Telecom
Challenges of Broadband Revolution
The growth in telecommunications sector of the country is expected to move from growth level to development where service providers are to consolidate on improved quality of service. Presently, over 80 percent of telephone and internet access in the country are through mobile communications facilitated by satellite and microwave technology. It has been observed by telecom experts that quality of service delivered by operators using the above mentioned technology is affected by atmospheric condition making the technology not suitable for reliable service delivery compared to optic fiber also known as terrestrial infrastructures.
A fibre optic cable is made from a glass or plastic core that carries light surrounded by glass cladding that (due to its lower refractive index) reflects “escaping” light back into the core, resulting in the light being guided along the fibre.
The greatest improvement in access to telephones has had positive impact in virtually all facets of life, including political, social and economic activities, thus resulting in an exponential growth in the subscriber lines due to the widespread of networks across the country.
Quite a number of global technology corporations are extending their operations to Nigeria with a multiplier effect on the economy and trade between Nigeria and other countries of the world and in particular the West African sub region. The result of this is more competitive market environment and high potential for wired line network service providers.
However, it is encouraging to note that despite the current rapid development of telecommunications in Nigeria, there is still a great opportunity for further development as Nigeria being the most populous country in Africa, has an estimated addressable telecommunications market of 120 million subscriber lines, and in view of her landscape, the country remains major market for long distance network operators due to increasing demand for multi service, such as voice, data, broadband internet service, rural telephony access and unified service which provides prospect for wired line service providers.
Some telecom analysts have argued that due to the mobile nature of Nigerians, and as the demand for mobile services continues to grow, that there will be no room for wired line operators. Experience has shown that in order for predominantly mobile operators to improve on their quality of service they must invest in fibre optic backbone, and in order for them to capture multi service segment of the market, they must invest in last mile terrestrial copper infrastructure: there are two ways around this, one is to begin massive investment in this regard, or to invest and or acquire small and medium sized wired line local loop operators.
As the telecommunications industry evolves, it provides increasing opportunity for wired line networks, as operators are challenged to ensure that every city, towns, villages, hamlets, rivers and creeks in Nigeria are covered with multi services: voice, data, video and broadband internet.
Particularly in the new license regime, holders are allowed to provide more than one service under the same license.
The hindrance
The absence of terrestrial infrastructure in the telecommunications industry is being felt in all service deliveries especially as the industry witnessed an unprecedented capacity with the landing of two undersea cable Glo 1 and MainOne. For instance, in direct-to-home satellite television broadcasting it is a common occurrence for service to be disrupted each time it rains. More so, the hope of offering a broadband internet service cannot be realized without a fibre optic infrastructure. Its absence is responsible for narrow band service rendered in the sector.
From multiple taxes to right of way and to harassment, the operators reeled lengthy list of impediments to their road to making broadband ubiquitous and affordable.
Engr. Gbenga Adebayo, chairman, Association of Licensed Telecommunications Operators of Nigeria (Alton), the umbrella body of operators in the telecom space, said that granting multiple operational licenses to operators to provide metro and national fibre infrastructure does not guarantee investment in that regard but implementation of well articulated policies that will encourage operators to invest their money.
Adebayo said Government must go beyond granting of licenses to eliminating those barriers and ensuring security of their investments.
The Alton boss explained that broadband services are anchored on availability of bandwidth, and that with excess capacity of it at Nigeria’s shore, investment needed to be encouraged to distribute this capacity to various geographical areas of the country for broadband revolution to be experienced as is the case with voice service.
He added that licensed operators are yet to invest in provision of infrastructure because of clumsy process of securing ‘right of way’ from various government agencies.
Nigeria CommunicationsWeek gathered that ‘right of way’ is a legal instrument allowing operators to deploy infrastructure on federal or state roads with a fee.
With the multiplication of this legal instrument by various local government area authorities’ operators find it difficult to deploy services.
With this comes non-availability of fibre backhaul infrastructure required to distribute bandwidth from Lagos where the submarine cable landed to other parts of the country resulting in high cost of bandwidth and poor quality.
Mohammed Rudman, managing director, Internet Exchange Point of Nigeria, said that availability of distributive channels of internet and making it accessible to ISPs is essential for the country to witness a broadband revolution.
“Without moving internet capacity from Lagos to other parts of the country, we may witness a lopsided broadband revolution, only in Lagos and its environs,” he said.
Airtel Nigeria has announced the temporary suspension of its airtime and data credit services. The affected services allowed eligible prepaid customers to borrow airtime or data and repay on their next recharge.
However, the company noted that customers will continue to enjoy uninterrupted access to airtime and data purchases through its existing channels.
Airtel Nigeria also indicated that the temporary suspension is not expected to have a material impact on its service standards across the country.
Commenting on the development, Airtel Nigeria Director of Marketing Ismail Adeshina, said:
“This is a necessary and responsible step as we align our operations with evolving requirements. Airtel Nigeria remains committed to the highest standards of compliance, transparency, and consumer protection, while continuing to innovate responsibly within Nigeria’s digital ecosystem.”
