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As Nigeria Celebrates Seven Years of GSM

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18 years ago

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This month of August marks seven years since the country began the liberalization of telecommunications industry through adoption of Global System for Mobile communications (GSM) technology.

The Nigerian telecommunications industry has experienced significant growth in the last seven years, following the successful take-off of the digital mobile telephone services, using GSM technology. From less than 500,000 active fixed telephone lines as at mid 2001, to a population of over 120 million, the total number of connected fixed and mobile telephone lines increased to about 53 million both active and inactive lines this June.

However the entrance of the GSM technology has brought about such a revolutionary transformation that millions of Nigerians with no access to telecommunications now clutch mobile phones in their millions. It is a common sight these days to see traders, fish sellers, hawkers, motorcycle riders among others using mobile phones. The staggering number of subscribers on the three major GSM networks of MTN, Globacom and Zain as Nigeria celebrates 7 years of operations, is a testimony to the hunger of Nigerians for communications.

It is clear that Nigeria cannot celebrate the advances recorded in the communications sphere without acknowledging the contributions of Ernest Ndukwe, the executive vice chairman of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC). Ndukwe has over the years emerged as the face of GSM in Nigeria through his transparent handling of the regulatory affairs of the telecoms sector.

Since February of 2001 when he supervised the auctioning of GSM licences in the country, he has conducted the affairs of the regulatory functions of the commission in such a way that other countries in Africa now come to Nigeria to understudy the regulatory processes that has seen the sector emerge as the largest and fastest growing in Africa and the 3rd fastest growing in the world.

Several research firms across the globe have commended the Nigerian government and Ndukwe, one of the most sought-after telecom resource persons in the telecommunications industry in Africa for an effective transparent and foreign investment attracting regimes in the continent. In spite of the recent downturn in the quality of service dished out by operators characterized by drop calls, undelivered text messages, Ndukwe’s starling qualities as a regulator of note is still intact.

However, beyond the celebration of seven years of GSM, the NCC had taken several measures to tackle the issues of quality of service. One of the ways the NCC has shown that it was serious in tackling issues of quality of service was in the area of the enforcing its regulatory powers to stop operators from further promos that has been a major cause of network congestion witnessed in recent times. By this action the NCC sent a message that no operator is above the law and that they must conform to measures that will save the sector from further deterioration due to their poor service delivery. The commission has also procured equipments that will enable it monitor congestion and service quality of the various networks in the country.

It also ensured that operators paid their subscribers N175 compensation for poor quality of service experienced in January this year, even as some operators protested by taking the commission to court. It stood its ground and made this happened.

Benefits

 

In the last seven years, since the GSM revolution hit the nation, a lot of benefits have been enjoyed by the Nigerian subscriber who was hitherto at the mercy of the almost nonexistent epileptic services rendered by the Nigerian Telecommunications Nitel. Since then, the monopoly of non effective service rendered by Nitel has been broken and communication across regions enhanced by GSM thus encouraging the socio economic growth of the nation, enhancing business and social relationships. The fact is that effective communication is crucial and cannot be overemphasized. With a teledensity presently below 35 % and a subscriber base of 53 million as at the end of June, one could say that a feat has been achieved by the GSM revolution in connecting Nigerians to a critical service given the fact that before the advent of GSM, teledensity was less than 4% and only about five hundred thousand Nigerians had access to telephony services in a nation of over a hundred million people.

Then having a telephone was a class thing and only the rich could afford the luxury and the muscle to withstand the stress of Nitel technicians who used to hold subscribers to ransom at every little opportunity. Then it was a common sight to see the technicians asking for ladder and cables and all sorts to fix a line anytime a problem arises, it was indeed a nightmare. One could easily recall the stress of keeping vigil at the offices of Nitel in a bid to make calls and be confronted with the common problem of no tone come back tomorrow and so on. But thanks to President Obasanjo and the coming of GSM all that is now history.

The GSM revolution in the country has indeed contributed over 80 percent of $12 billion private investment in the sector as well as account for $10 billion foreign direct investment. It has also stimulated local investment and increased job opportunities. It is a common scene in urban areas of young men and women sitting under an umbrella provided for them by GSM operators making calls for people at token. This umbrella call centre initiative is today providing food to greater percentage of unemployed Nigerians, aside this are others who are trading in recharge cards and other products of GSM operators.

The benefit of GSM technology is enormous and still increasing as it gets expanded, we may not easily forget that Nigerians are now turning GSM engineers, these are our young countrymen and women who eke their living through repair of mobile handsets. The popular Otigba computer village is no longer computer village in its sense as the sale of mobile handset has almost taken over business at the market.

