Telecom

Airtel to Attain 70% Africa ‘Green Network’ in 2013

Published

14 years ago

March 19, 2012

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In Africa, it would be said: ‘killing two birds with a stone’ and that could be exactly what Indian mobile operator Bharti Airtel attempts with its envisaged 70 per cent migration to ‘Green Network’ by 2013 throughout its continent-wide operation, Nigeria CommunicationsWeek can report. Last week Airtel announced significant milestones in its endeavor to build a ‘green’ environment friendly mobile network and reduce its carbon footprint in Africa. As part of its commitment to the environment the company has undertaken a series of initiatives that are starting to deliver tangible results. It noted that over 2011, it significantly reduced the number of telecom sites running solely on diesel by more than 50% by overcoming the challenge of lack of grid connectivity through use of innovative models such as Hybrid Battery Bank. By 2013, the Company aims to completely eradicate the constant use of diesel to power its network. This means no telecom site of the company will rely solely on diesel power 24 hours a day. Eben Albertyn, chief technical officer, Bharti Airtel, explains the green network migration formula. He noted that hybrid battery banks (HBB) collect the excess energy produced by the diesel powered generator in a battery that powers the site once the generator in switched off – significantly reducing the use of diesel by up to 14 hours a day. The HBB technology has been deployed to about 60 per cent of Bharti Airtel’s telecom sites across the continent resulting in major reduction in carbon emissions and also operating costs for the company. It targets to cover about 70 per cent of all its sites to be powered by the HBB model by end of 2013. The HBB technology model would be complimented by other ‘green energy technology’ suits like solar and wind to power its telecom sites. “This milestone is the result of significant steps by Airtel taken to ensure that we reduce our fuel consumption and that we play our part in conserving the environment. We will continue to do so as the year progresses. Our first priority is to reduce the number of sites that are completely reliant on diesel generators. We are doing this by connecting these sites to grid electricity in areas where this option is feasible. Where it is not, we are exploring alternative forms of power supply, which include Hybrid Battery Banks and solar/wind power,” said Albertyn. Critically, Airtel has already made some giant strides in using solar panels to power sites in select markets. “Over the last two months, 105 solar sites have already been set up in (in the drought stricken former French colony of) Niger reducing the use of diesel generators from 24 hours a day to a meager 3 to 4 hours,” it said. In the short span of two years, the , the implementation of all key initiatives – increased grid connectivity, battery hybrid and solar/wind power – will mean that Bharti Airtel will be using 35% less diesel on average to power each site. The Company is confident that as it maintains its focus on using alternative sources of fuel to replace diesel, it will continue to play a significant role in conserving the environment.

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General News

CBN, NCC Propose Instant Refunds for Failed Airtime, Data

Published

9 hours ago

February 10, 2026

Ebere Melum-Nwogbo

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Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN)and the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) have proposed that customers must receive refunds within 30 seconds for failed airtime and data purchases to curb persistent billing complaints in the telecommunications sector.

This was indicated in the Exposure Draft of the Joint CBN–NCC Framework for Resolution of Failed Airtime and Data Purchase Transactions, which was published on the website of the CBN on Monday.

The landmark exposure draft, dated 5 February 2026, seeks to “institutionalise clear accountability” and establish a “coordinated approach to consumer redress” across the financial and telecommunications sectors.

The most significant shift in the proposed framework is the introduction of standardised, automated timelines for resolving failed transactions.

Currently, Nigerians often face long delays when airtime purchases fail at the bank, aggregator, or Mobile Network Operator level.

To solve this, the regulators have proposed a 30-second window for automated reversals. Section 6.0 (ii) of the draft exposure, which dwelt on failed transactions, especially as it relates to unfulfilled airtime/data delivery, proposes a time to refund the purchaser of 30 seconds “if the transaction failed at the bank level… Failed transaction delivery from NCC Authorised Licensees… Failed transaction delivery from MNO to the NCC Authorised Licensee.”

The draft emphasised that stakeholders must “automate reversal processes across all stakeholders” to ensure that refunds require no human intervention from the customer.

