Telecom
Addressing The Urban/Rural ICT Divide

ITU is about to publish its updated ICT database shortly. The headline figures of 3.2 billion people online / 4.2 billion people offline are well-known, highlighting the substantial international digital divide.
Another important issue within countries is the rural/urban digital divide, the domestic digital divide most often referred to, in addition to the gender digital divide or differences in Internet access between different communities or minorities.
I recently had the pleasure of addressing the Commonwealth Telecommunication Organization (CTO) ICT Ministers Forum 2016 on this vital topic.
This Forum, the second hosted by CTO, benefitted from the presence of Ministers, Permanent Secretaries, Heads of regulatory agencies of 20 countries, over 130 delegates and a range of industry partners including Inmarsat, Avanti, Huawei, BT and Facebook.
The Forum debated a broad spectrum of far-ranging and topical subjects including ICT regulation, universal service, broadband strategies, cybersecurity and Internet governance.
Why does the rural/urban digital divide arise? Evidence suggests that it comes about as the result of a complex interplay of factors on both the supply and the demand side (“The State of Broadband 2015” report).
On the demand side, lack of purchasing power, literacy and socio-cultural factors can all play a role in hampering demand for telephony or Internet services, as well as lack of relevant content in local or indigenous languages.
On the supply side, the market structure, population density, network coverage and local business models can all contribute to making telecommunication services unavailable or unreliable.
A report prepared for ITU last year by the consultancy Analysys Mason explores the cost behavior involved in extending networks nationwide in TFYR of Macedonia, and found that the cost of coverage rises sharply after around 40% household coverage with fibre (roughly corresponding to Macedonia TFYR’s urban population of around 57%), making it commercially infeasible to extend coverage of FTTH and FTTC much beyond 44% of households for that country. In countries with higher urban populations, the proportion of households which are commercially feasible to cover is likely to be higher.
So what’s to be done about the urban/rural divide? Many of the conditions for an ‘enabling environment’ are by now well-known, although a challenging range of different regulatory environments exist in different countries.
164 ITU Member States have now established an ICT regulator, and a higher number have introduced competition in the mobile market.
Best practice guidelines for telecom regulators are published regularly each year at ITU’sGlobal Symposium for Regulators (GSR)event, but broadly speaking, regulators should engage in regular consultations and benchmarking, with an open approach and the encouragement of new technologies (such as VoIP), and work with the industry and other major stakeholders to resolve potential issues quickly as they arise (on topics such as roaming fees, OTTs, FDI, interconnection, taxation, depending on the country and/or region).
With regards to universal service, a range of different policy options are also available, including legal requirements,Universal Service Obligations, license conditions and or Universal Service Funds (USFs).
It can also be helpful to include universal service for remote and rural areas in the National Broadband Plan.
The figure below shows the range of different options available to ITU Member States, according to a recent survey undertaken by the BDT.
For the CTO, nearly half (26 countries or 49%) of all Commonwealth countries have an operational USF.
A slightly higher proportion (31 countries or 59%) of all Commonwealth countries have included broadband in their definition of Universal Access or Service.
Despite these well recognized policy frameworks, the urban/rural digital divide persists and is becoming more evident.
This is a critical area that needs to be addressed if we are to achieve the 2030 development agenda, as without connecting the 4 billion people currently unconnected it will in impossible to implement the 17 SDGs.
Many organisations are working to bridge this gap, including CTO and ITU.
But more needs to be done to collaborate, pool resources and avoid duplication. This is itself a huge challenge.
Thanks to the close relationship that exists between CTO and ITU, our two organisations can continue to work together to help bridge this gap.
Malcolm Johnson (@ITU_DSG) was elected ITU Deputy Secretary General at the ITU Plenipotentiary Conference 2014 in Busan, Republic of Korea. Mr. Johnson was elected as Director of ITU’s Telecommunication Standardization Bureau at the ITU Plenipotentiary Conference in 2006 in Antalya, Turkey and was re-elected at the ITU Plenipotentiary Conference 2010 in Guadalajara, Mexico
Telecom
NCC Expands IPv6 Board with the Appointment of Olusola Teniola, Funke Opeke Others

Olusola Teniola, ipNX Director has been named to the newly inaugurated IPv6 Council Board by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), as part of a broader industry effort to accelerate Nigeria’s transition to Internet Protocol version 6 (IPv6).

