Telecom
15 Telecom Operators Face Collapse as Subscribers Shrink

The massive growth recorded in the Nigerian telecommunications space since the liberalisation of the industry which started with the return to democratic rule has started to slow down as the fate of about 15 telecommunication operating companies hang in the balance as collapse and stunted growth threaten their survival, according to The Leadership newspaper.
The latest figures released by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) on its website has shown that smaller telecommunication operators are gradually dying off as stiff competitive environment, inability to access sufficient funds, technology obsolesce, and poor management is wiping out the small players in the industry.
According to an NCC industry study which computed the 2013 subscriber base of all licensed telecom operators including the Global System for Mobile communications (GSM) players, fixed and mobile Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) operators, Fixed Wireless Access (FWA) and data operators on Time Division Multiple Access (TDMA) operators and fourth generation long term evolution (4G LTE) service providers, many of the small players are on the brink of collapse.
The Leadership reported that apart from MTN, Globacom, Airtel, Etisalat and Visafone which added subscribers to their networks in 2013, most of the other telecom service providers did not grow their subscribers in all the four quarters of 2013. Out of four CDMA mobile operators, Starcomms and Reliance Telecoms (ZoomMobile) have ceased to operate their networks thereby contributing nothing to the overall subscriber base in 2013, while Multi-Links renders skeletal services.
On voice subscription, Visafone moved from 2,138,154 in the first quarter 2013 to 2,094,785 in the second quarter and from 2,438,590 in the third quarter and ended the fourth quarter with 2,063,330. Multi-Links also saw its voice subscriber base nosedive from 207,872 in the first quarter to 151,688 and 85,050 and 50,135 in the third and fourth quarters respectively.
The fixed/fixed wireless telecom operators who did not add a single subscriber to their network throughout 2013 include Starcomms Limited, Multilinks Telkom, Reliance Telecoms (Zoom),Intercellular Nigeria Limited, VGC Communications which is owned by MTN, MTS 1st Communications, Disc Communications, WiTEL and O’Net (Odua Telecom).
Others are Rainbownet Limited, Monarch Communications, XS Broadband (also owned by MTN), Webcom, IPNX and NITEL. Globacom fixed wireless network recorded 6,810 6,933 in the third and fourth quarter 2013 respectively. The fixed/fixed wireless operators saw their subscriber base move from 405,625, 382,678, 362,392 and 360,537 in each of the quarters of 2014. They started with a teledensity of 5.66 per cent and ended with 0.51 per cent.
According to the NCC, only 57,840,299 out of the 121,888,014 million active subscribers on the GSM networks used Internet data. The Internet subscriber data released by the NCC shows that 64,047,715 subscribers have yet to use data on the Internet as at end of 2013.
MTN Nigeria retained its lead in the telecoms market with more than eight million active lines, more than the combined subscribers of its two rivals—Globacom and Airtel Nigeria.
A key highlight of the NCC market information is that Globacom recorded 25,019,862 active connections as against 21,591,904 posted by Airtel Nigeria, indicating that the former was able to rake over 3.4 million active lines to outstrip its competitor by the middle of last year. MTN Nigeria still remains the market leader with 55,238,430 active lines.
MTN also left no doubt as to the success of its market ramp up campaign, as it recorded an impressive 7.69 per cent growth within the quarter, though dropping from nine per cent in the preceding quarter of mid-year 2013.
Telecom
Flutterwave Announces Massive Staff Shake-Up, Promotes Over 100 Employees

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.

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.
Telecom
NCC Retains Rudman as Chair of Newly Inaugurated IPv6 Council Board, Urges Advancement of Nigeria’s Digital Migration

The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has officially inaugurated the new board of the Nigerian Internet Protocol version 6 (IPv6) Council in Ikeja, Lagos. Mr. Muhammed Rudman, Chief Executive Officer of the Internet Exchange Point of Nigeria (IXPN), will continue to serve as Chairman.

