Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Nigeria’s telecom regulator has released draft rules for mobile virtual network operators (MVNOs) as authorities seek to organize a market that is still at an early stage.

The NCC published the proposed “Business Rules for Mobile Virtual Network Operations in Nigeria” and opened a consultation process for industry stakeholders.

Comments can be submitted until June 29, while a public consultation is scheduled for July 9.

According to the NCC, the proposed rules define the obligations and responsibilities of both MVNOs and host network operators (HNOs).

The framework also sets conditions for licensing, compliance, interconnection, numbering resources, SIM and eSIM management, and network hosting agreements.

Regulators also seek to guarantee fair access to telecom infrastructure and reduce delays tied to the integration of MVNOs into existing mobile networks.

The text further includes provisions related to service quality, customer protection, network reliability, and data security.

Violations could lead to administrative sanctions or corrective measures under existing telecom laws.

Nigeria officially opened the MVNO market in 2023. That year, the NCC awarded licenses to 25 operators for a combined 5.9 billion naira, or about $4.3 million. Since then, around 40 licenses have been issued, with operators such as Vitel and Visafone already launching services.

Authorities see MVNOs as a way to improve competition in the telecom sector while helping extend services to underserved and unserved populations.

As of March 2026, Nigeria counted 185.7 million mobile subscribers and 153.8 million internet subscribers, according to NCC data.

Despite the size of the market, digital access remains uneven across the country.

Government estimates show that nearly 20 million Nigerians still remain outside the digital ecosystem.

The GSMA estimated that about 120 million Nigerians did not use mobile internet in 2023.

High service costs and inconsistent service quality also remain major concerns in the telecom sector.

An Australian federal court has upheld a fine against social media platform X over failures to comply with child internet safety regulations, bringing to an end a three-year legal dispute between the company and Australian authorities.

The case stemmed from a demand issued in February 2023 by Australia’s online safety regulator, the eSafety Commission, requesting detailed information on how the platform, then known as Twitter, was combating the spread of child sexual abuse material online.

Following the platform’s transition to X under billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk, regulators accused the company of submitting incomplete responses to repeated requests for information.

A federal court had earlier ruled in October 2024 that X was legally obligated to comply fully with the notice issued by the regulator.

On Thursday, the court ordered the company to pay a fine of 650,000 Australian dollars (approximately 464,900 U.S. dollars).

Federal Justice Michael Wheelahan said the penalty was necessary to ensure compliance by large technology firms.

“A penalty near the maximum is appropriate in the case of the respondent, which is a substantial corporation, so that it operates as a real deterrent and is not simply a cost of doing business,” he said.

Australia has emerged as one of the leading countries advocating stricter regulation of major technology platforms.

The country recently introduced world-first legislation aimed at banning children under the age of 16 from accessing certain social media platforms.

Countries including France, United Kingdom and Canada are reportedly considering similar measures following consultations with Australian authorities.

Reacting to the judgment, eSafety Commissioner Julie Inman Grant said transparency remained essential in holding technology companies accountable.

“Meaningful transparency is critical to holding technology companies to account,” she said.

“This is not only a key part of our work as Australia’s online safety regulator, it also provides the Australian public with important information about how these companies are tackling the worst-of-the-worst content on their platforms,” she added.

MTN Nigeria Communications Plc has been featured in a newly published case study by the International Finance Corporation (IFC), highlighting how leading companies are advancing gender equality through practical, business-led actions under its Nigeria2Equal programme.

MTN Nigeria

The case study spotlights MTN Nigeria’s transformation into a top performer in workplace gender equality following its participation in the programme between 2021 and 2023.

During this period, the company moved from 13th position to become the top-performing organisation from 30 most capitalised companies listed on the Nigerian Exchange Group. The report was based on an independent assessment conducted by Equileap and verified by PwC.

In the IFC case study, Karl Toriola, Chief Executive Officer of MTN Nigeria, stated, “A diverse, inclusive, and equitable workforce is critical to the success and sustainability of our business.

“We are committed to promoting gender inclusiveness, equality, and empowerment internally as well as across our ecosystem to ensure that interventions are holistic and position women to thrive effortlessly.

“If we must narrow the gender gap and address the disproportionate representation of women in the private sector, I believe that business leaders and CEOs must disproportionately allocate resources to support women across all levels.”

Implemented in partnership with the Nigerian Exchange Group, the Nigeria2Equal programme is designed to reduce gender gaps across leadership, employment, and entrepreneurship in Nigeria’s private sector.

MTN Nigeria joined the initiative in 2021, making commitments across these areas while strengthening its broader advocacy for gender equality.

According to the IFC publication, MTN Nigeria built on its existing diversity and inclusion framework by adopting a more structured and data-driven approach to gender equality. With IFC’s advisory support, the company undertook diagnostics to identify gaps, introduced targeted policies, and aligned its practices with global standards.

A major milestone outlined in the report is MTN Nigeria’s attainment of the EDGE MOVE certification in 2023, a globally recognised benchmark for workplace equity.

This achievement made it the first wireless telecommunications company in Africa and the second organisation in Sub-Saharan Africa to reach this level, reflecting progress across leadership representation, pay equity, organisational culture, and flexible work policies.

The case study also details a range of initiatives implemented by the company, including targeted recruitment and promotion of women, strengthened mentorship programmes, expanded parental leave policies, and deliberate efforts to increase the participation of women-led businesses within its value chain.

These actions contributed to measurable improvements in female representation, including achieving gender balance at the executive level.

Beyond internal policies, MTN Nigeria expanded its role in advancing gender equality through advocacy and transparency. The company became a signatory to the UN Women’s Empowerment Principles and now reports gender-focused initiatives and targets in its annual disclosures.

The IFC case study positions MTN Nigeria as an example of how sustained leadership commitment, independent assessment, and measurable actions can drive meaningful progress on gender equality within the private sector.

MTN Nigeria says it will continue to build on this momentum, with a target of achieving a 50:50 gender balance across its workforce by 2030, while deepening efforts to create inclusive opportunities for women across its operations and ecosystem.