Telecom
IT Stakeholders Not Pleased with 10% Broadband Penetration, 2018 Target Dims
From available data, it will take special interventions for Nigeria to achieve her 30% broadband penetration as industry stakeholders on Friday bemoaned the mere 10% achievement almost mid-term to 2018 target.
Available statistics shows that broadband has struggled to grow from 6% in 2013, to 8% in 2014 and currently stood at 10%, even though the National Broadband Plan is targeting 30% penetration (growth) by 2018.
The stakeholders who gathered at third quarterly seminar of the Nigeria Information & Communications Technology Reporters’ Association (NITRA) held in Lagos, unanimously agreed that President Muhammadu Buhari led government should make deliberate policies that will attract more foreign direct investments (FDIs) to tackle infrastructural deficit in the sector.
Speaking at the NITRA seminar, Dr. Emmanuel Ekuwem, group chairman, Teledom Group and chairman of the occasion, however, warned that quest for FDIs must be balanced to allow local investors participation in creating values in the system too.
According to him, theme for the seminar: Foreign Direct Investment: An Impetus to Achieving Ubiquitous Broadband Penetration”, is timely now that the Federal Government is concerned with deepening the economy for the improvement of the lives of the citizens.
He however, said FDIs can be regarded as beneficial when Nigerians could create “contents” to complement demands from the outside world, generate employments, and protect the intellectual properties of the people and profit from the internet economy.
“It has become common saying that Broadband is a service to the people. Before now, the slogan has been ‘NarrowBand will deliver narrow future, broadband being broad future’. The important thing is that broadband has to run on infrastructure. NCC has done a good job by trying to unbundle the service provising scope, however, there are rooms for improvement.
“Content is key too. We cannot be claiming for improved broadband penetration without considering how to create contents. Infrastructural investments can be sustained by resources generated from content. So, FDI and broadband can be as broad as Nigerian want it, but we need to balance broadband penetration with the content we are creating, so we don’t invent digital imperialism,” he said.
Engineer Lanre Ajayi, president of ATCON, said operators in the industry align their thoughts with NITRA that 10% broadband penetration is slow, but every stakeholder must not shy away from the multifaceted challenges faced operators to deploy services.
He said unless issues on right of way (RoW), multiple taxation, security, indiscriminate shut down of base stations; to name a few, are addressed, inability to couping return on investments has become worrisome to the investors.
He called for joint effort to migrating the identified challenges to move the nation telecommunications industry forward.
“The truth is that 30% broadband penetration is not too ambitious considering the fact that countries like Kenya, South Africa, Ghana, etc have achieved even more than that. We have undersea cables already at the seashores of Lagos, the question is why the delays in taking the capacities to the last mile, especially the hinterlands. Investors are not happy about the delays but are faced with puncity if challenges. These have to be addressed to push penetration,” Ajayi said.
In a presentation on the Seminar theme, Mr. Olusegun Salami, senior manager, Transmission Access Planning, Network Group at MTN Nigeria, said it’s heartwarming that the present administration is employing policies to further open up the economy in a manner that the economy will be able to attract more FDIs, expectedly, such will address inadequacies that hamper broadband penetration.
Essentially, he said, the need to leverage available spectrum to drive broadband to rural areas cannot be over emphasised.
“As we work towards increased broadband penetration, measures to adopt should take take the strategies that made it possible for 90% radio (communication) penetration in rural areas,” he suggested.
Salami recalled that the journey of broadband adoption commenced in Nigeria in 2007 with the launch of 3G as against the narrow bands, however, with issues related to infrastructure been tackled, the time for cheaper smartphones is now.
“Imagine when we have broadband everywhere but feature phones still account for 40% of the market, desktops 30% and smartphones account for mere 25%, it wouldn’t work, to say the least,” he said.
The Senior Manager, Transmission Access Planning, Network Group at MTN Nigeria, also said that LTE services will help expand broadband scope to hinterlands when Federal Government makes deliberate policies to aid operators channel their services to such terrains.
He said, “We are happy government is moving in the direction to increase its investments in the development of the nation’s infrastructure such as power, supply, roads, telecoms, etc., in order to reduce the cost of doing business thereby wooing more FDIs.
“Thus, government should encourage production activity via production incentives and/or subsidies in order to increase the economy’s GDP”.
He added that the anti-graft drives of the present administration should be complemented with efficient judicial system to boast investors’ confidence on the system.