The revolution has also indirectly stimulated development and vibrancy of some sectors of the economy, such sectors are leveraging on the technology deployed by GSM operators to provide services to their customers, A case in point is the banking sector, where banks are offering mobile banking which give customer the opportunity to monitor and carry out transactions on the move through their mobile phones. Most Automated Teller Machines (ATM) deployed by banks is working with the help of GSM General Package Radio Service (GPRS) deployed by operators.

There has been an increased turnover for advertising and marking communications services basically because of the GSM operators that uses the channel often times to reach their subscribers as campaign for more subscribers.

Challenges

In spite of the benefits Nigerians are enjoying from the advent of GSM technology, the operators are not finding it a world of roses in rendering services. The much talked about poor quality of service is a function of weak infrastructure base, operators have been powering their equipment with generators which are not the case in most environment. This is attributed to inefficient public power system. Nigeria CommunicationsWeek investigations reveal that the three major operators in this space, MTN, Glomobile and Zain are powering their over 14,000 base transceiver stations with 28,000 generators. They are also providing security for their equipment which has not deterred unscrupulous Nigerians from stealing these generators and diesel. At last count in December last year Zain, Glomobile and MTN lost a total of 290 generators and over a million litres of diesel, this is indeed a huge lost to bear by operators.

There is also the problem of area boys. One of the operators has had to shutdown one of its sites in Lagos due to incessant demand of huge settlements by Area Boys. In the Niger-Delta area, one of the operators reported that over 30 of its sites have become inaccessible due to militant youths, who have refused them to refuel or maintain the sites except they parted with huge sums of money. It is unfair on the GSM operators, who unlike the oil companies are not taking any natural resource but building telecommunications infrastructure around the country.

Operators are also face with multiple taxation imposed on their equipment by different tiers of government, Abuja capital development authority had impose N3 million annual fee on each base station in the metropolis. More so, Association of Licensed Telecommunications Operators of Nigeria (Alton), the umbrella body of the telecom operators, are in court with Lagos state government over the later imposition of N500,000 fee per base station in the state.

The regulatory body also needs to ensure that competition is enshrined in all market segment of the sector as well as maintain favourable regulatory and investment climate, required for the protection of consumers. This is necessary in view of anti competitive behavour of some GSM operators.

The next phase of the Telecommunications growth will come from the rural areas. With a paltry 40 percent of the country being covered with telecommunications services, it is obvious that a huge gap needs to be tapped and already the focus for now by stakeholders and investors is on the rural area and how ICT services can be deployed to the rural communities. Investors are falling over themselves to come to Nigeria and do business mostly as a result of the fact that in spite of the infrastructural problems posed by lack of power, roads among other, Nigeria has a high return on investments rate. It is a fertile ground for any investor to recoup their investments, because of its population. Before now, the country has witnessed higher investments in the urban areas as opposed to lower investments in the rural areas by telecoms operators. In order to bridge this gap, telecommunications and internet services need to be deployed to the rural areas.

The NCC under Ndukwe should not relent in its efforts of playing its regulatory functions in an effective manner. Nigeria has a lot to gain and cannot afford to loose sight of the fact that an effective regulatory environment has to a large extent helped in steering the ship of the nation’s telecoms revolution.

As Nigeria celebrate this seventh year of Global System for Mobile communications (GSM), subscribers await the introduction of number portability which is believed will in no small measure help in address the quality of service issues.

NCC need to be commended for rising up to the challenges of regulation, especially with SIM registration, call centre initiative, consumer parliament and its current effort at ensuring that physically challenged group in the society are fairly treated by operators.

 


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Airtel Nigeria Launches Web Data Calculator to Give Customers Greater Visibility into Data Usage

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June 11, 2026

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Airtel Nigeria has launched the Airtel Web Data Calculator, a new digital tool designed to help customers estimate and better understand their internet data consumption based on real-life usage patterns.

The launch comes amid a broader industry effort to improve transparency around data consumption and strengthen customer confidence in mobile broadband services.

It also aligns with ongoing collaboration between telecommunications operators and the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) to address customer concerns about data depletion and improve quality of service across the sector.

Recent industry initiatives have included customer education campaigns, daily usage notifications, billing audits, customer engagement forums, and the development of new tools that provide greater visibility into how data is consumed.

Available through Airtel’s website, the calculator enables customers to estimate data usage across common digital activities such as video streaming, social media engagement, voice and video calls, and everyday web browsing. By translating online behaviour into understandable data estimates, the tool empowers customers to make more informed decisions about their data plans and digital habits.

