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CDMA Operators Battles for Survival amidst Low Revenue

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The number of active telecommunications subscribers on the various networks operating in the country as released by Nigerian Communications Commission for the second quarter of this year indicated that Global System for Mobile communications (GSM) operators have continued to make impressive additions to subscribers on their networks compared to Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) operators.
In the report CDMA operators recorded a decrease on the subscribers to their network from 9,115,165 in April to 8,658,318 as at June this year. But, GSM operators within the same period recorded an increase from 58,063,300 to 59,194,972. The implication of this is that in spite of different network expansion plans embarked upon by major operators in this space as well as promotions, Nigerians still prefer talking on GSM platform.
The issue that arises, is how can operators in this space survive in terms of competition with GSM operators bearing in mind the harsh economic downturn facing the country? This situation may have informed the recent promo embarked upon by some operators on the CDMA platform to shore up their subscriber base. Visafone and Starcomms have launched their promo campaign while Multi-Links Nigeria CommunicationsWeek gathered is planning a similar promo. In the Visafone ‘Enjoy the N0.00 advantage’ new subscribers to Visafone network will only need to purchase and activate a Haier FM phone for just N3, 333 or a Huawei C2802 model for N2, 222. The subscriber will in turn get back the full cost of buying the phones in the form of free airtime worth N3, 333 and N2, 222 respectively in three months.
More so, a subscriber is expected to use at least N200 over a 30 day period to get N1,045 worth of free airtime with 15 counts of free On-net SMS on the Haier FM phones while subscribers who purchase, activate and use up to N200 on the Huawei C2802 will get N741 worth of free airtime with 15 counts of free On-net SMS in each 30 day cycle. At the end of a 90 day period, the subscriber participating in this package would have gotten back the full price of his phone.
The free airtime is automatically credited to the phone as soon as the subscriber uses up to a minimum of N200 in a 30 days circle.
In a similar promo, Starcomms is offering two categories of mobile telephone, the ZTE X175 and the popular Haier D920, in a promotion that ultimately gives back the purchase money to the subscriber.
This new 100% money back promo by the company allows any subscriber who purchases the ZTE X175 and Haier D920 to enjoy on-net bonus airtime covering the value of the purchased phone within 30 days of their activation. The ZTE X175 phone is priced at N1,999 and upon minimum first time recharge of at least N100 (one hundred naira), the purchaser will get automatic bonus airtime and the Starcomms customer would  be able to make free on-net calls to the tune of N1,999 within the first month of activation. The same token goes to the subscribers who buy the Haier D920 for the price of N2,299 and will be able to make free calls to any Starcomms line to the value of N2,299.
Starcomms in a statement acknowledged that the promotion is coming at a time when the purchasing power of many is generally dwindling and subscribers are keen to get adequate value for their money.
Speaking on the offer, Maher Qubain chief executive officer, Starcomms, said Starcomms acknowledges the adjustments people have had to make in the last few months of challenging economic situation. “It is therefore apt for us to respond positively, as we always do, to the yearnings of our subscriber, especially students and other people in the lower segment of the economy. We have therefore made it easy for people to join the Starcomms network without having to overstretch themselves financially. This is part of our strong resolve to always bring the best offer to the reach of our teeming subscriber,” he said.
The use of this free airtime can be enjoyed by Starcomms subscriber within only one month starting from the moment of first activation. The new subscribers will enjoy this offer alongside the value-added services like the missed call notification and the call waiting options.
The introduction of Unified Access License by Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) in 2006 after the expiration of exclusivity right given to Global System for Mobile communication (GSM) operators was what Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) operators needed to stamp their feat in the telecommunications industry. Before then, they were operating under limited mobile access license which restricted them from operating mobile service in unified manner. They as a result concentrated on offering fixed wireless and mobile service within the state they secured license to operate. More so, if any operator wishes to operate in another state outside its primary state of operation such operator would be required to apply for a license to operate in such location. This made it expensive to operate even as they were not required to offer roaming service like GSM operators. As a result of these, CDMA