The draft exposure also stated that “all parties involved in airtime and data transactions shall take the following actions to ease usage and facilitate consumer satisfaction: a. Stakeholders must immediately connect ONLY to relevant authorised licensees of the NCC and CBN. b. MNOs and banks must only connect to NCC Authorised Licensees/MNO digital channel partners for airtime and data vending… Notifications of failure create final settlement obligations between MNO and NCC-authorised licensees… The NCC and CBN will audit stakeholder compliance jointly or individually at quarterly or other intervals as may be determined.”

From a business and oversight perspective, the regulators are proposing a Central Monitoring Dashboard to be hosted jointly by the CBN and NCC, which will track reversals, Service Level Agreement breaches, and customer complaints in real-time.

“There shall be a Central Monitoring Dashboard hosted by CBN/NCC for tracking reversals, SLA breaches, and customer complaints. This will facilitate the establishment of a real-time national ‘Failed Transactions Dashboard’ with a uniform error code with end-to-end visibility across the value chain’, read the draft exposure.

This is designed to eliminate the “unclear ownership of liability” that often occurs when banks and telcos blame each other for failed recharges. To support this, banks and MNOs will be required to maintain and share daily reports of successful and failed cases.

The proposed framework also addresses the common problem of “lost” money when customers recharge ported phone numbers. The draft mandates that MNOs must validate a phone number against the ported number database before processing any recharge. If the system identifies a number as ported out or invalid, it must “proactively stop recharges” and send a failure code back to the bank to ensure the customer is not debited.

For erroneous recharges sent to the wrong person, the framework sets clear protocols: below N20,000, MNOs will request the recipient’s consent before a reversal, and when it is above N20,000, an affidavit of indemnity or notarised letter is required to process the recovery.

The CBN and NCC in the exposure draft signalled they will take a firm stance on compliance. Both agencies will conduct joint quarterly audits of all stakeholders, including banks, payment service providers, and MNOs, to verify compliance with the new rules. The regulators have warned they will “impose penalties for any breach” of the framework’s provisions.

Banks and other financial institutions have until 10 February 2026 to submit their inputs on the draft before it is finalised. Once implemented, the framework is expected to significantly restore “subscriber trust” in Nigeria’s digital financial ecosystem.

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Telecom

NCC Begins Overhaul of Nigeria’s Telecom Policy, 26 Years After

Published

10 hours ago

February 10, 2026

Ebere Melum-Nwogbo

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Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has officially begun a review of the National Telecommunications Policy 2000 (NTP), nearly three decades after its adoption, citing rapid technological shifts and evolving market realities that have outpaced the existing framework.

The Commission announced the launch of the review on Monday, releasing a consultation paper to solicit input from stakeholders on proposed updates to the policy.

According to the NCC, the overhaul aims to reposition Nigeria’s telecommunications framework to reflect contemporary trends in digital services, internet governance, satellite communications, broadband expansion, and universal access, while sustaining the sector’s role as a key driver of economic growth.

The NCC explained that the National Telecommunications Policy 2000 itself replaced the 1998 policy, introducing full market liberalisation, stakeholder consultation, and a unified regulatory framework under the NCC. Approved under a nascent democratic government, the policy marked a decisive shift from state control to competition and market-driven growth.

“Prior to the liberalisation midwifed by the NTP, Nigeria’s telecommunications sector was dominated by the Nigerian Telecommunications Limited (NITEL), which was a government-owned monopoly,” the Commission said. “NITEL was reputably characterized by obsolete equipment, poor quality of service and low teledensity.”

Just as the 1998 framework became obsolete due to global technological changes, the NCC says the 2000 policy now requires a comprehensive overhaul to address today’s realities, including platform-driven digital services, broadband-dependent applications, and emerging non-terrestrial networks.

The policy laid the foundation for the licensing of GSM operators in 2001 and 2002, transforming the market almost overnight. Mobile subscriptions quickly surpassed fixed-line users, revealing massive pent-up demand and market potential.

More significantly, the NTP paved the way for the Nigerian Communications Act 2003, which established a strong statutory and regulatory framework for the sector.ion said. “NITEL was reputably characterized by obsolete equipment, poor quality of service and low teledensity.”

