Telecom
Stakeholders at MoDiTECH 2019 Harp on Leveraging Digital Services to Boost Nigeria’s Economy
To fully embrace the possibilities that digital technology has to offer both the private and public organisations have to be willing to use agile approaches in which requirements and solutions evolve over time.
Through adaptive planning, evolutionary development, early delivery, and continuous improvement agile development methods encourage rapid and flexible response to change.
These were the thoughts of speakers at the maiden Mobile and Disruptive Technology Forum (MoDiTECH2019) organised by TechEconomy.ng in Lagos recently.
R-L: MD Rack Centre and Chair, MoDiTECH2019, Dr. Ayotunde Coker; Founder, CWG Plc and Keynote speaker, MoDiTECH2019, Mr. Austin Okere and ATCON Coordinator, Internet Services Providers, Mr. Desoye Amoo, during Mobile and Disruptive Technology Forum (MoDiTECH2019) held at Victoria Crown Hotel, VI, Lagos, recently.
Participants at the Forum were exposed to how industry leaders are using disruptive technologies such as Mobile Internet, Automation of Knowledge and Work, Internet of Things (IoT), Cloud Technology etc. to improve the quality of life for people and redefining business models such as Agritech, FinTech, e-Billing, e-Commerce, e-Governance, e-Payments, transportation, smart city, etc.
Speaking at the event, Prof. Garba Danbatta, executive vice chairman (EVC), Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), said that through its regulatory excellence, the Commission is at the forefront of unleashing the digital economy that will spur industrial growth, job creation, and Return on Investment (RoI) for investors.
According to him, the internet is at the leading edge of digital revolution, which informed why NCC is supporting operators to deploy more infrastructure.
“Today, Nigeria has started a test-run of 5G, the latest technology for delivering broadband services and such other services as Internet of Things (IoT), Artificial Intelligence (AI). The trial will last for three months. Nigeria hopes to join other countries which are in a rush to deploy the 5G technology because of its immense promise for digital communication,” Danbatta said.
R-L: Chief Product Officer, Global Accelerex, Chuks Anakudo; President, Digivation Networks, Dr. Bayero Agabi and the Executive Secretary, African ICT Foundation, Mr. Emmanuel Bassey, during Mobile and Disruptive Technology Forum (MoDiTECH2019) held at Victoria Crown Hotel, VI, Lagos, recently.
Prof. Danbatta who spoke through Engineer Bako Wakil, director, Technical Standards and Network Integrity, NCC, also disclosed that the Commission was “at the verge of sending the N65 billion request for supporting the already six infrastructure companies (InfraCos) licensed to roll out broadband infrastructure across the country, to the Federal Executive Council (FEC) for approval”.
Meanwhile, Danbatta expressed concurrence of the Commission to the renaming of the Ministry of Communications to ‘Federal Ministry of Communications and Digital Economy’.
“The renaming of the Ministry shows a demonstration of the future of telecoms in all government sectors and the economy; the EVC, therefore, commended the Minister, Dr. Isa Pantami and members of the Federal Executive Council for the foresight and dramatic change. This, will spur a new debate and redirect the Ministry and other agencies under it as well as the private sector to a new awakening that digital economy brings,” he added.
L-r: Marketing Manager, Galaxy Backbone Limited; Head, Marketing and Communications at Rack Centre, Ejieke Ezeadiugwu and the Conference Manager West Africa – International Data Corporation (IDC), Theresa Etukodo Eshiet, during Mobile and Disruptive Technology Forum (MoDiTECH2019) held at Victoria Crown Hotel, VI, Lagos, recently.
In a keynote presentation titled: ‘Social and Global Impact: Engaging for Growth’, Mr. Austin Okere, founder/vice-chairman, CWG Plc recalled that in 2018, the mobile ecosystem contributed more than $500 billion to the funding of the public sector through general taxation, globally.
According to him, Nigeria as among the three smartphone super-powers to emerge by 2025, stands to benefit from the smartphone ubiquity across the world that enables consumer engagement in numerous use cases
He said, however, slowing unique subscriber growth, regulatory intervention and intense competition continue to put pressure on operators’ traditional mobile revenue.
