Telecom
Nigeria Approves Spectrum for 5G Trial

Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has approved the spectrum for the trial of 5G services in the country, according to Umar Danbatta, executive vice chairman of the commission,
Danbatta, who disclosed this at the maiden International Telecommunications Union (ITU) Digital African Week in Abuja, said that Nigeria had exceeded the 30 per cent penetration target set by the National Broadband Plan of 2013 to 2018 and stood at 33.31 per cent at the end of June 2019.
He said the commission had developed a framework to facilitate the deployment of broadband infrastructure across the country through the licensing of Infrastructure Companies (INFRACO).
Mr Danbatta said the framework would also deploy metro and intercity fibre and broadband Point of Access with a minimum capacity of IOG bps across the 774 local government areas of Nigeria.
He said the NCC had taken steps to involve members of the Academia as strategic stakeholders in the activities towards developing the Telecom sector.
Mr Danbatta said the Research and Development Department of NCC was collaborating with universities and other institutions of higher learning to develop the Information and Communication Technology (ICT) sector.
He assured that the NCC would continue to drive and implement policies, projects and programmes aimed at facilitating digital revolution and digital inclusion in Nigeria.
”We have Put in place, Broadband implementation and Monitoring Committee (BIMC) to monitor the full implementation of the INFRACO projects within the four-year implementation plan.
“With the development of Smart Cities KPIs by the ITU, it is imperative to have pervasive and ubiquitous broadband infrastructure across all our towns and cities to achieve the objectives of making them Smart.
“We will continue to work hard to ensure that all citizens of Nigeria have access to affordable broadband connection in respective of their circumstances or location,’’ he said.
In his remarks, Bako Wakil, director, Technical Standards and Network Integrity, NCC, said that the programme was to bring the African perspective to the standardisation of the new technologies to fit and support African nations.
Mr Wakil said that the African nations could also contribute to the standardisation process of the ITU and also come up with proposals and ideas that best suit the African nation.
Helen Nakiguli, a representative of Uganda, explained that the group was responsible for evaluating ICT effects on climate change and study design methodology for ICT environmental effects generally.
Ms Nakiguli noted that the interest was to engage the African region to be part of the standards development that will help the African region and the study group.
“This particular event is really critical for Africa to be part of the contribution to the development of standards that will help the region generally.
“Standardisation of emerging technologies such as the Internet of Things (IOT), smart cities and communities, e-waste and circular economy and electromagnetic radiation are very important to the African continent,” she said
Telecom
NigComSat Eyes $3Bn Annual Revenue – DG

Jane Idehen, director-general of Nigeria Communication Satellite Limited (NigComSat), has said that the organisation is projecting an average annual revenue of three billion dollars as it expands its scope of operations.
disclosed this in Abuja at the July edition of DevsInGovernment MDA workshop series organised by the Ministry of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, with a focus on NigComSat.
The programme supported by Galaxy Backbone and World Bank was tagged: “Driving Operational Excellence through Technology at NigComSat.”
DevsInGovernment is a community that aims to create a group of technologists and tech enthusiasts within the civil service who are actively contributing to digital transformation across all government agencies.
The DG said that for NigComSat to grow, it had to explore new ideas and increase product life, which can lead to significant revenue increases.
“Currently we are projecting to average about three billion dollars in revenue year.
“If we can think about ideas, we can do more than that because if you can increase your product life, you can provide more solutions to problems,” she said.
She said that there were other revenue streams beyond broadcasting, which could double or triple the existing broadcasting revenues.
According to her, creating awareness about the programme’s services and solutions was crucial for its success.
Abiodun Attah, executive director of Technical Services at NigComSat, said the agency was charting a new course in its operations with a view to increasing its revenue earnings and serving the country better.
Attah said that one of the things the agency had done with the Mobile Network Operators (MNOs) was to carry 2G, 3G, and 4G traffic in rural areas where there was no connectivity.
“In the past, NigComSat was shying away from going into enterprises; it was shying away from doing business outside the government sector.
“Now we have gone beyond that,” he added.
Telecom
Airtel Backs Global Hepatitis Fight with Health Education and Free Employee Vaccination

