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Telcos Claim Voicemail Does not require Regulation

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Gbenga Adebayo
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Telecommunications operators in the country under the aegis of Association of Licensed Telecoms Operators of Nigeria (ALTON) have insisted that the voicemail service on mobile telephone lines does not require policy or regulatory intervention from the federal government or its agencies.

Telcos Claim Voicemail Does not require Regulation

Mr Gbenga Adebayo, chairman of ALTON

ALTON assertion followed an order issued by Dr Isa Pantami, minister of Communications and Digital Economy to the telcos to deactivate  voicemail services on all existing phone lines in the country.

The minister directed the sector regulator, the Nigeria Communications Commission (NCC), to ensure that the service providers complied with the order.

The minister claimed that Mobile Network Operators were using the automatic activation of the voicemail service on their platforms to exploit Nigerians.

About two months since the directive was issued, there is no indication that the telcos complied with the order.

Mr Gbenga Adebayo, chairman of ALTON, said that the voicemail service was a “basic system feature” that did not require the intervention of the government.

“Voicemail is a value added service offered to all willing subscribers and those who do not want the service can always opt out of voicemail services.

“It is a basic system feature and not one of those services requiring policy or regulatory intervention,” he said.

While ordering the deactivation of the voicemail on mobile phone lines, Pantami had alleged that the telcos were compelling Nigerian subscribers to use the service by default.

According to him, it was worrisome and totally unacceptable that subscribers were incurring financial charges for a service they were compelled to use.

The minister had equally directed the NCC to compel the telcos to stop “illegal deduction” of subscribers’ data, and reduce the cost of data in the country.

The telcos had denied reports that they were engaging in illegal deductions, arguing that updates, downloads and some other activities on smartphones were responsible for unaccounted depletion of data.

Adebayo insisted that the telcos were not guilty of illegal deductions, as alleged by the minister.

“There are no such things as illegal deduction by any operator,” he said.

In response to the order to slash the cost of data, the telcos had argued that the price of data was determined by market forces, including cost of operations.

Asked whether the NCC had asked the operators to reduce the cost of data, Adebayo said, “There are regulatory procedures and framework for price variation and we will continue to comply will all such provisions as may be directed by the NCC, our regulator, from time to time.”

Adebayo, in the same vein, outlined the telcos’ demands on the Federal Government in the New Year.

Top on the list of demands was the classification of telecommunications infrastructure as critical national infrastructure, a development which would ensure that the facilities are protected by the government as national assets.

“We want the government to classify telecommunications infrastructure as Critical National Infrastructure and accord telecom cell sites, fibre optics cables and all supporting infrastructure the same level of protection being provided for critical economy infrastructure such as the oil pipelines and railway tracks,” Adebayo said.

Pantami had recently disclosed that the government was working on an Executive Order which would designate telecoms infrastructure as CNI.

Other issues ALTON is asking the Federal Government to resolve include “multiple taxation and multiple regulation” of telecom services.

ALTON had called for the amendment of Tax Order of 2015 to reduce multiple taxation.

Apart from the statutory taxes levied on operators, telcos pay Annual Operating Levy of certain percentage of earnings to the NCC and are also charged various rates by some other agencies of the federal, state and local governments.

“Illegal closure of telecom sites in the name of tax and revenue collection is an aberration that must be met with severe sanctions,” Adebayo added.

The ALTON chairman urged the communications minister, ensure that all the stakeholders in the sector work together to move the industry forward.

 


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Telecom

Flutterwave Announces Massive Staff Shake-Up, Promotes Over 100 Employees

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Flutterwave has announced a company-wide employee support package that includes promotions for about 25 per cent of its global workforce, a one-off economic relief payment and enhanced support measures for employees in Nigeria.

Flutterwave Announces Massive Staff Shake-Up, Promotes Over 100 Employees

The fintech company said more than 100 employees across its global operations had been promoted as part of efforts to reward performance and strengthen employee welfare.

In addition, all staff worldwide will receive a one-time economic relief payment, while employees in Nigeria will benefit from additional tax support and cost-of-living adjustments following recent regulatory changes affecting take-home pay.

