Telecom
Changing Telecom Landscape Through Number Portability
There has been clamour by Global System for Mobile communications subscribers in the country for the regulatory authority in the industry to implement number portability, which is believed to be panacea to the lingering quality of service issues. This report looks at benefit and challenges in implementing the system in Nigeria.
Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has severally indicated its intensions to introduce number portability in the telecommunications sector this year as a move to check poor quality of service, anti competitive behavour by operators as well as ensure economic growth through telecommunications service delivery.
Number portability is a circuit-switch telecommunications network feature that enables end users to retain their telephone numbers when changing service providers, service types, and or locations.
Wireless number portability (WNP) when fully implemented nationwide by both wireline and wireless providers, portability will remove one of the most significant deterrents to changing service, providing unprecedented convenience for consumers and encouraging unrestrained competition in the telecommunications industry. Observers believe that, this is the best method to increase the efficiency of the service provider by increasing the competition, thereby ensuring better services in all respects.
From the subscribers’ perspective, this is a deceptively simple and very welcome change, because they can change wireless service providers without worrying about notifying friends, family and business contacts that their wireless number is changing. In addition, being able to ‘port’ a number from one provider to another eliminates the hassle and expenses of changing business cards, stationery, invoices and other materials for businesses.
From the wireless carrier’s perspective the change is anything, but simple. Virtually all of wireless carriers’ systems are affected. Especially any system that relies on mobile identity numbers (MINs) or mobile directory numbers (MDNs) will be affected. Examples of critical systems and processes that would be affected are: billing, customer service, order activation, call delivery, roamer registration and support, short messages service center, directory assistance, caller ID, calling name presentation, switches, maintenance and CSC systems, home location registers (HLRs), and visiting location registers (VLRs).
According to Thomas Mazzone, vice president, Sales and Alliances Telcordia Interconnection Solutions, Number Portability types include, service provider portability; this is the ability for end users to retain the same geographic or non-geographic telephone number as they change from one Operator to another such as toll-free.
Location portability is the ability for end users to retain the same geographic or non-geographic telephone number as they move from one permanent physical location to another, while service portability refers to the ability for end users to retain the
same geographic or non-geographic telephone number as they change from one type of service to another.
Mazzone added that key drivers for number portability are deregulation and introduction of competition globally, enhanced competition among operators, introduction of new bundles of services as well as creation of downward pressure on prices.
He explained that further that the system makes it easier for newer entrants to gain market share and also enhances the concept of personal mobility like personal terminal.
Engr. Ernest Ndukwe, executive vice chairman, Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) said that number portability will empowers subscribers to manage their "personal brand" with freedom to change operators, enables fair competition amongst operators and allow innovation to flourish with greater return on investment.
"It will reward creative marketing, service features, pricing models, and high quality with growth in subscriber numbers, revenue, and ARPU," he added. Overview
Though it was introduced as a tool to promote competition in the heavily monopolized wireline telecommunications industry, number portability became popular with the advent of mobile telephones, since in most countries different mobile operators are provided with different area codes and, without portability, changing one’s operator would require changing one’s number. Some operators, especially incumbent operators with large existing subscriber bases, have argued against portability on the grounds that providing this service incurs considerable overhead, while others argue that it prevents vendor lock-in and allows them to compete fairly on price and service. Due to this conflict of interest, number portability is usually mandated for all operators by telecommunications regulatory authorities. In the US, LNP was mandated by the FCC in 1996 with the First Report and Order on LNP and Number Pooling. The mandate required all carriers in the top 100 MSAs (metropolitan statistical areas) to be "LNP-capable" and port numbers to any carriers sending a BFR (bona fide request). The ability to keep a number while switching providers is thought to be attractive to consumers. It was also a major point made by CLECs (Competitive Local Exchange Carriers) preventing customers from leaving Incumbent Line Exchange Carriers (ILECs), thus hindering competition.
In the U.S., the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has mandated this in order to increase competition among providers. As of late November 2003, LNP was required for all landline and wireless common carriers, so long as the number is being ported to the same geographical area or telephone exchange. This latest mandate included carriers outside the top 100 MSAs that theretofore enjoyed a rural carrier exemption.