Speaking on the launch, Oladokun Oye, Customer Experience Director, Airtel Nigeria, said the initiative reflects Airtel’s commitment to customer empowerment and service transparency.

“As Nigerians become increasingly dependent on digital services for work, education, entertainment and communication, it is important that customers have clear visibility into how their data is consumed. The Airtel Web Data Calculator was developed to help our customers understand their usage patterns better, make informed choices, and enjoy greater confidence in their digital experience,” he said.

Oye added that customer concerns around data depletion have remained a recurring topic across the telecommunications industry, making transparency a critical component of customer experience.

“We believe that trust grows when customers have access to clear information. This tool is another step in our ongoing efforts to simplify the customer experience, provide greater clarity around data consumption, and support informed decision-making,” he said.

The launch follows a period of intensified engagement between telecom operators, regulators and consumers on data usage awareness. The NCC has consistently emphasized that many instances of perceived rapid data depletion are linked to factors such as high-definition video streaming, automatic application updates, cloud synchronization, background app activity and evolving smartphone capabilities. The regulator has encouraged operators to improve customer education and develop tools that help subscribers better understand their consumption patterns.

Industry data underscores the importance of such initiatives. Nigeria recorded more than 13 million terabytes of internet consumption in 2025, reflecting the country’s accelerating digital transformation and growing dependence on mobile broadband services.

Commenting on the significance of the launch, Dinesh Balsingh, Chief Executive Officer, Airtel Nigeria, said the company remains focused on building a network and customer experience ecosystem anchored on trust, transparency and continuous improvement.

“The future of telecommunications will be defined not only by network investments but also by how effectively operators help customers understand and manage their digital lives. The Airtel Web Data Calculator represents a practical innovation that places more information and control directly in the hands of our customers.”

He noted that Airtel continues to invest heavily in network modernization, customer experience initiatives and digital tools that improve service quality while making telecommunications services easier to understand and use.

“We welcome the industry’s collective focus on transparency and commend the NCC’s continued collaboration with operators to strengthen consumer confidence. As data becomes increasingly central to everyday life, Airtel will continue to develop solutions that make connectivity more accessible, transparent and rewarding for every customer.”

The launch also builds on Airtel Nigeria’s recent customer engagement initiatives, including forums dedicated to helping subscribers better understand data usage, value optimization and service quality. These engagements have brought together customers, regulators and Airtel executives to foster greater awareness and dialogue around digital consumption.

The Airtel Web Data Calculator is now available to customers nationwide and can be accessed via Airtel Nigeria’s website.

 


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NCC Board Reviews Telecom Sector, Notes Progress in Network Expansion, Consumer Compensation

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June 11, 2026

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The Board of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has commended telecommunications operators for ongoing investments aimed at improving network coverage, capacity and quality of service across the country.

NCC Board Reviews Telecom Sector, Notes Progress in Network Expansion, Consumer Compensation

NCC

This was contained in a communiqué issued at the end of the Commission’s 109th Board Meeting held on May 25 in Abuja.

According to the communiqué, Mobile Network Operators (MNOs) have planned the deployment of more than 12,000 additional coverage and capacity sites nationwide, with over 5,000 already completed, representing more than 40 per cent of the target.

The Board also noted that fibre connectivity had been extended to more than 700 sites to improve network resilience, backhaul capacity and service reliability.

It added that co-location and infrastructure sharing licensees had upgraded equipment across more than 2,000 Base Transceiver Stations (BTS) to support network expansion and compliance with quality-of-service obligations.

The Board reviewed the implementation of the Commission’s directive requiring operators to compensate subscribers affected by poor service quality in areas where prescribed standards were not met.

It noted that full compliance by operators had resulted in compensation being offered to more than 75 million affected subscribers.

The Board said efforts were ongoing to independently verify operators’ claims and ensure that all eligible subscribers received the compensation due to them.

However, it expressed concern that tower infrastructure providers had only partially complied with directives requiring the reinvestment of regulatory fines into infrastructure upgrades through escrow accounts.

On broadband development, the Board noted rising data consumption across the country but observed that growth remained constrained by infrastructure limitations, reliance on mobile internet and duplication of assets.

It welcomed the growth in Fibre-to-the-Home (FTTH) subscriptions, which rose from 84,141 in the fourth quarter of 2025 to 210,065 connections as of the first quarter of 2026.

According to the Board, expanding fixed broadband infrastructure will help reduce pressure on mobile networks, improve service quality and provide consumers with more connectivity options.

