Telecom

4G Technological Upgrade and Access Issues

Published

16 years ago

September 15, 2010

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Telecommunications is a space where changes in technology use in delivery of services has posed a challenge for operators. All the different types of technology that operators are using in service delivery have witnessed some migration from one type of technology to a higher one either in terms of capacity to transmit both voice and data or in the delivery of quality service.
Although, Nigeria started late in the business of telecommunications, it has witness some technological upgrade by operators in the industry, all geared towards improvement of service delivery but none that seek to address access concerns to rural areas as well as making such service within the reach of a common man. Most of all the technological upgrade recorded so far has consistently widening the gap between the rich and the poor. For instance, the handset that allows subscribers access to 3G services are out of reach of common Nigerian let alone the coming 4G.
Upgrades in the Industry
The first set of GSM operators that launched services after the industry was liberalized in 2001 used second generation technology to deliver services. Second generation (2G) cellular telecom networks were commercially launched on the GSM standard in Finland in 1991. Three primary benefits of 2G networks over their predecessors were that phone conversations were digitally encrypted, 2G systems were significantly more efficient on the spectrum allowing for far greater mobile phone penetration levels; and 2G introduced data services for mobile, starting with SMS text messages.
Before 2G was launched, mobile telephone systems were retrospectively dubbed 1G. While radio signals on 1G networks were analog, 2G networks are digital, both systems use digital signaling to connect the radio towers (which listen to the handsets) to the rest of the telephone system.
According to experts, digital systems were embraced by consumers for several reasons, which included, the lower powered radio signals which require less battery power, so phones last much longer between charges, and batteries can be smaller.
The digital voice encoding allowed digital error checking which could increase sound quality by increasing dynamic range and lowering the noise floor.
The lower power emissions helped address health concerns. Going all-digital allowed for the introduction of digital data services, such as SMS and email. With analog systems it was possible to have two or more "cloned" handsets that had the same phone number.
A key digital advantage not often mentioned is that digital cellular calls are much harder to eavesdrop on by use of radio scanners.
However, its shortcoming includes in less populous areas, the weaker digital signal may not be sufficient reaching a cell tower. This tends to be a particular problem on 2G systems deployed on higher frequencies, but is mostly not a problem on 2G systems deployed on lower frequencies. National regulations differ greatly among countries which dictate where 2G can be deployed.
2.5G an upgrade from 2G is a stepping stone between 2G and 3G cellular wireless technologies. The term "second and a half generation" is used to describe 2G-systems that have implemented a packet switched domain in addition to the circuit switched domain. It does not necessarily provide faster services because bundling of timeslots is used for circuit switched data services (HSCSD) as well.
International Mobile Telecommunications-2000 (IMT-2000), better known as 3G or 3rd Generation, is a family of standards for mobile telecommunications defined by the International Telecommunication Union, which includes GSM EDGE, UMTS, and CDMA2000 as well as Dect and WiMax. Services include wide-area wireless voice telephone, video calls, and wireless data, all in a mobile environment. Compared to 2G and 2.5G services, 3G allows simultaneous use of speech and data services and higher data rates (up to 14.0 Mbit/s on the downlink and 5.8 Mbit/s on the uplink with HSPA+). Thus, 3G networks enable network operators to offer users a wider range of more advanced services while achieving greater network capacity through improved spectral efficiency.
The 3G race in the space began when the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) signified its intention to award the licenses to Global System for Mobile Communication (GSM) operators in 2006 barely five years after GSM service was launched in the country.
The Competition complete with media blitz of the first to get the license and to launch the service began. The three major operators Zain, MTN and Glo then eventually secured the license and began the upgrade in order to launch the service.
3G is radio communications technology that creates a “bit pipe” for providing mobile access to internet-based services. It enhances and extends mobility in many areas of people’s lives.
In essence, mobility won’t be an add-on; it will become a fundamental aspect of many services. Consumers expect high-speed access to the internet, entertainment, information and electronic commerce (e-commerce) services wherever they are-not just on their desktop computers, home PCs or television sets.
3G services add an invaluable mobile dimension to services that are already becoming an integral part of modern business life: Internet and intranet access, video conferencing, and interactive application sharing.