operators were mere local operators who concentrated their service in Lagos and Abuja commercially viable cities. They were struggling for subscribers with GSM operators that offered broader service, basically, because a GSM subscriber can take his or her phone outside Lagos and it works in as much as such network has coverage in the location, but mobile service rendered by CDMA could not offer this service, thereby giving them advantage over CDMA service. With the introduction of unified  licensing  regime, individual service provider is allowed to offer multiple services such as mobile telephony, fixed telephony, internet services and long distance services, there are over ten operators in this space. They included Starcomms, ZoomMobile, Intercellular, Multi¬-Links Telkom, Visafone, Rainbownet, Prestel, MTS First, among others. Under the current dispensation, CDMA operators that want to play in the big league are required to operate nationally, though there is choice of playing local but most see it as not economically viable to play local which has led to most of them going for national unified access license which is the prerequisite. Playing at this level entitles having foot print in almost every town in the country to be able to garner enough subscriber base which is the basis for profitability. To do this, they require strong financial base which most of these operators does not have. This situation changed the landscape of operation in CDMA space as they had to change their operational module to be part of the moving train in the industry and has ignited a contest for supremacy among them. This saw Starcomms selling some of its equity to Actis to raise money to expand its network, since then it has secured foreign loans in this regard making it to claim the biggest in the space. The company has already invested some US$800 million since it launched its network in 2002. It set for itself a target of reaching 2.5 million subscribers by the end of 2008, 5 million by the end of 2009 and a ten fold jump to 50 million by 2011. The company was listed on the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) and raised around US$60 million. “We have always wanted two sectors of the economy, they are the oil and telecommunications sectors, represented in our market”, said Binus Yaroe, the NSE general manager of listing and quotations and a representative of the director general of the exchange. The stock market floatation raised funding for the company, while also allowing two investors, Actis and ECP to reduce their holdings.
Other operators did not seat to watch their Starcomms claim subscribers in a business they are also part of and equally have opportunities of playing big. Zoom Mobile, another contender had raised N25.9billion from investors through private placement. The company currently covers 62 cities and 350 villages and has a capacity for five million subscribers.
A foremost operator in that space Multi-Links deal with Telkom of South Africa, which saw the later acquiring 75% share of Multi-Links and later the remaining 25%, was what the company needed to re-launch itself into the market. Telkom has injected funds and managerial skills to make the business profitable; this is yet to be achieved as the company is yet to start making profit. Visafone, the youngest by name in the CDMA sector of telecommunications industry emerged from nowhere and is putting up an impressive performance having emerged as the fourth largest telecommunications operator in the country in two successive quarters. The company which is brainchild of Jim Ovia, a banker and industrialist has witnessed him bringing his managerial competence which he has used to make Zenith bank one of the strong banks in the post consolidation era to bear.
It has become worrisome to CDMA operators while some of them are being heavily affected by the economic meltdown, which calls for overhaul of business module and operational strategy. Against the backdrop of NCC’s planned introduction of Number Portability, CDMA operators’ faith of survival is hanging. Ken Aigbinode, executive vice chairman, Zoom Mobile, expressed fear on what will be the faith of CDMA operators when NCC introduces Number Portability. According to him, GSM and CDMA technology are two different technologies and that the GSM technology will play well with number portability than the CDMA because the CDMA technology is customized and fixed.
Possibilities of Survive
In spite of the wide differential in the subscriber base between CDMA and their GSM counterparts there are possibilities of surviving if they apply the right business model that is relevant to the operational environment. More so, the license they are operating with allows them to deliver service with their chosen technology without barriers. They need to adopt a cost effective way of rolling out service, such as sharing of infrastructure among others.
Gbenga Adebayo, chief executive officer, Community Network Support Services Limited, alluded to this when he cited situation in United States of America, where CDMA technology is the dominant while GSM operators are trailing behind. He said that what is happening in USA is possibly to play in Nigeria especially, when the right and quality of service is provided.