Earlier, Mr. Emma Okonji, internet and broadband have been globally acknowledged as the foundation for the transformation of a knowledge-base economy.
“Today, broadband penetration has struggled to grow from 6 per cent in 2013, to 8 per cent in 2014 and currently stood at 10 per cent penetration, even though the National Broadband Plan is targeting 30 per cent growth in 2018. As industry watchdog, NITRA is not pleased with the growth rate in broadband penetration in the country, vis-a-vis the fast growing number of internet users in Nigeria, which currently stood at 88 million,” he said.
NITRA, he said, is aligning with stakeholders in urging the Federal Government and the NCC to consider a purposeful implementation of the National Broadband Plan, in such a way it will attract foreign direct investment and also help to boost the natonal development.
Airtel Nigeria has strengthened its nationwide retail and distribution network as part of its continued investment in enhancing service delivery and making telecommunications and digital services more accessible to millions of Nigerians.
The company’s retail ecosystem comprises more than 4,000 exclusive Airtel shops and over 200,000 retail touch-points nationwide, including partner stores, channel partners and neighborhood agents. This network ensures that subscribers can conveniently easily access SIM registration, device purchases, airtime and data recharge, customer support and other digital solutions.
Commenting on the company’s retail distribution strategy, Dinesh Balsingh, CEO, Airtel Nigeria, said,
“Telecommunications goes beyond the physical infrastructure, it is important that we are able to reach people where they live and work. That is why we continue to invest in a strong retail and distribution ecosystem that enables us to bring Airtel closer to our customers while delivering a consistent, high-quality experience wherever they are.”
According to Joypratip Sengupta, Director, Sales and Distribution, Airtel Nigeria, the company’s distribution network plays a vital role in ensuring seamless service delivery.
“Our retail network is designed to ensure that our services reach customers efficiently. It is a combination of efficient logistic systems, strong partnerships and local engagement that enables us to consistently meet the needs of our customers across the country,” he said.
The strengthened distribution strategy complements the company’s ongoing investments in network infrastructure and digital innovation, recognising that customer proximity remains a critical driver of service excellence and digital inclusion.
In addition to improving customer access, Airtel’s extensive retail ecosystem continues to create economic opportunities for thousands of entrepreneurs, distributors, retailers and small business owners who form an integral part of the company’s value chain.
As demand for accessible, interconnected digital services continues to grow across Nigeria, Airtel remains committed to investing in improving its service delivery and ensuring that every subscriber enjoys quality service.
Kaspersky’s latest global survey shows a change in how people go online: 60% of survey participants from the Middle East, Turkiye, and Africa (META) region now claim their smartphone is the main device they use to access the Internet, pushing the PC into a secondary role.
But as the amount and sensitivity of data stored on these phones keep growing, cybersecurity experts warn that users’ security habits aren’t keeping up.
According to the survey* 60% of respondents from the META region consider a smartphone their primary device for accessing the Internet. The most active smartphone users are representatives of Gen Z, with 67% of all global respondents aged 18-28 choosing a mobile phone as their main device.
With mobiles as the full-fledged rivals of computers in accessing the Internet, the amount of important data stored on them has also increased significantly. Personal photos and videos are leading the pack. 60% of users in the META region store visual memories on their devices. Close behind are contact details (51%), text messages and chats history (45%) and important personal documents such as IDs and passports (43%).
At the same time, a substantial portion of users in the META region keep work‑related data on their smartphones (37% emails, 22% calendars and 17% even store access to corporate systems), blurring the line between personal and professional realms.
Financial credentials and login details appear on 40% of devices, while emerging categories like AI chat histories (30%) and gaming accounts (26%) signal new types of personal data stored on personal devices.
“Now our smartphones serve as full‑featured assistants that touch every aspect of our lives. The data we entrust to them goes far beyond photos, phone numbers or text messages. Consequently, the main question is no longer “what we store,” but “how we protect it,” requiring security to become as integral to the device as the data it carries,” comments Anton Kivva, cybersecurity expert at Kaspersky.
Three keys to mobile data security
To help users navigate this new digital reality safely, Kaspersky experts have issued a three-step security plan:
- No data should live on your phone only
A smartphone should never be the sole repository for any type of information. While having everything at your fingertips is convenient, accidental deletions, loss or hardware failure can make recovery impossible without reliable backups or cloud sync.
