Telecom
ATCON, NiRA & UI Tap AFRINIC to Train Network Engineers on IPv6 Migration

The Association of Telecommunications Companies of Nigeria (ATCON); Nigeria internet Registration Association (NiRA) and University of Ibadan in conjunction with African Network Information Center (AFRINIC) have commenced training of sixty (60) telecoms network engineers on the intricacies of internet protocol version six (IPv6).
The four-day training which started on Tuesday at NiRA house in Lagos, was a mark of shared philosophy among the partners that ‘local; engineers must be at par with their international counterparts.
Speaking at the opening ceremony of the Internet Number Resources Management (INRM) and IPv6 Course, through the first vice president, Engineer Tony Nwosu, ATCON president, Mr. Olusola Teniola, said that the need to migrate to IPv6 is long overdue, however ATCON is still unhappy that majority of the country’s networks are not IPV6 compliance.
He said that ATCON has continued to invest heavily in the adoption of IPv6 for sheer reasons: the need to increase the productivity and contribution level of networks engineers in the implementation and deployment of IPv6 for Nigerian ICT/telecoms development.
Teniola said, ATCON has invested and still investing heavily on this course due to “the need to enhance the performance of our Network Engineers on network management with the ultimate goal of enhancing the sustainable growth of the Nigerian Telecom Industry is second to none globally. We also saw the need to provide Nigerian network engineers with the required knowledge to compete favourably with their counter parts in the global market.”
He also urged ATCON members to migrate to IPv6 so that the knowledge acquired during the four-day training could be put to use in the various organisation.
On his part, Sunday Folayan, NiRA’s President, re-emphasised that the world of internet is going out of IPv4 addresses as Internet Assigned Numbers Authority (IANA) has allocated the final eight IPv4 address blocks to each of the five regional internet registries (RIR) over five years ago.
Folayan who was represented by Muhammed Rudman, NiRA vice president, said “APNIC was the first RIR to run out of freely allocated IPv4 addresses on April 15, 2011. This date marked the point where not everyone who needed and IPv4 address could be allocated one. As a consequence of this exhaustion, end-to-end connectivity as required by specific applications will not be universally available on the internet until IPv6 is fully implemented”.
According to him, IPv6 will open a pool of internet addresses that is a billion-trillion times larger than a total pool of IPv4 addresses which is about 4.3billion, “this means that the number of IPv6 addresses is virtually inexhaustible for the foreseeable future. This will address the need of the ever expanding world population, the growth of the domain name system due to the opening of the new gTLDs and the immerging internet of things (IoTs).
Rev. Folayan said that the training for engineers was paramount to aide companies in the smooth transition to IPv6, adding that one of the challenges identified for the lack of IPv6 in Nigeria “is lack of the required technical skills”, adding that he believes “this training will expose you further to the need for IPv6 and will equip our engineers with the right set of skills to assist their various organisations to migrate to IPv6 so that Nigeria occupy its rightful position in the global IPv6 ranking”.
Also Professor Abel Idowu, vice chancellor, University of Ibadan, who was represented by Dr. Seyi Osunade, director, Information Technology and Media Services at UI, said that as an Institution of higher learning, the management of UI understand the important of IPv6 to teaching and learning hence the decision to be part of the training programme.
He said, “UI recognises the role and impact of information technology on education. It has deployed several infrastructure and solutions for the adoption and use of information technology and media by staff and students for academic and administrative processes.
“In order to leverage the convergence of information technology and media technology to positively affect teaching, learning and research in the University; UI established the Directorate of Information Technology and Media Services (ITeMS). The duty of the directorate is to use information technology and media solutions to provide information, communication and entertainment to all members of the community located locally or elsewhere”.
He added that the Directorate is as a result of the unification of the Management Information System (MIS) unit, the Information and Communication Technology (Internet) project, Diamond FM radio station, University Media Centre, the Computing Centre and the Information Technology Unit of the College of Medicine.
The VC expressed the University’s delight to be associated with AFRINIC on the training related to a critical resource for information technology optimization, adding that “UI business is education and UI will continue to be the first and the best in developing human capacity for the Nigerian industry”.
The training sessions are conducted by African Network Information Center which was accredited in April 2005 by ICANN as the fifth Regional Internet Registry according to criteria defined in its ICP-2 document (criteria for establishment of regional Internet registries).
Telecom
MTN Nigeria Debuts Game-Changing CPaaS Platform at NextNow Forum

At the recently concluded NextNow Business Forum in Victoria Island, MTN Nigeria electrified the business community with a live demonstration of its forthcoming Communication Platform as a Service (CPaaS), a solution engineered to redefine how Nigerian enterprises connect with their customers.