 


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Glo Boosts Network Capacity for Enhanced Customer Experience

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Globacom is rolling out extensive network improvements to deliver a significantly better experience for its customers. These proactive measures are designed to ensure subscribers continue to get excellent value, particularly following recent tariff adjustments.

The ongoing upgrade involves a widespread deployment of new base stations, expanding coverage to previously underserved areas, and strengthening existing coverage in growing population centres. This strategic densification will guarantee superior network quality for both voice and data services across the entire country.

In a significant investment, Globacom is also re-routing its fibre infrastructure in several locations where road construction has compromised the fibre, including vital routes like Auchi-Okene and Benin-Ekpoma, Lafia-Akwanga, Minna-Abuja, and Funtua-Gusau.

“We decided, at a huge cost, to relocate the fibres, many of which had been vandalized in several places by uncoordinated road construction activities, in order to bring best-in-class services to customers”, the company disclosed.

Customers can look forward to brighter days ahead as Glo completes the deployment of hundreds of new sites nationwide. This year alone, thousands of 4G LTE sites have been activated in key cities, with additional hundreds of new sites are currently being deployed to further boost connectivity. These efforts are supported by massive upgrades of backhaul capacity (microwave and fibre) and a seamless improvement in the core network.

Globacom assured its subscribers that these ongoing initiatives will translate to enhanced service delivery, expanded coverage, faster data speeds, and overall improved network performance. The company plans to add over a thousand new sites in the next year, prioritizing LTE expansion to deepen its reliable data reach and extending fibre to more hub sites for greater service robustness.

Furthermore, Glo is committed to minimizing its carbon footprint by expanding hybrid power solutions and relying more on battery power across its sites, representing another substantial investment.

Despite these positive developments, Globacom continues to highlight the challenge of deliberate sabotage of network equipment, even with its designation as critical national infrastructure, emphasizing the need for stronger protective measures.


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MTN’s Uto Ukpanah Becomes 30th ICSAN President, Reinforcing Female Leadership in Governance

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L-R: Dr. Karl Toriola, CEO, MTN Nigeria; Uto Ukpanah, President, ICSAN and Company Secretary, MTN Nigeria, and Aniekan Ukpanah, Managing Partner, Udo Udoma & Belo-Osagie at the Investiture Ceremony of Uto Ukpanah as ICSAN 30th President, held in Lagos on Wednesday, July 23, 2o25.
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Nigeria’s corporate landscape is witnessing a significant transformation, with women increasingly occupying leadership positions and reshaping the narrative at the highest levels. A striking example of this shift unfolded recently as Mrs. Uto Ukpanah, FCIS, Company Secretary of MTN Nigeria, was inaugurated as the 30th President and Chairman of Council of the Institute of Chartered Secretaries and Administrators of Nigeria (ICSAN).

L-R: Dr. Karl Toriola, CEO, MTN Nigeria; Uto Ukpanah, President, ICSAN and Company Secretary, MTN Nigeria, and Aniekan Ukpanah, Managing Partner, Udo Udoma & Belo-Osagie at the Investiture Ceremony of Uto Ukpanah as ICSAN 30th President, held in Lagos on Wednesday, July 23, 2o25.

Historically, ICSAN was led exclusively by men for nearly 57 years. However, the trend began to change in 2023 when Mrs. Funmi Ekundayo broke barriers as the Institute’s first female president. In 2025, her successor and former vice president, Mrs. Ukpanah, has now become only the second woman to assume the presidency, marking a major milestone in Nigeria’s governance sector.

This development aligns with the broader momentum for women’s leadership across Nigeria’s business ecosystem. MTN Nigeria stands out as a champion of gender diversity. The company’s 2024 Annual Report reveals that women now constitute 41.4% of the workforce, a marked increase by 3% compared to 2023.

Among executive management, women hold 34.7% of positions, while female board representation stands at 21.4%. MTN’s deliberate drive, bolstered by initiatives such as the Women in Tech programme and the Y’ello Mums Internship, is fostering a pipeline of female talent across all tiers.

