Telecom
NCC Tasks Incoming NASS on Critical Infrastructure Bill
Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has urged the incoming National Assembly to look into and ensure the passage of the Critical Infrastructure Bill to address the issue of vandalisation and theft of telecommunication infrastructure in the industry.
The NCC believed that if this is done, it will also help to tackle the problem of poor quality of service that has defied every measures adopted in the country.
Dr. Eugene Juwah, executive vice chairman of the Commission,, said that the only way to address the issue of poor quality of service is to have a pervasive infrastructure and ensure that such are adequately protected.
He stated that even though the Nigerian telecommunications industry has grown in leaps and bounds with active voice subscriber base of about 142.5 million, a teledensity of about 101.8 per cent, about 83.2 million Internet subscribers and Foreign Direct Investment of about N32 billion, the infrastructure on ground today was inadequate to cope with the high number of subscribers in the country.
He said: “As at 2001, the Nigerian Telecommunications Limited (NITEL), which was supposed provide the backbone for the new telecommunication operators was already moribund and in other countries, the telecommunication infrastructure on ground was what the incumbent telecoms operators relied upon to deploy services, we need to put in place adequate infrastructure to meet the demand of our population and thereby provide good quality service to telecom consumers in the country.
“For instance, in the Federal Capital Territory, no approval has been given for sitting of new base stations for many years, although recently there was a change of mind for additional base station the technology of GSM is inter cellular and requires adequate coverage to avoid drop calls.
No permission has been given for sitting of new base station at the National Assembly since the past five years.
“The issue of quality of service would be addressed if more infrastructures were deployed across the country.
We have engaged the governors on this issue through the Nigerian Governors Forum and the governors complained that telecom operators destroy our roads and don’t cover them, they must give us a guarantee that anytime they dig the rods, they must cover it up.
“We came up with a guideline and in the guidelines, we agreed that the first person that is going there puts the infrastructure for everybody so that other operators don’t have to dig the road anymore but he governors are not signing the guidelines for putting telecom infrastructure, every state need to sign to address the problem”.
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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