We are not just talking about “road warriors” who spend their entire lives traveling. It’s more a question of supporting new, flexible working practices where employees need access to a wide range of information and services via their corporate intranets, whether they are at their own desk or anywhere else.
As 3G services enter our day-to-day lives in all sorts of new ways. For instance, in shopping, especially internet “mail order” (e-commerce), banking, or playing interactive computer games over the net with mobile phones especially when the subscriber to the service is within the technology coverage area.
Mohammed Jameel, group chief operating officer, Globacom, explained that the 3G network, in addition to giving customers high speed mobile internet access, allow them to do video calls and video streaming on their 3G enabled handsets. He said: “it also offers other advanced mobile services such as video greeting kiosk, video mailbox, video conferencing on both phones and PCs and such other services as possible on the 3G High-Speed Downlink Packet Access (HSDPA) network which enables speeds up to 3.5 Megabytes per seconds (Mbps),”
He said that the services available on Glo 3G Plus include video calling, high speed internet access either on 3G phone or laptop via data cards, video and audio streaming and mobile TV.
The Glo COO said that the 3G network will revolutionize the way data is transferred and relayed digitally as it enables a much faster transmission of data, voice, broadband internet and multimedia services over a range of frequencies.
Today, few years after the launch Nigeria Communications Week gathered that the service is still restricted to few major towns and cities claimed as commercially viable while operators said more cities will be covered. What this means is that operators are yet to completely provide 3G services to majors cities in the country, that the industry has started clamouring for another upgrade to 4G Long Term Evolution (LTE). 4G is the next step from 3G/WCDMA & HSPA for many already on the GSM technology curve but also for others too, such as CDMA operators. This new radio access technology will be optimized to deliver very fast data speeds of up to 100Mb/s downlink and 50Mb/s uplink (peak rates).
Designed to be backwards-compatible with GSM and HSPA, LTE incorporates Multiple In Multiple Out (MIMO) in combination with Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiple Access (OFDMA) in the downlink and Single Carrier FDMA in the uplink to provide high levels of spectral efficiency and end user data rates exceeding 100 Mbps, coupled with major improvements in capacity and reductions in latency. LTE will support channel bandwidths from 1.25 MHz to 20 MHz and both FDD and TDD operation.
Although both LTE and WiMAX use the OFDMA air interface, LTE has the advantage of being backwards compatible with existing GSM and HSPA networks, enabling mobile operators deploying LTE to continue to provide a seamless service across LTE and existing deployed networks.
Several major mobile operators, including some running CDMA networks today, have indicated their willingness to adopt LTE in the next few years. Japanese mobile operator NTT DOCOMO launched its commercial LTE network at the end of 2009, while in the U.S., the largest CDMA operator, Verizon Wireless, will soon launch having concluded trialing of the technology.
This new technology no doubt comes with its immense benefits but it also comes with some challenges for both operators who need to upgrade their networks to offer 4G services at both their switch and base station, while subscribers will in the same vien require compactable handsets for them to enjoy services from the technology. In Nigeria, operators are currently faced with decline in average revenue per user (ARPU) occasioned by hard economic situation. Upgrading to another technology may be a challenge even if they are not required to obtain license for which is most unlikely.
Engr. Bayo Banjo, general manager, Disc Communications, said that technological advancement in telecommunications are products of research carried out by especially equipment vendors, and that these vendors invest in research and development with the idea of making profits from the sale of products of such research.
He added that the guiding principle is demand for the product which often times has a global outlook and such would not want to invest in product whose demand is low. He explained that why technological advancements in telecommunications industry are not looking at a way of making equipments for network roll out that will be cheaper and may not require some basic infrastructure is because such equipment vendors are using their home countries which has such infrastructure as basis for producing any product.
He regretted the situation in the country where 60 per cent of telecommunications activities are centred around cities like Lagos, Abuja and Port Harcourt because government has failed in its effort to provide adequate infrastructure such as electric to the citizens, there by forcing operators to concentrate in the cities where residents can provide generators to use their telecommunications equipment required to enjoy telecommunications services.
He noted that presently, telecommunications equipment for network roll out are getting cheaper as a result of economic meltdown and emergence of Asian vendors such as Huawei among others.