Female leaders at MTN are shaping strategy and impact on multiple fronts: Dr. Mosun Olusoga chairs the MTN Foundation; Odunayo Sanya serves as the Executive Director, MTN Foundation; Dr. Omobola Johnson contributes as a Non-Executive Director of the Board of Directors; and a host of others including Lynda Saint-Nwafor, Onyinye Ikenna-Emeka, Esther Akinnukawe, Ugonwa Nwoye, among others, lead critical business functions.

MTN’s policy of inclusion is reflected not just in numbers, but in recent recognitions. In 2024, Odunayo Sanya was named CSI Personality of the Year at the Nigeria Tech Innovation & Telecoms Awards, and Josephine Sarouk, Managing Director of Bayobab Nigeria (subsidiary of MTN), received the Woman in Telecoms Award in London.

Mrs. Ukpanah herself was honoured as the first-ever African recipient of the Global Corporate Secretary of the Year Award by the Corporate Secretaries International Association (CSIA), a testament to her pioneering leadership.

Ukpanah’s investiture as ICSAN President was held on July 23, 2025, in Lagos, attracting an array of dignitaries, government officials, and business leaders. Chaired by Prof. Hakeem Belo-Osagie, with a keynote delivered by Dr. Omobola Johnson, the event saw the full support of MTN Nigeria’s top brass, including CEO Karl Toriola and Board Chairman Dr. Ernest Ndukwe. In his goodwill message, Dr. Ndukwe remarked:

“This honour is a fitting recognition for Uto’s distinguished career, unwavering professionalism, and deep commitment to the principles of good governance. Uto has consistently exemplified the values that I believe ICSAN upholds, and we are confident that her leadership will further strengthen the Institute’s aspirations towards promoting excellence in governance.

“At MTN Nigeria, we are proud of her achievements and reaffirm our full support as she embarks on this important assignment. We look forward to the positive impact her tenure will bring to ICSAN.”

Also, her husband, Aniekan Ukpanah, Senior Partner at Udo Udoma & Belo-Osagie, described her as “a passionate steward, rooted in family, bound by purpose, and committed to legacy.” Outgoing ICSAN President Mrs. Ekundayo added that Ukpanah is “astute, visionary, and principled.”

Mrs. Ukpanah’s ascendancy to ICSAN’s top office, and MTN’s visible support, do more than celebrate personal or organisational victories; they signal a new era, one in which women are not just present, but are key architects of governance and future prosperity for Nigeria.


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NIMC Warns Nigerians Against Selling NIN Data Amid Rising Identity Fraud

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National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) has issued a stern warning to Nigerians over the illegal sale of personal data, including the National Identification Number (NIN), amid reports of a growing underground market targeting unsuspecting citizens.

In a statement released on Sunday, the Commission expressed deep concern following revelations by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) that young Nigerians are offering between ₦1,500 and ₦2,000 to individuals in exchange for their NIN and other sensitive details. These details are then allegedly resold to certain fintech platforms for as much as ₦5,000.

“This is not just a case of minor fraud, it’s a threat to national security and personal safety,” said Dr. Kayode Adegoke, Head of Corporate Communications at NIMC. “When you hand over your data to unknown agents, you are essentially handing over control of your identity.”

The Commission reiterated that it will not be held liable for any misuse of personal data shared voluntarily by individuals or through third parties for financial gain or inducement.

NIMC further cautioned service providers to ensure that every NIN presented for services is properly verified using approved channels before access is granted.

To safeguard personal identity, Nigerians are encouraged to download the NINAuth App, available on Apple iOS and Google Play Store. The app enables users to manage, secure, and control access to their NIN data.

“The story of your identity should be written by you, not sold for a quick payout,” the Commission stated.

NAN reports that the NIMC’s advisory comes amid rising concerns over digital identity theft and the misuse of personal data in Nigeria’s expanding fintech ecosystem.


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