The company said the initiative was introduced in response to rising living costs across key markets, particularly in Nigeria, where inflation and increased transportation expenses have placed pressure on household incomes.

Speaking on the development, Olugbenga Agboola, founder and Chief Executive Officer of Flutterwave, described employees as the driving force behind the company’s growth and innovation.

“I often say our people are our secret sauce. They are the ultimate engine behind everything we build, giving us the capacity to create solutions that power businesses, unlock opportunities and move money seamlessly across Africa and beyond,” he said.

According to the company, the support measures form part of its broader strategy to improve staff welfare, retain talent and create an environment where employees can focus on their work without undue financial pressure.

Also speaking, Annette Akpolo said the initiative reflects a balance between rewarding individual performance and addressing the collective needs of employees.

“Our goal has always been to build an environment where our people can focus on doing their best work, rather than being weighed down by economic anxiety.

“Pairing merit-based individual growth with supporting the collective needs of the whole team are both essential parts of how we build a company culture where people genuinely want to stay and grow over the long term,” she said.

Founded in 2016, Flutterwave is marking its 10th anniversary in 2026.

The company disclosed that it has processed more than one billion transactions and facilitated over 40 billion dollars in total payment value globally since inception.

Flutterwave also reported strong growth across its payment channels, including a 289 per cent increase in wallet-based collections by transaction volume and a 184 per cent rise in bank transfer value over the past year.

The company attributed the growth to increasing adoption of local payment methods across its operating markets.

Industry observers note that the latest employee support package comes amid increasing competition for skilled talent in Nigeria’s fintech sector, where firms are adjusting compensation and benefits to retain workers in the face of rising living costs.

Agboola said future growth opportunities within the company would continue to be based on performance, leadership and meaningful contributions to its mission.

“At Flutterwave, growth is earned through meaningful contributions to the business and to the mission we are building together.

“As we continue to grow, the people who will shape our future are those who consistently step up, solve hard problems, support others and move the company forward,” he said.


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AI and IoT Hold the Key to Nigeria’s Economic Future – NCC

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Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has identified Artificial Intelligence (AI) and the Internet of Things (IoT) as critical technologies for improving business efficiency, accelerating innovation and supporting Nigeria’s ambition to build a $1 trillion digital economy.

AI and IoT Hold the Key to Nigeria’s Economic Future - NCC

Aminu Maida, Executive Vice Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the NCC, made this known at the 17th edition of Nigeria Communications Week and Africa’s Beacon of ICT Merit and Leadership Award held in Lagos.

Represented by Toluwalase Modele Rufai, Acting Controller of the NCC Lagos Office, Maida said AI and IoT had evolved from emerging technologies into powerful tools driving productivity, reducing operational costs and creating competitive advantages across multiple sectors.

Speaking on the theme, “Impact of AI and IoT on Business Operational Efficiency,” he described the technologies as indispensable to Nigeria’s economic transformation agenda.

“This year’s theme is not only timely but profoundly important. As Nigeria accelerates its journey toward a $1 trillion digital economy, Artificial Intelligence and the Internet of Things have moved from futuristic concepts to present-day drivers of productivity, cost optimisation and competitive advantage across every sector,” he said.

According to him, AI-powered predictive analytics is helping manufacturers anticipate equipment failures before they occur, reducing downtime and maintenance costs, while IoT-enabled sensors are improving agricultural productivity through real-time monitoring of soil conditions.

He added that connected technologies are transforming logistics and supply chain management by improving visibility, reducing delays, lowering operational costs and enhancing customer satisfaction.

“Across banking, healthcare, smart cities, manufacturing and governance, these technologies are streamlining operations, automating routine tasks and unlocking data-driven decision-making that was unimaginable just a decade ago,” he said.

Maida, however, stressed that the successful deployment of AI and IoT depends largely on the availability of resilient and high-capacity telecommunications infrastructure.

“At the heart of every AI and IoT deployment lies one critical enabler: resilient, high-capacity connectivity. Without secure, scalable broadband networks, the full promise of real-time data exchange, seamless device interoperability and intelligent automation remains unfulfilled,” he said.