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Telecom

NCC Reports over 5,000 Fibre Cuts in 6 Months

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19 hours ago

August 12, 2026

Ebere Melum-Nwogbo

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Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has said that more than 5,000 fibre-optic cable cuts linked to road construction, excavation and related civil works were recorded in the first six months of 2026.

NCC Reports over 5,000 Fibre Cuts in 6 Months

The commission said that the damage is disrupting telecommunications services, increasing operators’ costs and exposing businesses and essential public services to avoidable interruptions.

Aminu Maida, executive vice chairman, NCC, disclosed the figure at a stakeholders’ workshop on the protection of fibre-optic infrastructure during road construction and rehabilitation.

He said the scale of the incidents showed the need to prevent damage rather than wait to repair networks after they had been cut

Maida said fibre networks support banking, healthcare, education, government services, commerce, security and emergency communications.

He recalled the widespread telecommunications disruption in February 2024, when fibre cuts affected millions of Nigerians and caused congestion on alternative networks as subscribers switched providers.

He said a Standing Committee on the Protection of Fibre Optic Cables had been established by the Federal Ministries of Works and Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy to improve coordination before, during and after road construction.

The committee was later expanded to include the Office of the National Security Adviser and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps because of the critical nature of telecommunications infrastructure.

Raphael Adelador, permanent secretary of the Federal Ministry of Works, said road construction and telecommunications infrastructure often occupy the same physical space, making coordination essential.

Adelador called for better mapping of fibre routes and improved information sharing so contractors and consultants know where telecommunications infrastructure is located before excavation begins.

He said damage to fibre networks could lead to service disruptions, lost productivity, financial losses and inconvenience to citizens.

Representing Nadungu Gagare, permanent secretary, Federal Ministry of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Stanley Musa, director of Telecoms and Postal Services, said the protection of telecommunications infrastructure was a shared national responsibility.

The Permanent Secretary said that the government was working with relevant stakeholders to strengthen compliance with technical standards and right-of-way requirements, improve information sharing and develop clearer procedures for infrastructure protection.

Air Vice Marshal Effiom Ewa, director of Critical National Standards and Infrastructure Protection at the Office of the National Security Adviser, said fibre-optic infrastructure had been designated as critical national information infrastructure and warned that damage caused by negligence, interference or actions that expose the infrastructure to damage could attract legal consequences.

Air Vice Marshal Ewa called for strict compliance with established procedures during construction and maintenance activities.

The two-day workshop brought together representatives of government ministries and agencies, security organisations, telecommunications operators, contractors and other stakeholders to develop practical measures for reducing fibre damage during construction projects.

The stakeholders are expected to strengthen coordination, information sharing and accountability so that road development does not undermine the digital infrastructure supporting Nigeria’s economy.

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Telecom

ipNX Joins Calls for Innovation-Friendly Ecosystem and Stronger Local Opportunities at Regenesys AI Summit

Published

19 hours ago

August 12, 2026

Chike Onwuegbuchi

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ipNX Nigeria has joined stakeholders at the Regenesys AI Summit to call for innovation-friendly regulations and stronger local opportunities. Chief Technology Architect, ipNX Nigeria, Oluwaseun Oluboyo, made the call for a collaborative approach to advancing Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Nigeria, and emphasized the need to foster innovation while developing enabling frameworks that support responsible adoption and sustainable growth.

Speaking during a panel session at the summit themed “The Future of Nigeria in the Age of AI,” Oluboyo encouraged business leaders, policymakers and technology stakeholders to create an environment where innovation can flourish through experimentation, collaboration and continuous learning.

“If you don’t try new things, if you only stick to what is familiar, we are not going to go progress as a society or an ecosystem,” he said. “Innovation requires the confidence to explore new ideas, while ensuring that customers remain protected.”

Reflecting on the rapid evolution of AI technologies, Oluboyo noted that governance frameworks should remain adaptable to accommodate emerging innovations and evolving industry needs.

“As technology continues to evolve, it is important that we focus on the outcomes we want to achieve while creating room for innovation. Organisations naturally build on what works, but continuous improvement is essential to unlocking new possibilities.”

He observed that creating a supportive innovation ecosystem will enable organisations to deploy AI responsibly while accelerating digital transformation across industries.

Oluboyo also highlighted the importance of strengthening Nigeria’s technology ecosystem by creating more opportunities for local talent to innovate, build and thrive within the country.

“We should continue creating the environment that makes Nigeria an attractive destination for innovation and enables our brightest talents to contribute meaningfully to national development.”

He noted that sustained investment in digital infrastructure, skills development and innovation ecosystems will be instrumental in positioning Nigeria to maximise the economic and societal benefits of Artificial Intelligence.

Held recently in Victoria Island, Lagos, the Regenesys AI Summit convened technology leaders, policymakers, entrepreneurs and industry experts to examine how Artificial Intelligence is transforming industries, reshaping business models and redefining leadership priorities.

Other speakers on the panel were Ugo Umeseaka, COO, Redtech Limited; Oladele Adedoyin, Partnership Development Manager, Liquid Intelligent Technologies, and Dr Oluwatomi Kogo, Managing Director, Iwosan Lagoon Hospitals.

