Telecom
ALTON Rues Exclusion of Critical Telecoms Infrastructure in Abuja City Master Plan
Association of Licensed Telecom Operators of Nigeria (ALTON) has identified the exclusion of critical telecoms infrastructures from Abuja Master plan, as contributory factor to the persistent poor quality of network services in major parts of the Federal Capital Territory.
Engineer Gbenga Adebayo, chairman ALTON, made the remark during a breakfast dialogue with Nigeria Information Technology Reporters Association (NITRA) in Lagos, insisting that the Federal Government needs to review the master plan to make provision for the deployment of cell sites in the City.
Following recommendations by Justice Akinola Aguda Panel in 1975, the Federal Government established the Federal Capital Development Authority in 1976 which commissioned a US-based IPA Group, to prepare a draft Master Plan for the new Federal Capital of Nigeria.
The Master Plan of Abuja by IPA, completed in 1979 according to FCDA, is now undergoing review by Messrs. Albert Speers Partners in collaboration with four other Nigerian Town Planning Consultants, namely, Multi-system Consultant, Austin Aike & Partners Fola Konsult and Benna Associate.
ALTON claimed that the masterplan has no provision for modern technologies to drive telecommunications services in the FCT thereby causing poor quality of service and limiting operator’s ability to expand operations.
He further lamented that several efforts to get attention of relevant authorities in the FCT to make provision for such infrastructure has not yielded enough results.
Eng. Adebayo told the industry reporters, “The reality is that if we want good telecoms services, we have to leave with the environmental pains that come with it. It is very simple- you have a very nice looking building, but you need to receive good TV signals at home. So, you go to instal apparatus to capture digital signal. It’s a pain you have to leave with. In our case, I am not saying a painful infliction on the people. No, rather why we need good telecom services, there are supporting infrastructure that we need to tolerate. The reason being that, for example, problem of approval for cell sites. We were told, there are no areas designated for cell sites towers within Abuja central area. Now, Abuja is one of the most difficult cities to drive in and out at the peak times.
“The reason is it is the seat of Government, yet we don’t have approval to build cell sites. We have been in discussions with Abuja Authorities in the last four years on how to mitigate on this problem. They keep saying, ‘no approval’.
“The implication is that you are at the seat of Government yet it is difficult to make calls. Very simple. And they did say there are no designated areas for building cell sites, because it was not in the masterplan.
“The masterplan was developed about 40 years ago. When it was done, there was no mobile telecom services. We think it is time for somebody to look at that concept again and grant approvals to service providers so we can improve the quality of service.
“I make bold to say until we have the necessary infrastrastructure to deploy infrastructure in Abuja, we will continue to struggle with QoS in the FCT.
“It is high time somebody somewhere did something to allow us to build more cell sites in and around Abuja to have better coverage and improve on the quality of services. We are told it is because of aesthetics and revenue. But we think, the common good of the socioeconomic benefits of telecoms services to the economy should override other interests.
“So, the disruption of infrastructure on the environment is something we may need to compromise. Now what police do we require going forward. It is as basic as give us access to foreign exchange”.
He said that the Government needs to pay close attention to the telecoms industry to understand where to intervene and make amends for better service delivery to the populace.
“Those are policy issues. In the first instance, we don’t know how some industries are designated as priority and telecoms didn’t appear on the list. Government talk about Aviation, Agriculture, Manufacturing, while telecoms disappeared from the list. We know that telecoms is the infrastructure of infrastructures. So, what policy do we need for government to solve this problem? Give us access to foreign exchange!”
The ALTON Chairman also called for end to multiple taxation and regulations in the industry, which he said are slowing down investment in the sector.
“That is my cry: remove the issue of multiple taxation, multiple regulations, classify our infrastructure as national and economic infrastructure. Give us first layer of protection. Now, report has it people are complaining about the state of power supply to our homes. Many are buying inverters. Now, battery stolen from cell sites on Shagamu-Benin Express road, sold to the supplier in Benin, then, to the distributor in Agbor, then to an aggregator in Onitsha, then to Alaba market and finally to a Consumer in Kano.
“Therefore, we need to secure our infrastructure.These are the policy issues we are clamouring for, believing that when they are addressed by way of healthy modifications, it will help to move the industry forward.
“Whether we have not done enough engagement with stakeholders, you are our voice. Please, tell them about our predicaments. We are engaging government in all levels. Recently, we were in Ebonyi State, the other week, we were in Kaduna State, the upper week- Imo State. Yesterday, they were in Abuja; all to engage stakeholders.
“You might be surprised that after the meeting in Ebonyi, despite all the problems we had there, the report they gave to His Excellency was different from the realities. He came to the meeting to express surprise at what the Advisers told him. That’s why we need you to tell the right stories about the problems that we face”, Eng. Adebayo concluded.
MTN Nigeria, in collaboration with ONErpm and Ultima Studios, has announced Ayodeji Benson, popularly known as Ayo Benzi, as the winner of the maiden edition of the Next Afrobeats Star reality show.
L-R: Onyinye Ikenna-Emeka, Chief Marketing Officer, MTN Nigeria; Ayodeji Benson, Winner, Next Afrobeats Star Reality Show (Season 1) and Emamoke Ogoro, General Manager, Brand and Communication, MTN Nigeria, at the grand finale of the Next Afrobeats Star Reality Show (Season 1), held at the Ultima Studios, Lekki, Lagos on Saturday, December 13, 2025.