The inauguration, which took place in Ikeja, Lagos, underscores the Commission’s renewed commitment to accelerating Nigeria’s transition to Internet Protocol version 6 (IPv6), a critical enabler of the country’s digital future.
Mr. Teniola joins a distinguished group of industry leaders, including Funke Opeke, Muhammed Rudman (Chairman), Chris Uwaje (Vice Chairman), Mary Uduma, Gbenga Adebayo, Lanre Ajayi, and Latif Ladid, alongside representatives from key regulatory and government institutions.
Speaking on his appointment, Teniola expressed appreciation to the NCC for the opportunity to serve and reiterated the importance of collaborative action in driving Nigeria’s digital transformation.
“The transition to IPv6 is no longer a future consideration; it is an immediate priority for Nigeria’s digital economy. As data consumption grows and emerging technologies such as 5G, IoT, and AI become more pervasive, we must ensure that our underlying infrastructure is scalable, secure, and globally competitive,” he said.
He further emphasized that achieving meaningful IPv6 adoption will require strong alignment across stakeholders, including telecom operators, internet service providers, enterprises, academia, and government.
“This is a collective responsibility. We must invest in capacity building, drive awareness, and create the right policy and regulatory environment to accelerate adoption. Nigeria cannot afford to lag behind in an increasingly connected world.”
The IPv6 Council Board has been tasked with developing and overseeing the implementation of a national IPv6 strategy, monitoring progress, and providing periodic updates on adoption levels across the country. The Council will also play a key role in addressing infrastructure challenges, strengthening technical expertise, and recommending policy incentives to support nationwide deployment.
Teniola’s appointment reflects ipNX’s continued commitment to shaping Nigeria’s digital ecosystem and advancing the development of resilient, future-ready network infrastructure across the country.
Telecom
QNET, Manchester City Host Football Clinic for Young Talents in Ghana

In a transformative initiative focused on youth empowerment, talent development and community impact, QNET, an international wellness and lifestyle company and a decade-long Official Direct Selling Partner of Manchester City , has successfully hosted an elite football clinic in Accra for 25 promising young Ghanaian footballers aged 7 to 11.

QNET
Delivered by official Manchester City coaches from 21 to 24 May 2026, the football clinic brought together talented young boys and girls from different communities across Ghana at AIS School Park, East Legon, for a unique opportunity to receive world-class football coaching, mentorship and life-skills training inspired by one of the world’s leading football clubs.
For many of the participants, the experience represented more than football. It was an opportunity to dream bigger, build confidence and believe that through hard work, discipline and determination, young Ghanaians can achieve their full potential both on and off the pitch.
Football holds a special place in Ghanaian culture and identity, inspiring generations of young people across the country. Through this initiative, QNET and Manchester City Football Club aimed to contribute meaningfully to the future of youth development in Ghana by creating an inclusive platform where children can learn, grow and thrive regardless of their background.
Trevor Kuna, Chief of Network Development at QNET said, “Football does something that few things can — it cuts across language, background and circumstance and gives young people a common language of ambition. When you watch these children on the pitch, you see not just their talent but their hunger to grow, to prove themselves, to be seen. At QNET, we believe that hunger deserves to be met with opportunity, and that is exactly what this clinic is about.”
The clinic focused not only on football skills and tactical development, but also on teamwork, leadership, discipline, perseverance and self-belief, values that are essential both in sport and in life.
Cherif Abdoulaye, QNET’s Deputy Regional General Manager for Sub-Saharan Africa, said,“,“When QNET took this initiative to Nigeria in 2023, we saw first-hand what happens when young people are given access to world-class coaching in their own communities — it shifts something in how they see themselves and what they believe is possible. Bringing it to Ghana felt like the natural next step. Ghana has a football culture that runs deep, and a new generation ready to carry it forward. We are proud that QNET and Manchester City can be part of that story.”
Philipa Harrison, Partnerships Marketing Manager for City Football Group’s MENA region, said “Over the past few days, we have witnessed tremendous passion, energy and commitment from these young players. This football clinic is about helping young people develop their abilities, enjoy the game and believe in what they can achieve in the future. We are proud to partner with QNET to bring this experience to young players in Ghana.”
For more than 10 years, QNET has been the Official Direct Selling Partner of Manchester City Football Club. QNET has also maintained a longstanding partnership with the Confederation of African Football (CAF), supporting major African interclub competitions including the TotalEnergies CAF Champions League and CAF Confederation Cup.
These partnerships reflect QNET’s broader commitment to youth empowerment, community engagement, and the development of sports across Africa.
Beyond its sports and community initiatives, QNET continues to champion ethical business practices, transparency and public education across its markets while working closely with stakeholders and authorities to address the misuse of its brand by unauthorised individuals.
Telecom
Telcos Mull Calculator to Address Data Depletion Complaints

Mobile Network Operators (MNOs) may introduce data calculator to enable users to measure their data usage and address complaints of rapid data depletion.

Data depletion is the rapid exhaustion of your internet data bundle before its expected expiration.
The data calculator is a tool that will show subscribers how their data is used daily.
Telecom operators, largely the MNOs, are already providing subscribers a daily report of data used the previous day, as part of directives from the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) to drive transparency.
According to a report by Nairametrics, an industry source confirmed the new measure, noting that subscriber complaints over data depletion have now become a major concern in the industry, as it undermines trust.
“An average subscriber believes their service provider steals their data once their data is exhausted before time or depletes faster than they expected, which is not true.
“Over the years, we have tried to enlighten subscribers on factors that could lead to the fast depletion of their data, which include smartphone functionality, among others.
“And now, we are looking at tools that could show the subscribers not just what they have used, but also how they have used it to further promote transparency,” the source said.
According to the source, operators are also intensifying their sensitisation campaigns to help subscribers understand why their data can run out quickly.
Recall that NCC carried out an audit about 24 months ago across the mobile networks and found out that there was “no major” issue of data depletion, contrary to claims and complaints by subscribers.
Findings showed that the major issue still concerns the types of mobile phones and the activities users perform on them.
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