Cross section of participants at the event.
“Over a fifth of the world’s markets will have launched 5G by 2020, spending combined $244 billion on networks in the process. In 2018, mobile technologies and services generated 4.6% of GDP globally, a contribution that amounted to $3.9 trillion of economic value added.
“The mobile ecosystem also supported almost 32 million jobs (directly and indirectly) and made a substantial contribution to the funding of the public sector, with more than $500 billion raised through general taxation. By 2023, mobile’s contribution will reach
“$4.8 trillion (4.8% of GDP) as countries around the globe increasingly benefit from the improvements in productivity and efficiency brought about by increased take-up of mobile services.
“Further ahead, 5G technologies are expected to contribute $2.2 trillion to the global economy over the next 15 years, with key sectors such as manufacturing, utilities and professional/financial services benefiting the most from the new technology.
“The mobile ecosystem directly employs almost 32 million people globally; 14 million directly and 17 million through related industries
To this end, Mr. Okere called on State Governments’ to invest in digital economy especially by removing excess taxation on Right of Way (RoW) adding that over the next few years, as the enablers of mobile internet adoption such as infrastructure, affordability, consumer readiness and content/services, continue to improve, millions of people will start using the mobile internet for the first time, and will add value to the nation’s economy.
L-r: Senior Consultant, Digital Encode, Oluafemi Obadare; Chief Operating Officer, Fintech Association of Nigeria (FinTechNGR), Dr. Babatunde Obrimah; CEO, i-Naira.com. Hillary Nwaukor and Chief Technology Strategist at Debbie Mishael Consulting, Engr. Ifeanyi Frank Ogochukwu, during a panel session at Mobile and Disruptive Technology Forum (MoDiTECH2019) held at Victoria Crown Hotel, VI, Lagos, recently
He continued that “Mobile is a powerful tool for achieving the UN’s SDGs: since 2015, impact has increased across all 17 SDGs. 5G is an inevitable network evolution, and will create significant opportunities if the right conditions are in place.
Dr. Ayotunde Coker, managing director,Rack Centre and Chairman of MoDiTECH2019, aligned with Mr. Okere, stressing that content consumption through the mobile channels, is rising hence mobile is a key driver, with more people watching video on their devices for longer and more frequently.
Speaking on the theme: “The Power of Digital Services”, Dr. Coker briefly highlighted the history of the internet and interconnectivity and how it has brought progress to the way businesses and other important economic activities are done in Africa.
Dr. Coker stressed the importance of digitisation on the African continent, and “What it means for us in Africa is to leverage the lots of benefits we can get. Benefits in terms of demographic advantage”
According to Dr. Coker, “the fourth industrial revolution is the next stage of digitisation with Africa has a focus; survival in the present economic structure is dependent on innovation. The journey of digitisation is now a way of life hence the demand for data has exponentially increased.
In his presentation on ‘Impact of Digital Solutions on Financial Services’ Mr. Tunde Ogungbade, managing director, Global Accelerex, traced the history of banking and financial service provisioning to the 90’s when customers had to be physically present at a bank “in an orderly fashion, with a passbook or cheque” in order to carry out a financial transaction.
Thus, between year 2000 and 2011, were the era of search for utility among banks that engaged in fierce competition for the most branches in localities.
He said that this era was disrupted by internet banking and smart phones that paved the way for 24/7 banking; “Prepaid cards, the POS, the ATMs and then debit cards linked to bank accounts”.
“From 2012 to date we are talking about the search for more utility. This is the era of Web Payments; Mobile Payments; Smart POS Payments; Mobile Money & Agency Banking, Then, BVN changed everything!” he said.
Mr. Ogungbade who was represented by Chuks Anakudo, chief Product Officer, Global Accelerex, warned the banks to brace-up for more disruptions as payments will even migrate from traditional banking to native apps and point-of-sales solutions.
He added that Blockchain technology will further disrupt financial services like the internet did to the media.