This inauguration marks a significant milestone for Nigeria’s telecommunications sector, as global demand for IPv4 now exceeds the available IPv4 address space.
Following the event, Rudman acknowledged the contributions of former board members, including Olusola Teniola (former President, ATCON), Funke Opeke (Founder, MainOne), Mary Uduma (former President, NiRA), and Lanre Ajayi (past President, ATCON), emphasizing that their involvement was instrumental in establishing the nation’s foundational IPv6 migration efforts.
Rudman noted that membership in the IPv6 Council is institution-based. The reconstituted board includes Mr. Muhammed Rudman as Chairman and a representative from the NCC as Co-Chairman. Institutional representatives from NITDA, ATCON, NIRA, ALTON, ISPON, and NgREN serve as board members, with Dr. Chris Uwaje and Prof. Latif Ladid acting as Advisers. This group is responsible for leading the nationwide migration from IPv4 to IPv6.
“The transition to IPv6 is a strategic national priority. It is essential for enabling Nigeria’s digital transformation, economic growth, and global competitiveness. The council’s strategy identifies IPv6 as a primary catalyst for national development, focusing on three pillars: supporting emerging technologies such as 5G and the Internet of Things (IoT), promoting economic diversification, and providing enhanced security and performance compared to legacy solutions such as Network Address Translation (NAT),” Rudman stated.
To achieve these objectives, the council’s action plan is structured around two primary initiatives: awareness-raising and capacity-building. The board will prioritize promoting national awareness of IPv6 through targeted events and workshops, while also providing IPv6 training to network engineers across various operators, including ISPs, telecommunications companies, educational institutions, and financial organizations. These efforts are expected to facilitate the acquisition and deployment of IPv6 throughout Nigerian networks.
The council will develop and oversee the national IPv6 strategy, monitor adoption across sectors, and report regularly to the Federal Government. Additionally, the council will identify technical challenges, strengthen local engineering capacity, and recommend regulatory measures to encourage ISPs, telecommunications operators, academic institutions, and enterprises to upgrade.
With the Nigeria IPv6 Council now operational, local enterprises and network providers are required to upgrade their systems to sustain the nation’s position in the global digital landscape.
Telecom
MTN, ALTON, Upperlink, NiRA back 2026 Nigeria DigitalSENSE forum, awards

Leading telecommunications, technology, and internet governance stakeholders have thrown their weight behind the 16th milestone edition of the annual Nigeria DigitalSENSE Forum (NDSF) on Internet Governance for Development (IG4D), scheduled to hold on Thursday, June 11, 2026, at the Welcome Centre Hotels, Ikeja-Lagos.

The high-profile convergence, organized by pioneer tech-media firm ITREALMS Media and hosted by DigitalSENSE Africa (DSA); an ICANN-certified At-Large Structure, will center its discourse on the national theme: “Sustaining WSIS Vision with Multistakeholder Synergy in Nigeria.”
Confirming their corporate backing and institutional participation are industry giants including ICT infrastructure leader MTN Nigeria; the Association of Licensed Telecoms Operators of Nigeria (ALTON); premier software and DNS infrastructure firm Upperlink Limited; and the Nigeria Internet Registration Association (NiRA).
Speaking on the preparations, the Lead Convener of NDSF and Group Executive Editor of ITREALMS Media Group, Ogbuefi Remmy Nweke, KSM, stated that the 2026 forum marks a crucial trajectory in examining how local multi-stakeholder synergy can sustain the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) frameworks to accelerate Nigeria’s digital public infrastructure (DPI) and domain economy.
“We are delighted to have the robust support of critical ecosystem drivers like MTN, ALTON, Upperlink, and NiRA. Their participation underscores the vital importance of multi-stakeholder dialogue in addressing contemporary policy, infrastructure growth, digital rights, and the transition into more advanced, secure digital spaces,” Nweke said.
A major highlight of this year’s forum will be that it will hold under the distinguished chairmanship of industry veteran, Dr. Olusola Teniola (hon), as approved by the Board of Directorate and the Central Committee. Under his chairmanship, the forum will also feature the presentation of the prestigious DigitalSENSE Africa 2026 awards to distinguished players in the ecosystem and corporate technology landscape across the continent.
The forum’s comprehensive agenda will feature high-level plenaries and technical sessions led by seasoned industry experts. Key areas of discourse will cut across the role of regulatory organs in the digital economy, bridging innovation gaps, leveraging Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) for SME growth, digital rights, and data protection.
The organizers have invited additional internet stakeholders, including civil society organizations (CSOs), academia, young innovators, women in tech, and industry professionals, to maximize the networking and advocacy windows presented by this 16th edition.
With corporate sponsorship tiers spanning Platinum, Gold, Silver, and Bronze partnerships now actively filling up, corporate brand materials and production collaterals are expected to reach the NDSF secretariat on or before Thursday, June 4, 2026, to guarantee technical alignment.
Telecom2 days agoNCC Retains Rudman as Chair of Newly Inaugurated IPv6 Council Board, Urges Advancement of Nigeria’s Digital Migration
E-Financial2 days agoPOS Operators Threaten to Suspend Services over Exclusivity Practice
E-Financial2 days agoNigerian Banks Under Pressure as Bad Loans Hit 8.03% After CBN Policy Shift
E-Financial1 day agoBanks Lending to FG Hit N15.66 Trillion in One Year– CBN
Telecom2 days agoMTN, ALTON, Upperlink, NiRA back 2026 Nigeria DigitalSENSE forum, awards
General News1 day agoAfDB Says 70 Percent of Nigerian Firms Depend on Generators
News1 day agoAmuchie, ED Fidelity Bank Named “Outstanding Banker of the Year” @ ABoICT 2026
General News1 day agoLagos Airport Reviews Ebola Emergency Response, Tightens Passenger Monitoring


