As the world commemorates World Hepatitis Day, Airtel Nigeria is taking bold steps to combat the global health challenge by equipping its employees with knowledge and access.
Reinforcing its ongoing commitment to employee wellness and public health advocacy, the leading telecommunications and digital services provider hosted a companywide Health Talk and announced a free hepatitis vaccination rollout across its offices across the country.
This year’s health and wellness theme at Airtel, “Stay Aware, Get Tested, Vaccinated & Seek Treatment,” aligns with global efforts to eliminate hepatitis and underscores the company’s belief that well-informed, healthy employees are the foundation of a thriving organisation.
In collaboration with its healthcare partner, Leadway Health, Airtel Nigeria brought together staff from across the country for an educational session titled: “Healthy Habits, Healthy Liver: Ending Hepatitis Starts with You!” Led by esteemed medical consultant Dr. Obioma Anomneze-Chima, the session offered critical insights into the causes, symptoms, and prevention of hepatitis, along with practical lifestyle habits to safeguard liver health.
In his remarks at the programme, Airtel Nigeria CEO, Dinesh Balsingh, highlighted the company’s holistic wellbeing philosophy.
He said, “Our people are the heart of our organisation, and when they are healthy, they bring their best selves to work. We’re not just investing in employee performance; we’re investing in their complete wellbeing. From mental wellness to preventive healthcare, our programmes are designed to offer real, meaningful support.”
Speaking during the session, Dr. Anomneze-Chima emphasised the importance of proactive prevention and early testing, “Hepatitis doesn’t always announce itself; it creeps in quietly and can cause lifelong complications. Conversations like this help us catch it before it catches us. I applaud Airtel for giving its employees not just facts, but tools and access to protect their health.”
Director, Human Resources and Administration, Airtel Nigeria, Adebimpe Ayo-Elias, noted that events such as the Hepatitis education and vaccination activity are a firm part of the company’s corporate mission. “This hepatitis campaign is a reminder that corporate responsibility goes beyond business metrics; it’s about actively participating in global health conversations and making a difference where it counts: among our people,” she added.
To sustain the impact of the educational talk, Airtel Nigeria is launching a free hepatitis vaccination programme across its premises, allowing employees nationwide to get vaccinated on-site with ease. This initiative reflects the company’s human-first approach to workforce wellness—prioritising both immediate care and long-term health security.
With this initiative, Airtel Nigeria once again demonstrates its leadership in advancing workplace wellness and health advocacy in the corporate sector. From supporting mental health through its Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) to promoting physical wellbeing with preventive screenings and vaccinations, Airtel is setting the standard for what it means to truly care for its workforce.
Telecom
MTN Nigeria Bounces Back with 414.9Bn Profit in H1 2025, Targets Full Recovery by Q3

MTN Nigeria Communications Plc has reported robust financial and operational results for the first half of 2025, signaling a promising turnaround for the telecom giant amid improving economic conditions and strategic initiatives.
Karl Toriola, ceo MTN Nigeria, said the company’s performance reflected the successful execution of earlier strategies and a more stable business environment. “We are excited by the progress made in the first half of 2025,” he said, highlighting a 54.6 percent growth in service revenue and a remarkable recovery in profits.
MTN’s subscriber base grew to 84.7 million, adding nearly 4 million users despite regulatory changes limiting SIM registrations by third-party agents. Active data users reached 51 million, fueling a surge in data revenue, which rose by an impressive 69.2 percent.
The operator has been investing heavily to meet rising demand and improve service quality. Among its major projects is the $240 million Dabengwa Tier 3 Data Centre—West Africa’s largest—which was launched in July and promises to drive digital transformation for businesses across the region.
On the fintech front, MTN made solid strides by adding over half a million new digital wallets in Q2 alone. Customer deposits grew fivefold since December 2024, pointing to renewed confidence and expanding usage of MTN’s mobile money services.
Economically, Nigeria showed signs of recovery during the period, with the naira exchange rate remaining stable and inflation easing to 22.2 percent. These factors helped strengthen MTN’s financial position and allowed the company to renegotiate tower leases, resulting in significant cost savings.
As a result, MTN swung from a loss after tax of N519 billion in the first half of 2024 to a profit after tax of N415 billion this year. Free cash flow also improved, hitting N409.8 billion, which the company plans to leverage for further network investments.
Looking ahead, MTN Nigeria has raised its full-year guidance, targeting service revenue growth at least in the low 50 percent range and an EBITDA margin above 50 percent. The firm anticipates positive retained earnings and shareholders’ equity returning by the end of Q3.
The company also remains committed to nurturing tech talent and innovation in Nigeria, pledging over N3 billion to support skills development. An accelerator programme offering funding and mentorship aims to empower African startups and drive future digital growth.
Despite some regulatory and macroeconomic uncertainties, MTN Nigeria’s leadership expressed confidence in the company’s ability to adapt and deliver sustained value to shareholders and customers alike.
- Telecom2 days ago
MTN Mulls AI Tech to Protect Infrastructure as Cable Cuts Hit 13,000 in 18 Months
- E-Financial2 days ago
Banks Reopen Naira Card Payments for International Tuition Fees
- News2 days ago
Yahoo Mail Halts Free Storage Service, Caps at 20GB
- E-Financial2 days ago
Safaricom, PayPal Collaborate to Link Mobile Money with Online Payments
- E-Business2 days ago
Attackers Target Employees with Fake HR Updates
- E-Financial1 day ago
Ecobank Sends Important Notice for Customers
- Broadcasting2 days ago
How AI Agents Will Revolutionise Industries, Boost Productivity, and Cut Costs
- News2 days ago
CAC to Delist 100,000 Dormant Firms After 90-Day Compliance Window