Telecom
Nigeria Records over 4m 5G Subscriptions after 2 Years
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The total number of mobile subscriptions on Nigeria’s 5G network grew to 4.05 million in December 2024, two years after MTN Nigeria first launched the network.
This is as the total number of mobile subscriptions recovered to 164.65 million after a Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) audit crashed subscriptions to 154.63 million in September 2024.
The audit removed 64.37 million lines from the national subscription base between March and September, and while some of these lines were lost due to the completion of the Subscriber Identification Modules (SIMs) and the National Identification Number (NIN) linkage exercise, most stopped existing because Globacom over-reported its subscriber base by as much as 40 million.
A breakdown of the 164.65 million subscriber base revealed that MTN now has a subscriber base of 84.61 million, Airtel has 56.62 million, 9mobile has 3.28 million, and Glo has recovered to 20.14 million. Most of these connections (47.20 percent) are on 4G network, with those on 5G network only comprising 2.46 percent of the total.
MTN Nigeria and Mafab Nigeria Communications Limited’s 2021 victory at the auction for two available lots of 100 MHz TDD slots of 3.5 GHz band ushered in 5G in Nigeria, with Airtel getting its license in 2022.
The network is meant to usher in faster internet speed in a country where internet consumption has been on a steady climb. Nigeria’s internet consumption rose to an all-time high of 973,455.35 terabytes in December 2024.
According to Karl Toriola, CEO, MTNN, “5G will change everything. It will allow us to connect, create, collaborate, and compete in ways we cannot imagine yet.”
GSMA, the global body for telcos, noted that growing 5G adoption will contribute $10 billion to Nigeria and other Sub-Saharan African countries’ economies by 2030, accounting for six percent of mobile’s total economic impact.
South Africa, Nigeria, and Kenya are expected to account for more than half of all 5G connections in Sub-Saharan Africa by 2030. About 30 cities now have 5G, says the NCC.
“Nigeria is still grappling with 5G. I can say that the network is still in less than 30 cities in the country. So, we still have a long way to go. But we have strategies to deploy the service in Nigeria. 4G LTE has not even covered the entire country,” said Ubale Maska, executive commissioner of Technical Standard, NCC.
Bosun Tijani, minister of Communications, Innovations, and Digital Economy, highlighted that the lack of proper infrastructure has slowed 5G growth. “The infrastructure that drives 5G is not something that is across the nation,” he said.
Despite its many promises, 5G is not expected to become the dominant network in Nigeria anytime soon. Up until 2029, 4G is expected to account for the largest portion of mobile subscriptions in the country and across Africa.
“In the pursuit of modernisation and enhanced connectivity, subscribers are constantly migrating toward 4G networks. This trajectory indicates that 4G will be the primary driver for new subscriptions up to the year 2028,” Ericsson said in its latest mobility report.
Telecom
OnePipe Launches PaywithAccount: Revolutionizing Payment Collections in Nigeria
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For many Nigerian small business owners, cash flow isn’t just a challenge—it’s a constant battle. Whether it’s schools struggling with delayed tuition payments, logistics firms dealing with inconsistent driver remittances, or cooperatives managing member contributions, the process of collecting payments remains inefficient, unpredictable, and time-consuming.
A study by PwC revealed that 48% of Nigerian Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) have experienced delayed payments due to different reasons, with 33% of affected businesses reporting severe consequences.
Traditional systems often involve manual invoicing, repeated follow-ups, and high transaction fees, leaving business owners with less time to focus on growing their operations.
In response to this challenge, OnePipe has launched PaywithAccount, a direct-from-account payment solution that helps businesses automate and simplify collections, reducing delays and improving cash flow predictability. With PaywithAccount, businesses can collect payments directly from customer bank accounts—securely and automatically—without the need for cards, manual reminders, or complex reconciliations.
For entrepreneurs across Nigeria, the ability to receive payments on time means the difference between survival and growth. “As a school owner, I want to focus on my students, not spend hours tracking unpaid fees,” said Mrs. Olumide Ashade, Founder of King’s Court School in Lagos.
“Many of our parents pay in installments, but managing these payments manually has been stressful.
“A solution like PaywithAccount means we can offer flexibility to parents while keeping our finances in order.”
“Reliable repayment is the backbone of growth for lenders. At Lendsqr, we understand that payment delays are a significant problem for lenders”, said Adedeji Olowe, Founder, Lendsqr.
“We have helped many of our lenders transition from debit cards to PaywithAccount which reliably ensures loan repayments are on schedule.”
“At NIBSS, our core vision is to empower the financial ecosystem to innovate within the framework of interoperability, ease of connectivity, collaboration, and cost-optimization,” said Ngover Ihyembe-Nwankwo, Executive Director of Nigeria Inter-Bank Settlement Systems PLC (NIBSS).
“PaywithAccount is another heartening example of what happens when industry players leverage these guardrails to enhance the overall quality of our nation’s digital payment system.”
For Ope Adeoye, CEO of OnePipe, this is a commitment to empowering Nigerian businesses. “Small businesses are the backbone of our economy, but too many struggle simply because getting paid is a challenge,” said Adeoye.
“We believe financial technology should remove obstacles, not create them.
“PaywithAccount helps businesses worry less about collections so they can focus on what truly matters—growth, innovation, and serving their customers.”
With PaywithAccount, small businesses across Nigeria can now eliminate the stress of late payments, automate their collections, and take full control of their financial future.
For more information about PaywithAccount, visit www.onepipe.io or call 02013438444.
Telecom
Apple Introduces Affordable iPhone 16e Model
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Apple has announced the iPhone 16e, a new iPhone model, which is priced lower than its main models that usually debut in September.
The iPhone 16e, retailing at $599, is set to go on sale later this month.
It features a modern design without a home button or fingerprint sensor, using Apple’s FaceID scanner and a sensor notch at the top of the screen.
Powered by the same A18 chip as the main iPhone 16 models, the iPhone 16e can run all the same apps and games. It will be available in black and white.
The iPhone 16e also introduces Apple’s first cellular modem, the C1, replacing the Qualcomm modems used in previous models.
With a single camera lens, as opposed to the multiple lenses on more advanced models, the iPhone 16e aims to attract new customers to Apple’s ecosystem, supporting features like image generation and notification summaries via Apple Intelligence.
Apple is releasing this low-cost iPhone to boost sales amidst mixed results in recent quarters, as overall iPhone sales fell 1% annually in the December quarter, though the company still sold over $69 billion worth of phones during this period.
This model continues Apple’s tradition of offering affordable iPhones, following the iPhone SE. Unlike previous major product launches, the iPhone 16e was introduced through a press release, reflecting Apple’s new approach to product announcements.
Telecom
Airtel Nigeria Faces 40 Percent Revenue Dip amid Naira Devaluation
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Airtel Nigeria’s revenue fell by 40.34% in 2024, reaching $738 million, down from $1.24 billion the previous year.
This sharp drop is mainly due to the steep devaluation of the Nigerian naira.
Although the company saw a 3.2% increase in its customer base, which grew to 52.1 million subscribers, the rise in data usage per customer was more significant.
Average data consumption grew by 37.2%, reaching 8.4 GB per month.
Airtel’s EBITDA dropped by 46.4%, standing at $360 million.
Despite the challenges posed by inflation and rising operational costs, the company adjusted its pricing for voice and data services, in line with the Nigerian Communications Commission’s (NCC) tariff changes.
The company said it remains focused on adapting to the tough economic situation while maintaining its service quality for a growing customer base.
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