Telecom
Nigeria Subscribers Lose N730Bn to Poor QoS
Telecommunications subscribers in Nigeria lose an average of N730 billion annually to poor quality of service (QoS) emanating from inadequate network capacity provided by telecom operators, The Leadership has reported .
Also infrastructure vandalism , dropped calls as well as charges to undelivered short message service (SMS) deducted from subscribers account all serve to exacerbate the problems of telecom consumers.
The Leadership said that these were among issues raised at a one-day telecommunications executives and the regulator’s forum organised by the Association of Telecommunications Companies of Nigeria (ATCON) in Lagos recently.
A draft communiqué noted that quality of mobile devices used by subscribers could also tamper with quality of service, so there was the need to fight against fake phones in Nigeria.
ATCON charged NCC to continue to interface with the Federal Executive Council (FEC) to tackle the issue of multiple taxation, right of way and vandalism of infrastructure, hoping that it would help resolve the issue of poor quality of service.
On mobile number portability, the panelists, discussants and participants agreed that the scheme seems not to be very effective in Nigeria because most subscribers already have two, three or more mobile phones.
According to the draft communiqué, multi-sim phone also hinders the success of porting because it encourages subscribers to use more than one sim-card and this defeats the porting phenomenon. It noted that porting has made the operators to be more customer-friendly.
ATCON said operators must agree amongst themselves not to port post-paid subscribers owing to their source networks.
On open access, spectrum, right of way and stimulating demand, discussants agreed that broadband was top of the agenda of world economies and Nigeria could not be left out.
“The fear that government’s subsidy to newly licenced infrastructure providers could negate liberalisation and competition thereby discouraging private investors was dispelled by the regulator’s assurance that government has no equity in the infrastructure service providers, but is simply providing incentives to fast-track the deployment of services in Nigeria,” it read.
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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