Telecom
Telecoms Subscribers Hit 172.8m –NBS

The number of active voice subscribers in the telecoms sector rose to 172.82 million as of the end of the fourth quarter of 2018, the data obtained from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) has revealed.
The 172.82 million telecoms subscribers, according to the NBS, represent an increase of about 10.79 million when compared to the 162.03 million recorded in the third quarter of last year.
Similarly, the NBS put the total number of active Internet subscribers at 112,065,740 in the fourth quarter of last year as against 106,420,858 subscribers in the third quarter.
It stated, “Telecoms data for Q3 and Q4 2018 reflected that a total of 172,824,239 and 162,032,481 subscribers were active on voice as against 162,522,772 in Q2 2018 which represented 6.66 per cent increase in subscribers base.
“Similarly, a total of 112,065,740 and 106,420,858 subscribers were active on Internet as against 103,514,997 in Q2 2018, which represented 8.26 per cent growth in subscribers base.”
The NBS report stated that Lagos State had the highest number of subscribers in terms of active voice per state in the fourth quarter of 2018.
This is closely followed by Ogun and Kano states respectively.
On the other hand, the NBS report stated that Bayelsa and Ebonyi states had the least number of subscribers.
Similarly, the report stated that Lagos State had the highest number of subscribers in terms of active Internet per state in the fourth quarter of 2018 and closely followed by Ogun and Kano states respectively while Bayelsa and Ebonyi states had the least number of subscribers.
It added that MTN had the highest share of voice subscription and followed by Glo and Airtel respectively.
In terms of Internet subscription, the report showed that MTN had the highest share of Internet subscription followed by GLO and Airtel, among others.
Telecom
MTN Nigeria Non-Executive Director Mazen Mroue Quits to Focus on Group Role

Mazen Mroue, a non-executive director at MTN Nigeria Communications Plc, has resigned effective February 27, 2026, to prioritise other responsibilities within the MTN Group, the company announced in a Nigerian Exchange Limited (NGX) filing.

MTN Nigeria
The notice, signed by company secretary Uto Ukpanah, stated: “This is to enable Mr. Mroue to focus on other priorities within MTN Group Limited. The Board wishes to express its appreciation to Mr. Mroue for his immense service to MTN Nigeria and wishes him success in his future endeavours.”
Mroue joined MTN Nigeria’s board on June 1, 2022, bringing over 28 years of telecom experience. A veteran MTN executive, he previously served as CEO of MTN Uganda and MTN Liberia, non-executive director at MTN Cyprus, and held leadership roles at MTN Ghana.
Since February 2022, he has been MTN Group’s Chief Technology and Information Officer, overseeing technology strategy and governance. Earlier, as MTN Nigeria’s COO from August 2018 to January 2022, he also sat on the MTN Nigeria Foundation board.
The exit follows MTN Nigeria’s stellar 2025 results, posting a ₦1.70 trillion profit before tax—reversing a ₦550.3 billion loss in 2024 driven by forex woes—marking one of the telco’s strongest rebounds.
Telecom
Google Adds Yorùbá, Hausa to AI Search, Boosting Access for Millions of Nigerians

Google has rolled out support for Yorùbá and Hausa languages in its AI-powered Search features—AI Overviews and AI Mode—enabling millions of Nigerians to get quick answers, summaries, and conversational web exploration in their mother tongues.

The update forms part of Google’s push to cover 13 African languages, including Afrikaans, Akan, Amharic, Kinyarwanda, Afaan Oromoo, Somali, Sesotho, Kiswahili, Setswana, Wolof, and isiZulu, selected based on high search activity across the continent.
Now, a Kano student can ask complex questions in Hausa, while an Ibadan trader seeks business tips in Yorùbá—both receiving culturally nuanced AI responses via text or voice on Android, iOS, or web.
Taiwo Kola-Ogunlade, Google’s West Africa Communications Manager, said: “Building truly global Search requires nuanced local understanding. With Gemini-powered AI, we’ve made advanced capabilities relevant in Yorùbá and Hausa, so Nigerians converse naturally with Search in their mother tongues.”
To use: Open the Google app, tap AI Mode, and query in Hausa or Yorùbá for personalised guidance—breaking language barriers and making technology reflect Nigeria’s diverse identity.
Telecom
MultiChoice Shuts Down Showmax After 11 Years Amid Streaming Wars

MultiChoice is closing its continental streaming platform Showmax after 11 years, notifying subscribers Thursday of the board’s decision to discontinue the service in the near future to refocus on sustainable digital offerings.

MultiChoice
The email assured no immediate disruption: “You can continue streaming as usual, and no action is required from you at this time.” Showmax, launched in South Africa in 2015 and expanded across Africa, offered movies, series, documentaries, and sports to rival Netflix and others amid rising online entertainment demand.
The shutdown follows Canal+’s approved takeover of MultiChoice last year, with the French giant offering ZAR 125 per share for remaining stakes.
The deal mandates HDP ownership boosts, local content investment, and splitting MultiChoice’s SA broadcasting arm into an independent entity to meet regulations.
MultiChoice prioritised subscribers during the transition, promising advance notice on timelines.
Showmax’s exit signals consolidation pressures in Africa’s cut-throat streaming market, where global players dominate despite local content strengths.
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