The NCC boss said the commission was reviewing the Nigerian National Broadband Plan (NNBP) 2020–2025 to improve efficiency and sustainability within the telecommunications sector.

He disclosed that the commission was also engaging state governments to reduce Right-of-Way charges and administrative bottlenecks in order to accelerate fibre-optic infrastructure deployment nationwide.

According to him, the NCC has made harmonised spectrum resources available to support mobile broadband, fixed wireless access and IoT services, while the 2026–2030 Spectrum Roadmap is expected to create additional opportunities for broadband expansion and emerging technologies.

“With broadband penetration exceeding 52 per cent and growing 4G and 5G adoption, these efforts enhance efficient spectrum management, drive innovation, provide regulatory certainty and position Nigeria in line with global best practices,” he said.

Maida also highlighted the commission’s recently introduced General Authorisation Framework, which provides a regulatory sandbox for innovators to test AI, IoT, blockchain and other emerging technologies in a controlled environment.

He noted that the NCC had strengthened cybersecurity and consumer protection through initiatives such as the designation of telecommunications infrastructure as Critical National Information Infrastructure (CNII), adoption of a Zero-Trust cybersecurity framework and implementation of guidelines for secure AI and IoT deployment.

The NCC chief emphasised the need for collaboration among government agencies, regulators, operators, technology providers, academia and investors to address challenges such as inadequate power supply, skills shortages, data privacy concerns and consumer protection issues.

“The NCC remains fully committed to creating an enabling, predictable regulatory environment that attracts investment, spurs innovation and delivers inclusive growth,” he said.

Maida urged stakeholders to work collectively towards building a digitally empowered nation where AI and IoT technologies not only improve business efficiency but also transform lives, strengthen the economy and position Nigeria as a leader in Africa’s digital future.

The event brought together regulators, industry leaders, innovators and other stakeholders to discuss emerging trends, policy directions and technological innovations shaping Nigeria’s digital economy.


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Good News for DStv Users: Watch Over 160 Channels Without Paying Extra

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MultiChoice Nigeria has launched a month-long promotional campaign tagged “Open Time”, offering eligible DStv subscribers access to higher viewing packages at no additional cost.

Good News for DStv Users: Watch Over 160 Channels Without Paying Extra

The promotion, which runs from June 1 to June 30, 2026, is aimed at rewarding existing customers, reconnecting subscribers and attracting new users across Nigeria.

Under the initiative, active subscribers on selected lower-tier packages, including Compact and Compact+, will automatically be upgraded to higher viewing tiers, with some customers gaining temporary access to Premium content during the promotional period.

According to the company, eligible subscribers will not be required to register or manually activate the offer, as upgrades will be applied automatically once subscription payments are confirmed.

In a statement announcing the campaign, MultiChoice said the initiative was designed to provide customers with access to a wider range of entertainment content and enhance viewing experiences.

“The Open Time initiative is a simple way for our customers to enjoy more of the stories they love and discover new content across genres, as long as their accounts remain active during the period,” the company stated.

The DStv Premium package, which currently costs N44,500 per month, offers access to more than 160 channels, including sports, movies, documentaries, children’s programming, news and lifestyle content.

MultiChoice said the offer applies to subscribers who maintain active accounts throughout the campaign period.

The company added that the promotion forms part of efforts to enhance customer value by providing broader access to entertainment content, including drama, sports, action and children’s programmes.

To participate, subscribers are required to make payments through approved channels such as the official DStv website, the MyDStv mobile application, USSD banking platforms and authorised payment agents.

The company clarified that all promotional upgrades would automatically expire at the end of June, after which subscribers would revert to their original subscription packages.

Industry analysts say the campaign comes amid increasing competition within Nigeria’s pay television and streaming market, where service providers are introducing incentives and value-added offerings to attract and retain customers.

MultiChoice said the initiative reflects its commitment to delivering quality entertainment and ensuring subscribers enjoy greater value from their subscriptions.


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