The company added that it will provide updates on the status of the service in due course.
National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) has urged young Nigerians to take the lead in developing home-grown artificial intelligence (AI) solutions to address the country’s socio-economic challenges.
The Director General of National Information Technology Development Agency, Kashifu Inuwa, represented by Mrs. Udoka Mannie of the Digital Literacy and Capacity Building Department, delivered the keynote address at the Artificial Intelligence Hackathon organised by the Agency in partnership with VibeCode Africa in Abuja.
Kashifu Inuwa, director-general of NITDA, made the call at an Artificial Intelligence Hackathon organised by the agency in partnership with VibeCode Africa in Abuja.
Inuwa, who was represented by the Acting Director of Digital Literacy and Capacity Building, Dr Ahmed Tambuwal, and delivered through Mrs Udoka Mannie, said Nigeria’s youthful population presents a significant opportunity for innovation and digital transformation.
He noted that with over 60 per cent of Nigerians under the age of 25, the country is well positioned to benefit from emerging technologies such as AI.
“As you can see, this room is filled with young people. This represents a powerful opportunity for innovation and digital skills development,” he said.
Inuwa stated that the hackathon provided a strategic platform for participants from diverse backgrounds to collaborate and develop practical AI-driven solutions tailored to Nigeria’s realities.
He observed that artificial intelligence is already transforming economies, governance systems and societies globally, stressing that Nigeria must decide whether to shape the technology for national development or remain a passive consumer.
According to him, NITDA’s mandate is to regulate and develop information technology in Nigeria while ensuring it serves as a driver of economic growth.
He explained that the agency’s Digital Literacy and Capacity Building Department is focused on building a digitally skilled population capable of competing in the global digital economy.
The Director-General highlighted the Digital Literacy for All initiative (DL4ALL) as a flagship programme aimed at equipping millions of Nigerians with essential digital skills, in line with the Federal Government’s target of achieving 95 per cent digital literacy by 2030.
“Beyond literacy, we are now moving into capability. It is one thing to use technology, but another thing entirely to build with it. Today, we are challenging you to build,” he said.
Inuwa urged participants to prioritise impact-driven innovation, identifying sectors such as healthcare, agriculture, education, financial inclusion, public service delivery and misinformation as areas where AI can drive meaningful change.
He also stressed the importance of ethics, inclusion and data protection in the development of AI solutions.
“As we explore AI, we must be mindful of ethics, data protection and inclusion. Building responsibly is just as important as building brilliantly,” he said.
Inuwa commended VibeCode Africa for partnering with NITDA, describing such collaborations as vital for scaling innovation across the country.
He encouraged participants to collaborate, experiment and innovate, adding that Nigeria’s AI future would be driven by local talent.
“The future of AI in Nigeria will not be imported. It will be built by people like you in rooms like this,” he said.
In her remarks, the founder of VibeCode Africa, Lola Adey, urged participants to harness AI to solve real-life challenges within their communities.
Adey said the hackathon was designed to move beyond theory by encouraging participants to identify problems they personally experience and develop practical solutions.
“We want you to dig deep into yourselves. What are the problems you are facing? What are the issues you notice when you walk around?” she said.
She cited challenges such as electricity shortages, insecurity and gaps in social services as areas where innovation could make a difference.
Adey added that the initiative aims to create opportunities for entrepreneurship, employment and global exposure for young Nigerians.
“With artificial intelligence, you now have something in your hand that you can use to actually solve problems. You don’t have to wait for anybody anymore,” she said.
She urged participants to remain focused, collaborative and open to learning, noting that the platform could connect them to future partners, investors and employers.
Nigeria Data Protection Commission (NDPC) has commenced an investigation into an alleged data breach at the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC), in line with provisions of the Nigeria Data Protection Act, 2023.
NDPC
In a statement issued on Thursday, the commission said the probe was initiated pursuant to Section 46(3) of the Act, underscoring the importance of maintaining trust in Nigeria’s digital and economic ecosystem.
The NDPC expressed concern over the increasing sophistication of cyber threats, noting that malicious actors were deploying advanced techniques to compromise data security architecture across key databases.
According to the commission, such threats involve large-scale data exfiltration and cross-platform compromise across interconnected systems.
The National Commissioner and Chief Executive Officer of the NDPC, Vincent Olatunji, has directed the commission’s technical team to immediately engage with relevant authorities and critical organisations to strengthen existing safeguards for personal data processing.
The commission said the investigation would examine key areas including access control mechanisms, Data Privacy Impact Assessments, Vulnerability Assessment and Penetration Testing (VAPT), as well as due diligence procedures involving third-party data processors.
It, however, assured the public that Nigeria’s data protection frameworks remain robust, supported by growing adoption of data-driven services across sectors.
The NDPC added that the ongoing regulatory efforts were aimed at sustaining public confidence and encouraging continued investment in the country’s digital economy.
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