The most sensitive data like passwords, ID or financial details requires special attention and preferably be kept in a protected format. Use a dedicated security solution like Kaspersky Password Manager, which apart from securely keeping credentials and bank cards, has a special secret vault functionality aimed at storing important documents, for example, scanned Passports/IDs and PDF files, addresses and notes. Thanks to the cross-device synchronisation it allows access to the data from any gadget.
- Create a guard against digital threats
In Q1 2026 only, more than 2.67 million attacks utilising malware, adware or unwanted mobile software were prevented and more than 306,000 malicious installation packages were discovered.
Mobile devices require the same cyber protection as PCs. Kaspersky experts recommend cybersecurity solutions such as Kaspersky Premium that provide comprehensive protection – starting with scanning apps for potential threats upon installation, and using AI‑driven features to block malicious and phishing links in real time and prevent data or money losses, among many other security layers.
- The “what if” scenario planning
Phone loss always occurs unexpectedly, but a few proactive steps can dramatically reduce its impact:
Turn on location services. Both Android and iOS include built-in tools that can locate a lost phone and, if needed, wipe its data remotely. Kaspersky for Android app activates this capability through the Where Is My Device feature.
- Enable automatic backups.Regular backups ensure that photos, videos, documents, contacts and other vital data can be restored even if the device is lost or stolen.
- Configure instant auto‑lock.Setting the phone to lock immediately after the screen turns off keeps it inaccessible to thieves or cyber‑criminals when you’re not using it.
- Keep the device physically safe.In public spaces, never leave your phone unattended or within easy reach, avoid placing it on tables, in back pockets or any other vulnerable spot.
“We often underestimate how much valuable information we keep on our mobile devices and how vulnerable that data truly is. Ask yourself: When was the last time I backed up my photos or notes? What’s my plan if my phone goes missing? Do I verify links before I click them? While most users automatically think of security software for their computers, phones lag behind. It’s time to give your everyday digital companion the same robust cyber‑protection it deserves,” adds Anton Kivva, cybersecurity expert at Kaspersky.
Nigeria will host telecommunications, Information and Communication Technology (ICT) and digital economy ministers from across Africa for the 7th Ordinary Session of the African Telecommunications Union (ATU) Conference of Plenipotentiaries (CPL-26), scheduled for July 23 to July 24 in Abuja.
The conference, the highest decision-making body of the ATU, is expected to bring together ministers, regulators, industry leaders, development partners and other stakeholders from the Union’s 52 member states to deliberate on Africa’s digital and telecommunications agenda for the next four years.
A statement by the organisers said delegates would adopt the Union’s strategic direction, approve its 2027–2031 budget and work programme, elect a new Secretary-General and determine the composition of the Administrative Council.
The conference will also harmonise Africa’s common positions ahead of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) Plenipotentiary Conference scheduled to hold later this year in Doha, Qatar.
The Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Dr Bosun Tijani, described the conference as a significant milestone for Africa’s digital future.
“Nigeria is honoured to host the 7th Ordinary Session of the ATU Conference of Plenipotentiaries at a defining moment for Africa’s digital future.
“As countries across the continent accelerate digital transformation, it is increasingly important to strengthen regional cooperation, develop common positions on emerging technologies, and create enabling environments that attract investment, build digital talent and expand meaningful connectivity.
“Our role as host reflects the commitment of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to building an innovation-driven economy while strengthening African cooperation on digital infrastructure, technology governance, skills development and investment,” he said.
One of the major highlights of the conference will be a ministerial dialogue on “Achieving Africa’s Meaningful Connectivity,” jointly organised by the ATU and the GSMA.
The dialogue will explore practical strategies for expanding affordable, reliable and quality connectivity across the continent, with emphasis on infrastructure investment, service quality, affordability and ensuring that digital access delivers tangible economic and social benefits.
Also speaking ahead of the conference, the Secretary-General of the ATU, Mr John Omo, said the meeting would provide member states with an opportunity to strengthen the Union’s capacity to drive Africa’s digital ambitions.
He said the decisions to be taken in Abuja would shape the ATU’s ability to support national priorities, sustain Africa’s participation in global telecommunications forums and respond effectively to emerging technological developments over the next four years.
The conference is expected to conclude with the adoption of the Abuja Declaration, which will provide governments, regulators, industry stakeholders and development partners with a common framework for advancing Africa’s digital transformation agenda.
According to the organisers, hosting the conference underscores Nigeria’s commitment to regional collaboration and reinforces the country’s growing leadership in digital policy, technology governance and investment promotion across Africa.
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