L-r: Vice President of Nigeria Internet Registration Association (NiRA), Toba Obaniyi; CTO, Medallion Communications. Dr. Kris Ranganath and President, Association of Licensed Mobile Payment Operators (ALMPO), Chinedu Onuoha, during a panel session at Mobile and Disruptive Technology Forum (MoDiTECH2019) held at Victoria Crown Hotel, VI, Lagos, recently.
“Banks of the future may not need to hold funds in the vault, assets will be digitized in a more secured way. Therefore, the future to behold is closing the gap between what the financial institutions offer and what consumers really need”, said Mr. Ogungbade.
Earlier, Mr. Peter Oluka, editor, TechEconomy.ng; conveners of #MoDiTECH2019, said the event was organised “to discuss, brainstorm, learn and review the overall impact of new digital technologies that are disrupting many industries.”
Oluka also reiterated the widespread recognition that Artificial intelligence, for instance, will be key to future business and digital transformation and driving increasingly autonomous and intelligent networks (for telcos) and improving the customer experience through greater learning of customer behaviour.
MoDiTECH2019 was sponsored by Global Accelerex, Digital Encode, Access Bank Plc, ActivEdge Technologies, Zenith Bank Plc, Galaxy Backbone, i-naira.com, Medallion Communications, while the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) provided support to the Organisers.
Elon Musk, CEO of SpaceX and owner of X, on Sunday criticised his birth country’s government, claiming that Starlink is being denied an operating licence on the basis that he is not black.
In a series of posts on his X handle, the South Africa-born billionaire referenced ongoing regulatory hurdles tied to the country’s Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment policies.
He claimed the post-apartheid rules require telecommunications licensees to have at least 30 per cent ownership by historically disadvantaged groups, primarily Black South Africans, women, and people with disabilities.
He wrote, “South Africa won’t allow Starlink to be licensed, even though I was born there, simply because I am not black!
“We were offered many times the opportunity to bribe our way to a license by pretending that a black guy runs Starlink SA, but I have refused to do so on principle.
“Racism should not be rewarded no matter to which race it is applied. Shame on the racist politicians in South Africa.
“They should be shown no respect whatsoever anywhere in the world and shunned for being unashamedly racists!”
The dispute centres on licensing requirements enforced by the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa.
Starlink has not formally received a licence and has argued that current telecom regulations do not fully recognise Equity Equivalent Investment Programmes, alternatives to direct ownership transfers that allow companies to invest in skills development, infrastructure, or community projects instead.
South African officials have, over the years, repeatedly dismissed claims of racism, citing other foreign investors operating in the country.
They argued that the company has not submitted a complete formal application compliant with existing rules.
“Sir, that’s not true and you know it! It’s got nothing to do with your skin colour. Starlink is welcome to operate in South Africa provided there’s compliance with local laws.
“This is a global international trade and investment principle. There are over 600 USA companies investing and operating in #SouthAfrica…all complying and thriving! @Microsoft just announced additional investments yesterday,” South Africa’s Head of Public Diplomacy, Clayson Monyela, said in March 2025, when Musk initially raised the allegation.
Replying again via X on Sunday, he wrote, “@elonmusk watching the more than 600 USA companies investing more in, complying with #SouthAfrican laws and thriving. Zero drama!!.”
Telecom
Digital Realty, IXPN Expand Peering Network with New Internet Exchange Point of Presence in Nigeria
Digital Realty, the world’s largest cloud and carrier-neutral data center platform, today announced the activation of a new internet exchange point of presence (PoP) for the Internet Exchange Point of Nigeria (IXPN) at its newly commissioned data center in Ibeju-Lekki, Lagos.
This development marks a significant milestone in strengthening Nigeria’s digital infrastructure and elevating West Africa’s connectivity.
Building on IXPN’s existing PoP at Digital Realty’s campus located in Victoria Island, the newly activated PoP at the company’s Lekki data center extends IXPN’s reach, offering access from 12 data centers across Nigeria. IXPN is now uniquely available in all major data centers in Lagos, further positioning Lagos as a hub for local and regional interconnectivity.
Strategically located, Digital Realty’s Lekki data center serves as the landing point for the 2Africa subsea cable system, one of the world’s most expansive subsea cable projects, linking over 46 locations throughout Africa, Europe, the Middle East, and Asia.