Since then, the telecommunications industry has grown into one of Nigeria’s most vibrant sectors, attracting unprecedented foreign direct investment and contributing significantly to GDP.

The NCC acknowledged that the policy played a central role in enabling e-commerce, digital financial services, and the broader digital economy, marking Nigeria’s transition from a slow-moving, state-controlled telecom sector to a competitive and innovation-driven market.

The NCC’s review proposes targeted updates to several chapters of the policy.

Chapter Seven, covering the Internet, is set for revision to strengthen online safety, deepen internet exchange protocols, and provide clearer guidance on content moderation and digital services operating in Nigeria.

Chapter Eight, on Satellite Communications, will be updated to create a modern framework for satellite harmonisation, upstream and downstream service provisioning, and coexistence between terrestrial and non-terrestrial networks.

The NCC says this will include clearer spectrum mapping to improve service quality and provide cost-effective universal connectivity.

Chapter Ten, on Financing and Funding, will also be revised to address monetary and fiscal measures needed to stimulate sector growth, particularly in the context of ongoing tax and fiscal reforms.

The Commission is seeking stakeholder input on solutions to persistent challenges, including multiple taxation and overlapping regulations.

Beyond revising existing chapters, the NCC proposes a new chapter focused on broadband objectives, protection of critical national communications infrastructure, harmonisation of right-of-way charges across all government tiers, and the introduction of a one-stop permitting process for telecom infrastructure deployment.

Despite significant growth in the sector over the years, high right-of-way costs remain a major barrier to telecom expansion.

These costs not only slow infrastructure deployment but also drive up operational expenses.

According to NCC data, operating costs for telecom operators in Nigeria jumped by 85% to N5.85 trillion in 2024, largely due to right-of-way charges.

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Telecom

Safer Internet Day: Sophos Warns – 42% Attacks Hit Stolen Logins in 2025

Published

10 hours ago

February 10, 2026

Ugo Onwuaso

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Sophos, a leading provider of innovative cybersecurity solutions, shared practical advice to help internet users safeguard their credentials and maintain continuous protection online.

Sophos

According to the upcoming Sophos Active Adversary Report, compromised credentials were the leading cause of attacks (42.06%) in 2025.

This is a strong trend that continues to dominate the scene, with cyber attackers demonstrating ever-increasing ingenuity and relying on new tools to compromise the security and privacy of internet users.

John Shier, Field CISO Threat Intelligence at Sophos, said: “The way attackers are using automation and generative AI to massively increase the speed and volume of their attacks suggests that attacks will become faster and more sophisticated. The best approach to protecting our identities and digital data is to take a proactive stance on defense.”

“Criminals are increasingly targeting people rather than devices, and this trend is expected to continue and even accelerate. Once again, AI is being used as a weapon to create highly detailed phishing lures to entice people to disclose passwords or financial information through well-designed emails, text messages, and WhatsApp messages.”

1. Keep your devices up to date: the most important and simplest measure you can take to protect yourself in the long term.

Cybercriminals are constantly on the lookout for computers that don’t have all the latest security patches, making them easy targets for compromise. This includes computers, laptops, smartphones, tablets, and home Internet/Wi-Fi routers. In most cases, you just need to click “Check for Updates” or “Update Now” and allow the device to restart.

2. Use a password management tool, whether it is built into an operating system or a third-party tool.

Password uniqueness and complexity are then managed automatically, greatly facilitating account isolation and protection.

3. Enhance protection with phishing resistant (MFA).

Many websites offer the option of using an “authentication app,” a smartphone app that displays a unique code for a short period of time, which must be entered after the password, making it much more secure than simply using a password.

Better still, there is a new solution called “passkeys,” which generally uses biometric authentication on your smartphone (face scan, fingerprint) to log in without any password. This is the best choice when available.

John Shier concludes: “Criminals will never stop trying to steal from us, so we must remain vigilant. We know that they are constantly improving and becoming more skilled at deceiving us, so it’s up to us to move forward and improve our protections to stay safe.”

For more information, please visit: https://www.sophos.com

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