The summit, themed “The Future of Nigeria in the Age of AI,” provided a platform for meaningful dialogue, knowledge sharing and practical insights into the opportunities AI presents for economic growth, business innovation and national development.

As AI adoption continues to accelerate across Nigeria, conversations such as these remain essential in fostering collaboration among industry, academia and policymakers to ensure Artificial Intelligence is deployed responsibly, inclusively and for the benefit of society.

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Telecom

Google Selects Six Nigerian News Creators for Emerging Voices Growth Lab

Published

19 hours ago

August 12, 2026

Ugo Onwuaso

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Google News Initiative (GNI) has selected six Nigerian independent news creators to participate in its Emerging News Voices Growth Lab for Sub-Saharan Africa.

Google Selects Six Nigerian News Creators for Emerging Voices Growth Lab

The selected Nigerian creators are Onlinebanker, Adetunji Films, More Branches TV, Wearegst, Iswellthecapitalist and The Republic.

They are part of a cohort of about 20 emerging news creators from across Sub-Saharan Africa participating in the multi-month virtual programme, which runs through September 2026.

The initiative is designed to strengthen the capacity of creator-led and digital-native newsrooms through practical training in artificial intelligence, video production, audience development, direct reader engagement and sustainable revenue strategies.

The GNI said the programme was developed in response to the changing way Nigerians, particularly younger audiences, discover and consume news through social-first channels and digital platforms.

According to the initiative, while creator-led journalism is expanding rapidly, many independent newsrooms operate with limited resources and do not have the same access to technology, training and revenue expertise available to established media organisations.

Participants in the Growth Lab will work with Google trainers and product experts across four key areas.

The first is AI in the newsroom, where participants will receive hands-on guidance on integrating tools such as Gemini, NotebookLM, Google Trends and SynthID into newsroom workflows for research, transcription, translation and verification.

The programme will also focus on video and audience growth, providing practical strategies for building YouTube channels and using both Shorts and long-form video to reach new audiences.

Another area is direct reader relationships, with participants expected to strengthen their open-web presence and newsletters in order to develop first-party audiences that newsrooms can directly engage.

The fourth area is sustainable revenue, with sessions covering monetisation strategies, product differentiation and audience growth models.

Marianne Erasmus, News Partnerships Lead, Middle East and Africa at Google, said independent news creators and digital-native newsrooms were increasingly shaping how Africans, particularly Nigerians, find and understand news.

“Independent news creators and digital-native newsrooms are shaping how Africans, and Nigerians in particular, find and understand the news,” Erasmus said.

She said the Growth Lab would equip emerging newsrooms with practical AI skills, video and audience strategies, direct relationships with readers and approaches to sustainable revenue.

Erasmus added that strengthening the capabilities and financial independence of emerging news voices would contribute to a more resilient, diverse and sustainable news ecosystem.

Wale Lawal, Founder and Editor-in-Chief of The Republic, said the programme was providing practical ways for the publication to combine audience insights, product thinking and responsible AI use.

“Google’s Emerging News Voices Growth Lab is giving us practical ways to combine audience insight, product thinking and the responsible use of AI as we build a more sustainable future for The Republic’s journalism,” Lawal said.

Similarly, Nasir Achile Ahmed, Editor-in-Chief and Co-founder of MoreBranches, said the programme had provided practical resources, new tools and opportunities to connect with experts and fellow journalists.

Ahmed said the initiative had also provided information that validated some of the newsroom’s previous observations while equipping its team with knowledge on how to use new tools effectively.

He said the engagement with experts and fellow journalists had created a supportive environment for strengthening storytelling.

The Growth Lab emerged from the Global News Gap Project, a continent-wide mapping initiative conducted with Project Oasis and Code for Africa to identify independent African news creators and areas where emerging newsrooms require additional support.

The programme is part of Google’s broader support for the Nigerian media industry.

Since 2018, Google has supported newsroom transformation projects through the Google News Initiative and provided publishers with opportunities to strengthen their advertising revenue capabilities through the Ad Manager Academy.

Google said that since 2024, it had trained more than 1,500 Nigerian journalists and editors in areas including online safety, advanced Search, digital verification and audience analytics.

It also supports media skills development through its collaboration with the MTN Media Innovation Programme, where fellows receive practical training on AI as a productivity partner and newsroom technologies, including News Consumer Insights and Gemini.

The latest initiative reflects the growing importance of digital-native journalism as news consumption continues to shift towards social media, video platforms and other online channels.

Through the Growth Lab, GNI is seeking to help emerging news creators build stronger digital operations, expand their audiences and develop sustainable business models while responsibly adopting emerging technologies.

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