The grand finale, held on Sunday night at Ultima Studios in Lekki, Lagos, marked the climax of a nationwide talent search that began in September with over 15,000 aspiring musicians.
After weeks of auditions, mentorship, and rigorous training, five finalists – Ayo Benzi, Dave Cash, Kaeko, Somto O’Laker, and Lucky Yay – battled for the top prize in a high-energy showcase of performance and artistry.
At the end of the electrifying contest, Ayo Benzi emerged victorious, securing a ₦150 million music deal. Dave Cash was named first runner-up with ₦100 million, while Kaeko, Somto O’Laker, and Lucky Yay received ₦75 million, ₦50 million, and ₦25 million respectively.
Throughout the season, contestants were mentored by leading Afrobeats producers Sarz, Puffy Tee, P Prime, and Andre Vibez. Benzi, who was part of Puffy Tee’s team, credited the mentorship programme for sharpening his craft and stage presence.
Speaking at the event, Onyinye Ikenna-Emeka, Chief Marketing Officer of MTN Nigeria, said the initiative reflects the company’s commitment to youth empowerment and cultural expression.
“The Next Afrobeats Star platform is about creating real opportunities for young Nigerians and giving their talent the structure, visibility, and support it deserves.
“Afrobeats continues to place Nigeria on the global cultural map, and MTN is proud to be enabling the next generation of artists who will take this sound even further,” she said.
She added that the finale was not just a competition but a celebration of growth and readiness for the global stage.
In his acceptance speech, Ayo Benzi described the victory as a defining moment in his career.
“A big thank you to MTN. From the audition days, the treatment MTN has given us has been amazing. God bless the brand,” he said.
The finale also featured guest performances by Afrobeats stars Iyanya and Bella Shmurda, adding glamour to the night and reinforcing the show’s connection to the wider music ecosystem.
With the successful conclusion of the season, MTN Nigeria and its partners reaffirmed their role in championing youth ambition, supporting creative industries, and shaping the future of Nigerian music through platforms that turn potential into opportunity.
T2, formerly known as 9mobile, is under investigation by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) in Benue State for an undisclosed incident disrupting USSD, SMS, voice, and data services across nine local government areas.
T2
The affected areas include Ado, Agatu, Gwer East, Gwer West, Konshisha, Obi, Ohimini, Okpokwu, and Otukpo, as detailed in an advisory on the NCC Major Outages Portal, which tracks significant disruptions reported by Mobile Network Operators (MNOs) and Internet Service Providers (ISPs).
Neither T2 nor its public relations firm, Chain Reactions, has responded to inquiries on the outage’s cause or restoration efforts as of this report.
The NCC’s continued reference to the operator as 9mobile, months after its public rebranding to T2 in August 2025, has sparked questions about whether the name change was formally notified to the regulator.
This probe aligns with NCC mandates requiring operators to disclose major outages, their impacts, and timelines for fixes, with compensation obligatory for disruptions exceeding 24 hours under the Consumer Code of Practice Regulations.
Industry watchers note that such incidents, often linked to fibre cuts, power failures, or infrastructure faults, underscore ongoing challenges in Nigeria’s telecoms sector, particularly amid T2’s subscriber losses post-rebrand. NCC vows transparency via its portal to hold operators accountable and protect consumers.
Telecom
NCC Unveils Draft 5-Year Spectrum Roadmap, 60 GHz License-Exempt Guidelines to Boost Broadband, Innovation
Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has unveiled two pivotal regulatory draft documents aimed at reshaping Nigeria’s communications sector over the next five years and fast-tracking deployment of ultra-high-speed wireless technologies.
NCC
In a public notice dated December 19, 2025, and issued pursuant to its mandate under the Nigerian Communications Act (NCA) 2003, the Commission published the Draft 5-Year Spectrum Roadmap for the Communications Sector (2025–2030) and Draft Guidelines for the Use of the 60 GHz License-Exempt Band for Multi-Gigabit Wireless Systems.
Both documents are accessible on the NCC website for stakeholder review, with the roadmap outlining strategic spectrum planning, allocation, and management to optimise utilisation, support emerging technologies like 5G and IoT, expand broadband access, and align with global best practices.
The Spectrum Roadmap emphasises four core pillars: bridging the digital divide through low-band spectrum and satellite services, attracting investments via flexible licensing models, enhancing service quality with mid-band optimisation, and fostering innovation in areas such as direct-to-device connectivity and secondary spectrum trading.
It sets ambitious targets including universal 4G coverage nationwide, 50 per cent 5G penetration in state capitals, and average broadband speeds of 100 Mbps by 2030, while addressing rising data demand through band refarming and efficient management.
Complementing this, the 60 GHz Guidelines establish a license-exempt framework for the 57–66 GHz band, enabling multi-gigabit speeds up to 10 Gbps for short-range applications like WiGig, fixed wireless access, enterprise connectivity, urban broadband, and backhaul solutions.
The rules mandate NCC type approval for equipment, site registration for outdoor use, and interference mitigation measures, while prohibiting wide-area networks to safeguard primary users.
In line with Section 58 of the NCA 2003, NCC invites comments from industry operators, equipment manufacturers, consumer groups, and the public, with submissions due by Friday, January 16, 2025, via email to [email protected], [email protected], and [email protected].
The notice, signed by Mrs Nnenna Ukoha, Head of Public Affairs, stresses that stakeholder inputs will refine the frameworks to drive innovation, investment, competition, and sustainable growth in Nigeria’s telecoms ecosystem.
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