This can deliver reliable, high-speed connectivity and can help enhance Nigeria’s role in the global digital economy. With the opening of Digital Realty’s Lekki data center alongside its campus in Victoria Island, Digital Realty became the first carrier-neutral data center provider in Lagos to operate two campuses, offering enhanced resilience and disaster recovery options for the industry.
With improved access to IXPN at the Digital Realty’s Lekki campus, networks and service providers can benefit from expanded, resilient public peering options. These enhancements can reduce latency, improve efficiency, support robust data exchange for content providers and cloud platforms, and enable enterprises to meet growing demands both locally and internationally.
This activation at our Lekki campus represents a deepening of Digital Realty commitment to connecting the local and regional digital economy to global networks,” said Ike Nnamani, Managing Director, Digital Realty in Nigeria. “By integrating IXPN’s exchange point, we are delivering resilient peering that enables lower latency and can increase operational efficiency for our customers.”
For IXPN, the move supports its expanding community of over 130 peering members – spanning ISPs, global content, and cloud operators – delivering greater resilience and more efficient local internet traffic exchange.
“Expanding IXPN to Digital Realty’s Lekki campus is a significant step in our journey to enhance connectivity across Nigeria,” said Muhammed Rudman, CEO, IXPN. “Our members are expected to benefit from faster, low-latency pathways, allowing broader digital inclusion and fueling Nigeria’s digital economy,” Rudman continued.
IXPN continues to play a pivotal role in localising internet traffic, a key factor in performance improvements and cost reductions. Peak domestic internet traffic at IXPN surpassed 1 terabit per second (Tbps) in April 2025 and grew to over 2 Tbps by March 2026, demonstrating IXPN’s significant role in local traffic exchange. Industry data shows that keeping traffic local reduces latency, boosts connectivity speeds, and delivers substantial annual savings for ISPs and content providers.
SpaceX is signaling plans to develop its own radio‑frequency chip modules for the Starlink Mobile satellite‑to‑phone service, according to a new job posting for a Senior RF Front‑End Module Design Engineer.
What SpaceX Is Developing
The role is focused on designing “multi‑chip modules” containing RF front‑end components—such as antennas, signal tuners, and power amplifiers—that work alongside the modem in smartphones to transmit and receive 5G, LTE, and Wi‑Fi signals efficiently.
The engineer will integrate these RF modules into mass‑production printed circuit board assemblies and optimise yield and design for high‑volume manufacturing, indicating that SpaceX intends to take tighter control over the phone‑side radio hardware.
Link to Starlink Mobile Upgrade
The hiring move dovetails with SpaceX’s broader push to upgrade Starlink Mobile using valuable radio spectrum it acquired from EchoStar (parent of Boost Mobile), which the company plans to activate via next‑generation satellites launching in mid‑2027.
With that spectrum, SpaceX aims to boost downlink speeds for Starlink Mobile users to up to about 150 Mbps, a significant jump from the current roughly 4 Mbps, enabling 5G‑like connectivity directly from its satellites orbiting over 300 km above Earth.
Device‑Maker and Chip‑Partner Efforts
SpaceX has acknowledged that it will need about two years for phone manufacturers to adopt new chipsets tuned to the EchoStar spectrum bands, and at Mobile World Congress a SpaceX executive said the company is working closely with device and modem makers to enable the service on as many handsets as quickly as possible.
There are also reports that Samsung is developing a modem for the service, suggesting that SpaceX will combine its own RF‑front‑end modules with third‑party modems to deliver a full satellite‑to‑phone stack optimized for its low‑Earth‑orbit constellation.
Current Status of Starlink Mobile
Starlink Mobile today is offered mainly as a paid add‑on on T‑Mobile, while it is free on some of the carrier’s premium plans, and will later expand to Boost Mobile and prepaid carrier US Mobile.
Meanwhile, AT&T and Verizon are pursuing rival satellite‑to‑phone services via Texas‑based AST SpaceMobile, underscoring that direct‑to‑device connectivity is becoming a key battleground in the global telecom‑satellite convergence race.
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