L-R: Febisola Oyeniyi, General Manager, Enterprise Sales, MTN Nigeria; Omotayo Ojutalayo, General Manager, Business Development, Enterprise Business, MTN Nigeria; Akinbulejo Onabolu, Head, Enterprise Segment, MTN Nigeria and Omowunmi Olatunbosun, Head, SME Segment, MTN Nigeria, during the MTN NextNow Business Forum.
Unlike traditional communication systems, MTN’s CPaaS is built for the realities of a mobile-first market. The platform unifies SMS, voice, WhatsApp, email, and more into a single, intuitive interface.
This approach is especially significant in Nigeria, with over 107 million internet users, 45.4% of the total population, according to Data Report. This figure underscores the necessity for businesses to meet customers where they are.
During the demo, attendees witnessed how CPaaS enables two-way, real-time conversations between brands and customers. The platform’s support for rich media, instant analytics, and seamless integration with business workflows drew particular attention.
These features are designed to empower businesses with data-driven insights and the agility to personalise every interaction, whether it’s a service notification, marketing campaign, or customer support exchange.
Akinbulejo Onabolu, Head of Enterprise Segment at MTN Nigeria, articulated the vision: “CPaaS gives enterprises the flexibility to interact with their customers on their preferred platforms; whether it’s chat, voice, or messaging, in a way that feels personal and immediate. We’re looking forward to the value this will unlock for businesses across industries once it launches.”
The fireside chat added depth to the conversation, with Omowunmi Olatunbosun, Head of SME Segment at MTN Nigeria, and Stephen Agbi of Bayobab, highlighting how digital engagement bridges the gap between businesses and audiences. They emphasised that today’s consumers demand immediacy, relevance, and ease, qualities that CPaaS is built to deliver.
The stakes for digital transformation in Nigeria are high. In a report by Punch, the country’s enterprise tech market is projected to reach $22 billion by 2027, reflecting a surge in demand for scalable, cloud-based solutions that drive efficiency and customer loyalty.
The CPAAS Acceleration Alliance have estimated that globally, the CPaaS market is expected to grow from $14.7 billion in 2025 to $72.4 billion by 2035, at a compound annual growth rate of 18.4%, a testament to the platform’s transformative potential.
The event’s closing keynote from META’s Korhan Yunak reinforced the strategic value of digital channels like WhatsApp, which are now indispensable for business communication and engagement at scale.
As MTN Nigeria prepares for the Q3 2025 launch, the anticipation is unmistakable. With its promise of flexibility, intelligence, and seamless integration, MTN’s CPaaS platform is set to become the backbone of next-generation business-customer engagement in Nigeria, enabling enterprises to not just communicate but to connect, adapt, and grow in a digital-first era.
Telecom
NCC, REA Move to Power Telecoms with Renewable Energy

Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) and Rural Electrification Agency (REA) have teamed up to develop an initiative that will reduce the $350 million annual spending on diesel by telecom operators in Nigeria.
According to a press statement by Nnenna Ukoha, acting had of Public Affairs, NCC, this collaboration will focus on deploying renewable energy solutions to support telecom infrastructure, particularly in rural and underserved areas.
To that end, the two agencies have inaugurated what they called NCC–REA Collaboration Committee, aimed at deploying renewable energy solutions to power telecom infrastructure across the country.
According to the State of Africa’s Infrastructure Report 2025 by the Africa Finance Corporation, telecom operators in Nigeria consume more than 40 million litres of diesel every month, costing them over $350 million annually.
The statement read, “The Nigerian Communications Commission has formally inaugurated the NCC–REA Collaboration Committee, marking a pivotal step towards advancing Nigeria’s digital and energy inclusion objectives by developing modalities for the deployment of renewable energy to support telecom infrastructure in Nigeria.”
The inauguration ceremony, held on Friday, at the NCC Headquarters in Abuja, was presided over by Dr Aminu Maida, executive vice chairman and chief executive officer, NCC.
Maida was joined by Abba Aliyu, managing director of the REA, along with senior executives and committee members from both organisations.
Speaking at the event, Maida described the collaboration as a timely and strategic alignment of national priorities.
He noted that bridging the connectivity and power gaps in rural areas remains critical for Nigeria’s growth and development.
He highlighted that the demand for digital services and connected communities creates an opportunity for renewable energy to play a crucial role.
Maida further emphasised that the partnership goes beyond infrastructure; it is aimed at driving inclusion, reducing inequalities, and fostering shared prosperity.
“Whether it is powering a base station or enabling a child to access digital learning, this partnership has the potential to transform realities and bring opportunity closer to the people.
“This initiative is about more than infrastructure, it is about driving inclusion, bridging inequalities and creating the conditions for shared prosperity,” he was quoted in the statement.
He also noted that the initiative aligns with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which aims to ensure no community is left behind in Nigeria’s energy and digital transformation.
Aliyu, representing REA, expressed confidence in the transformative potential of the collaboration.
“This partnership will unlock sustainable development opportunities for millions of Nigerians, especially those in areas lacking traditional infrastructure,” he said.
He further emphasised that the collaboration would address both energy and connectivity gaps, benefiting those who are currently underserved.
The newly established NCC-REA Collaboration Committee will work to co-develop and implement integrated solutions that leverage renewable energy to power telecom sites.
The statement noted that the committee will also focus on sharing geospatial data to improve planning, aligning funding frameworks, and tracking the socio-economic impact of the project through clear performance indicators.
Telecom
NCC Approves MTN, 9Mobile Roaming Collaboration Deal

MTN Nigeria Communications Plc has announced the execution of a national roaming agreement with Emerging Markets Telecommunications Services Limited (9Mobile), a move that signals a major milestone in Nigeria’s telecommunications landscape.
The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), the industry’s regulatory authority, has approved the three-year deal, which allows 9Mobile subscribers to roam seamlessly on MTN Nigeria’s extensive network infrastructure across the country.
The agreement, effective immediately, will significantly enhance connectivity and user experience for 9Mobile customers, particularly in areas where its network coverage is limited.
By leveraging MTN’s expansive infrastructure, 9Mobile can now offer improved service reach and reliability, without duplicating capital-intensive investments in network deployment.
In a notice to the Nigerian Exchange Limited and the investing public, MTN Nigeria described the arrangement as a strategic collaboration that underscores its leadership in fostering innovation, industry cooperation, and operational efficiency.
The company emphasized that the initiative aligns with the NCC’s broader objective of promoting infrastructure sharing to improve telecommunications services nationwide.
“This agreement represents a significant step in our commitment to driving industry collaboration, improving customer experience, and supporting the NCC’s vision of a fully connected Nigeria,” said Karl Toriola, chief executive officer, MTN Nigeria.
“Delivering the scale required for telecommunications services in Nigeria requires strong collaboration between the private sector, public sector, and long-term investors. This agreement demonstrates what we can achieve when we collaborate, and we are delighted to announce it today after months of groundwork.”The national roaming deal enables subscribers from 9Mobile to access voice and data services through MTN’s network in areas where the former lacks adequate coverage.
This marks the first such large-scale, cross-network roaming arrangement between two major operators in Nigeria, setting a precedent for future cooperative efforts in the telecom industry.
MTN Nigeria highlighted that the agreement contributes to more effective use of telecommunications resources, reduces infrastructure duplication, and accelerates the expansion of mobile broadband access across underserved regions.
It also supports both operators’ sustainability objectives by maximizing existing investments and reducing the environmental impact of deploying overlapping network facilities.
“This strategic collaboration is yet another first in the country by MTN Nigeria and marks a significant milestone for the sustainability of the telecommunications industry,” the company stated.
“By enabling national roaming, MTN Nigeria is contributing to a more effective use of telecommunications resources and accelerating efforts to expand connectivity across the country.”
The agreement is expected to benefit not just subscribers and operators but also regulators and investors who have consistently advocated for policies that promote shared infrastructure and efficient capital utilization in Nigeria’s digital economy.
Uto Ukpanah, company secretary, MTN Nigeria, affirmed the company’s ongoing dedication to initiatives that create shared value.
“MTN remains committed to fostering innovation and partnerships that create sustainable value for all stakeholders while promoting digital and financial inclusion nationwide,” she noted.
With the successful rollout of this agreement, the telecoms industry is expected to see improved service delivery and expanded access to quality mobile services, especially in rural and semi-urban communities. The collaboration sets a benchmark for future inter-operator partnerships and reinforces the importance of regulatory support in advancing national connectivity goals.
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