The Board also noted that the Commission was reviewing the telecommunications market structure to reflect current realities in both the wholesale and retail segments of the industry.

It reaffirmed that broader access to wholesale backbone fibre and expanded metropolitan fibre networks would help lower connectivity costs, improve network resilience and support the Federal Government’s digital transformation agenda.

The Board further identified infrastructure vandalism as a major challenge affecting industry growth despite ongoing efforts by security agencies to protect telecommunications facilities designated as Critical National Information Infrastructure (CNII).

It called for greater collaboration among stakeholders and disclosed that the Commission was exploring the feasibility of establishing a Communications Industry Security Trust Fund to strengthen infrastructure protection.

The Board also reviewed ongoing engagements with industry players on the development of a framework for zero-rating educational platforms and content to promote digital inclusion and improve educational outcomes.

In addition, the Board approved the appointment of Princess Oforitsenere Emiko, a Non-Executive Commissioner of the NCC, as Interim Chairman of the Governing Board of the Digital Bridge Institute (DBI).

It also approved the appointments of Engr. Abraham Oshadami, Executive Commissioner, Technical Services, and Ms. Rimini Makama, Executive Commissioner, Stakeholder Management, as interim members of the DBI Governing Board.

The Board reiterated the Commission’s commitment to fostering a sustainable and inclusive communications sector through improved quality of service, network resilience, consumer protection, transparency, fair competition and market discipline.


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FG’s $10m Hello.cv Deal Sparks Outrage as Experts Question Snub of .ng Domain

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June 11, 2026

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Stakeholders in Nigeria’s Information and Communications Technology (ICT) sector have expressed concerns over the inclusion of a foreign country code top-level domain (ccTLD) in a recent partnership under the Federal Government’s 3 Million Technical Talent (3MTT) programme.

FG's $10m Hello.cv Deal Sparks Outrage as Experts Question Snub of .ng Domain

The concerns followed the announcement by the Federal Ministry of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy (FMCIDE) of a 10 million-dollar partnership with Hello.cv, a platform associated with Cape Verde’s “.cv” country code domain.

Under the agreement, 20,000 beneficiaries of the 3MTT programme will receive access to Hello.cv’s profile package, which includes a personal .cv domain, an artificial intelligence-powered job search agent and professional CV writing services.

Some industry stakeholders argue that the arrangement appears inconsistent with the Federal Government’s “Nigeria First Policy”, which encourages Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) to prioritise local products and services.

The policy, approved by the Federal Executive Council in May 2025, seeks to reduce dependence on foreign goods and services, strengthen domestic industries and create jobs.

Speaking on the development, Chief Executive Officer of DNS Africa Media and Communications, Dr. Adebunmi Akinbo, said the use of a foreign domain for Nigerian trainees raised questions about data protection and digital sovereignty.

According to him, the country’s indigenous domain, .ng, managed by the Nigeria Internet Registration Association, is capable of accommodating the beneficiaries and should have been prioritised.

“If branding is important to the company, there are alternatives such as integrating the service within the .ng ecosystem. The focus should remain on promoting Nigeria’s digital identity and protecting citizens’ data,” he said.

Akinbo also expressed concerns about the storage and management of data generated through the platform, noting that government agencies should ensure that local digital assets remain at the forefront of national digital development efforts.

Also commenting, Emmanuel Amos, Chief Executive Officer of Programos and Innovationbed-AI Academy, said government institutions needed to demonstrate consistency in implementing policies designed to strengthen local technology ecosystems.

According to him, Nigeria must develop the institutional commitment required to support indigenous technology solutions and maximise value from local innovation.

The stakeholders noted that while the training partnership itself was commendable, the inclusion of a foreign domain component had generated questions about compliance with the spirit of the Nigeria First Policy.

Ugonma Egwuatu, an ICT and data protection expert at ECAM Global Services, called for greater clarity regarding data governance arrangements under the partnership.

She said agencies responsible for data protection should be satisfied that adequate safeguards were in place for the personal information of programme beneficiaries.

“We are dealing with the data of about 20,000 individuals. There should be clear explanations regarding how the data will be managed, protected and utilised,” she said.

Egwuatu added that transparency regarding data handling processes and any third-party arrangements would help address concerns among stakeholders.

The partnership is part of ongoing efforts by the ministry to equip young Nigerians with digital skills and improve their access to employment opportunities in the global technology ecosystem.

As of the time of filing this report, the ministry had not publicly responded to the concerns raised by stakeholders regarding the domain component of the partnership.


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