid and postpaid subscribers nationwide.
The Stakeholders in Blockchain Technology Association of Nigeria (SiBAN) has lauded Interstellar, one of its prominent members, for spearheading a major breakthrough in Africa’s financial technology space.
This follows Interstellar’s strategic partnership with the Pan-African Payment and Settlement System (PAPSS) to roll out the PAPSS African Currency Marketplace (PACM), a blockchain-based platform designed to address the continent’s long-standing currency inconvertibility challenge.
The initiative is already being hailed as a game-changer capable of eliminating the $5 billion annual trade friction currently plaguing intra-African commerce.
According to SiBAN President, Mr Obinna Iwuno, the development affirms Nigeria’s leadership in blockchain innovation, stating that Interstellar’s PACM is not only a technological feat but also a timely response to the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) mandate of seamless and cost-effective regional trade.
PACM operates on STARGATE, a blockchain-agnostic system developed by Interstellar, and leverages the Bantu blockchain network to facilitate real-time, peer-to-peer exchanges of African currencies.
The solution ensures financial inclusion by allowing businesses, SMEs, and informal traders to transact in local currencies without relying on foreign intermediaries, all while maintaining regulatory compliance.
Mr Ernest Mbenkum, CEO of Interstellar, described the solution as Africa’s roadmap to financial sovereignty. “Blockchain is not just innovation; it is empowerment,” he said.
SiBAN reaffirmed its commitment to supporting policies and partnerships that promote secure, transparent, and inclusive digital economies.
The association further called on stakeholders in government and the private sector to prioritise blockchain adoption as a driver of national development.
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