Telecom
4G Technological Upgrade and Access Issues
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.
Dr Karl Toriola, chief executive officer, MTN Nigeria, has assured its subscribers that another telecom tariff increase is not imminent.
Dr Karl Toriola, chief executive officer, MTN Nigeria
He also clarified his recent comments on unlimited mobile data, saying they were taken out of context.
Toriola who spoke during an interview on TVC’s Beyond the Headlines, said his remarks at MTN’s Data on Trial public engagement were intended to explain the technical limitations of mobile networks rather than suggest that consumers could never access unlimited data.
According to him, excerpts of his comments circulated online did not reflect the full context of the discussion.
“People took snippets of the conversation, and the entirety of the conversation is available on YouTube. There’s nothing to be hidden there, and they took it slightly out of context,” he said.
Toriola explained that mobile networks are constrained by finite spectrum resources, making unrestricted data usage technically impossible without affecting the quality of service for other subscribers.
“Mobile wireless technology to offer data is limited by one factor—spectrum—and spectrum is a finite resource. You cannot put an excessive load of data traffic onto a mobile network without having a degradation of the quality of service for other people,” he said.
He added that while many telecom operators market data plans as unlimited, such packages are generally governed by fair usage policies, under which internet speeds are reduced after subscribers exceed specified usage thresholds.
Toriola said MTN is working towards introducing similar products but noted that they would also be subject to fair usage limits to protect network quality.
Addressing concerns over rapid data depletion, the MTN chief executive said operators do not deliberately consume customers’ data, attributing much of the usage to background activities such as automatic cloud backups on applications including WhatsApp, Google Cloud and iCloud.
“A significant amount of data that’s consumed on your handsets is done without your realisation,” he said.
He advised subscribers to review their device settings and configure cloud backups to run only over Wi-Fi or at less frequent intervals.
To illustrate the point, Toriola said an audit of the phone of one of MTN’s chief officers, who had complained about unusually high data usage, revealed that WhatsApp was automatically backing up about 120 gigabytes of data.
On telecom pricing, Toriola said another tariff increase is not expected in the near term, although future reviews would depend on prevailing economic conditions and the cost of sustaining network operations.
“The increment is not imminent. But over time, depending on economic conditions, there might be possible tariff increases,” he said.
He maintained that the tariff adjustment implemented in 2025 was necessary to ensure the sustainability of the telecommunications industry after more than a decade without a price review despite rising operating costs.
Toriola also disclosed that MTN invested ₦390 billion in capital expenditure during the first quarter of the year, exceeding its ₦359 billion profit after tax for the same period.
He identified fibre cuts, vandalism, unreliable electricity supply and restricted access to telecom infrastructure as major factors affecting service quality.
“We have more fibre cuts in a day than the whole Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has in a year,” he said.
Responding to calls for sanctions against MTN over recurring xenophobic incidents in South Africa, Toriola said MTN Nigeria is a Nigerian company in ownership and operations, noting that it is listed on the Nigerian Exchange, has only four expatriates in its workforce and has millions of Nigerian shareholders through direct investments and pension funds.
“We unequivocally condemn any form of xenophobia, any form of violence, any form of attacks against any community in the world,” he said.
Telecom
Airtel Africa Foundation Equips 200 Young Women with Digital Skills to Drive Nigeria’s Tech Economy
Airtel Africa Foundation, through Airtel Nigeria and in partnership with the Ishk Tolaram Foundation, Co-Creation Hub (CcHub), and SAIL Innovation Lab, has commenced the DigiLeap Women in Tech Programme, a transformative initiative designed to equip 200 young women from underserved communities in Ikorodu, Lagos, with industry-relevant digital skills and pathways into Nigeria’s rapidly expanding technology sector.
The programme, hosted by the SAIL Innovation Lab Ikorodu, comprises a 12-week immersive learning experience from June to September 2026, designed to prepare participants for careers in Product Design, Software Development, Digital Marketing, and Data Analytics.
Beyond technical training, beneficiaries will receive leadership development, structured mentorship from Airtel Nigeria professionals, and internship opportunities that provide practical workplace experience and exposure to industry best practices.
Commenting on the programme kick-off, Segun Ogunsanya, Chairman of the Airtel Africa Foundation, said empowering young women with digital skills represents one of the most sustainable investments in Africa’s future.
He also noted that the initiative reflects Airtel Africa Foundation’s continued commitment to expanding access to digital education while creating opportunities for young Africans to participate meaningfully in the continent’s digital transformation.
“We encourage every participant to approach this programme with purpose, discipline, and curiosity. The knowledge, networks, and mentorship you gain over the coming weeks have the potential to transform not only your own future but also the lives of your families, communities, and the next generation of girls who will look up to you. This is how lasting impact is created,” Ogunsanya said.
Also speaking on the initiative, Dinesh Balsingh, Chief Executive Officer of Airtel Nigeria, highlights that the initiative aligns with the company’s commitment to building an inclusive digital economy by ensuring more young Nigerians, particularly women, are equipped for the jobs of the future.
Balsingh said, “Nigeria’s digital economy presents enormous opportunities, but participation must be inclusive if we are to realise its full potential. Through the Airtel Africa Foundation, we are intentionally investing in young women because we recognise the immense value they bring to innovation, technology, and economic growth.
“DigiLeap is designed to equip participants with practical, industry-relevant skills that employers are looking for today while also giving them the confidence, mentorship, and professional exposure needed to build successful careers.”
According to the DigiLeap curriculum, participants will engage in intensive classroom instruction, hands-on projects, mentorship sessions, and internship placements designed to bridge the gap between learning and employment.
Airtel Nigeria professionals will serve as mentors, providing career guidance and sharing real-world industry insights to help participants transition successfully into the technology workforce.
The DigiLeap Women in Tech Programme spotlights the Airtel Africa Foundation’s growing investment in digital inclusion and youth empowerment across Africa. By creating pathways for more women to access technology careers, the Foundation continues to contribute to Nigeria’s digital transformation agenda while helping build a diverse pipeline of talent capable of driving innovation, creating businesses, and shaping the future of the country’s digital economy.
Karl Toriola, chief executive officer, MTN Nigeria, has stated that the telecom company is “a Nigerian company through and through,” emphasising that it belongs as much to Nigerians as to its global investors, with over 11 million Nigerians holding indirect stakes through pension funds.
Toriola also defended the federal government’s approval of telecom tariff adjustments, noting that the move helped prevent a financial crisis in the sector and enabled the company to ramp up capital expenditure to about N1 trillion in 2025 to improve network quality.
Speaking during an interview on Arise News, the MTN boss dismissed claims that the company is solely South African, despite its origins.
According to him, MTN Nigeria is incorporated locally, listed on the Nigerian Exchange, pays taxes in Nigeria, and is largely managed by Nigerians.
“We are labelled as a South African company because MTN Group was founded in South Africa. But the reality is that MTN Group has a very diverse global shareholding. Only about 50 percent of the shareholding is African, while the rest is held by investors from North America, Europe, the United Kingdom, the Middle East and Asia-Pacific,” he said.
Speaking further on MTN Nigeria’s identity, Toriola stressed the company’s deep roots in the Nigerian economy.
“MTN Nigeria is a Nigerian company through and through. We are domiciled in Nigeria. We are listed on the Nigerian Exchange. We pay all the taxes, duties and levies expected of us, and we are run by Nigerians.
“I am Nigerian. Apart from one executive, every member of our executive committee is Nigerian, while our entire expatriate workforce in Nigeria is just four people.
“We have over 201,000 retail investors, while about 11 million Nigerians own MTN shares indirectly through pension funds. We are very proud of our Nigerian identity,” he stated.
On the recent telecom tariff adjustment, Toriola said the increase was driven by necessity rather than profit motives, noting that operators were struggling to meet basic financial obligations before the review.
“People perceived the tariff increase as an aspiration for profitability, but the reality was that we were on our knees financially. We couldn’t even pay our month-to-month bills with the revenues we were generating. The tariff adjustment was an absolute necessity. It enabled us to stay alive,” he said.
He added that the improved revenue base has enabled MTN to scale up infrastructure investments to enhance service delivery.
“In the first quarter of this year alone, we spent N390 billion on capital expenditure, compared with a profit after tax of N359 billion. That shows our commitment to improving quality of service,” he said.
Addressing concerns over poor network quality, Toriola attributed the challenges to increasing demand, infrastructure gaps, vandalism, insecurity, and unreliable power supply.
“There are people who deliberately pour petrol into our manholes and set them on fire. A single incident can knock out services for millions of subscribers. We also face security challenges that prevent our engineers from quickly accessing some sites.
“In addition, we operate about 18,000 sites nationwide, each requiring generators, batteries, rectifiers and constant fuelling because of inadequate public electricity supply. All these affect quality of service,” he explained.
While acknowledging that service quality still needs improvement, he assured customers of continued investment.
“We are not perfect, but we are investing aggressively and continuously striving to do better,” he added.
On allegations that telecom operators deliberately deplete customers’ data, Toriola said findings often point to background data usage by smartphone applications.
“There is a perception that MTN goes and takes customers’ data, but our studies have shown repeatedly that background applications are consuming much of that data.
“I encourage customers to check their device settings. Daily automatic backups are unnecessary for many users. If possible, carry out backups over Wi-Fi instead of mobile data,” he advised.
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