In the United States and Canada, mobile number portability is referred to simply as WNP or WLNP (Wireless LNP). In Japan and Pakistan it is referred to as mobile number portability, (MNP)[1].Wireless Number Portability is available in some parts of Africa, such as South Africa which is the fourth-fastest growing mobile communications market in the world. The country’s three cellular network operators – Vodacom, MTN and Cell C provide telephony to over 39 million subscribers or nearly 80% of the population.
The introduction of number portability as well as the arrival in 2006 of Virgin Mobile, a virtual network service provider that operates in partnership with Cell C, has helped enhance competition. South African mobile companies are making inroads into Africa and the Middle East, with MTN leading with over 20 operations in these emerging markets. Egypt commenced the implementation of number portability on April 7, this year.The Inhibitors
Huge cost is one of the most common barriers in WNP implementation, within any country. Service Providers have been constantly bargaining for time, based on the cost factor, from their respective governments. Referring to the example of the US, where each of the large carriers would need to spend $50–60 million to institute the service and an equivalent sum to maintain it. The FCC on this plea gave wireless carriers in the US a year to resolve implementation issues. The experience of developed countries exhibits that local number portability for fixed wireline was introduced within two to three years of introduction of competition to incumbent state telcos. The cost estimate for the implementation of WNP in developed nations like the US can be very helpful for the other countries, who wish to think on the lines of number portability. To add on increased marketing costs are to be realized as the carriers look to lock up their current base before number portability is implemented, and then aggressively pursue the customers of other carriers thereafter.
Customer retention/increased competition issues: Every subscriber in a race to retain its customer would like to offer its customers best services so as to save them from porting. It’s like a blessing in disguise for the customers, as they would get better service irrespective of the carrier, albeit with the same number.
Infrastructure upgrade; to support WNP, a company has to upgrade both its hardware and software capabilities, which will amount to some cost. Software need to be upgraded to provide proper routing of calls. The carriers need to upgrade their networks to handle portability requests. The provider, which has its portability compatible would be expected to attract maximum customers and will emerge the winner.
Cost Recovery and Bill Reconciliation/Query Processing; when a customer plans to shift, the old service provider (OSP) has to perform a query to identify if there are any billing amounts pending, which they need to recover before the subscriber moves to the new service provider (NSP).
Engr. Gbenga Adebayo, chairman, Association of Licensed Telecommunications Operators of Nigeria (Alton) said that number portability is a common practice all over the world; it is a feature that can be supported by networks. But, he said that the regulatory authority has not done well in its approach to introducing number portability as it has not carried operators along.
This some industry watchers attributed to refusal by operators to be apart of a forum organized by NCC to educated operators on implementation of number portability held last year.
Although some sections of stakeholders have describer the uninteresting attitude of operators especially Global System for mobile communications (GSM) operators to fear of losing subscribers in view of poor quality of service by such operators.
They argued that most Nigerian subscriber don’t want to change their mobile phone which their friends and business associates have known them with, which is responsible for them not willing to move to other service providers even when their network operator’s service delivery is poor.
Adebayo urged for stakeholders’ involvement to determining the commercial, engineering and administrative implication of number portability implementation.
As mobile subscribers in the country are anxiously waiting for the commencement of the implementation of number portability which will ensure an improved quality of service, observers caution that operators be carried along to ensure it smooth implementation for it to achieve the desire result as in other countries.
With its meteoric rise in data centre development and it accounting for 20% of the global population, Africa still only has 0.6% of global data centre capacity.
This is based on the 2026 Economic Report: Data Centres in Africa, published by Africa Data Centres Association (ADCA), in partnership with Rising Advisory.
The US hosts about 45% of the world’s data centres, while Africa accounts for less than 1% of global capacity.
According to the report, Africa’s active capacity stands at 360MW, with 238MW under construction and 656MW in the pipeline.
By comparison, global active capacity is at 5.5GW, with 1.5GW under construction and a development pipeline of 13.5GW.
Even if all of Africa’s announced projects materialise, says the report, the continent is projected to maintain rather than increase its global share, as hyperscale expansion accelerates elsewhere.
“This is not a catch-up cycle; it is a race to avoid deeper structural marginalisation in global compute,” notes Faith Waithaka, chairperson of ADCA.
“Capacity development in Africa must be approached with a long-term perspective, recognising that infrastructure growth will precede full utilisation as digital ecosystems continue to evolve.
“Sustainability is now a central consideration for the sector. Improving energy-efficiency and integrating renewable energy sources are essential to the viability of data centre operations. Africa is uniquely positioned in this regard, with vast untapped potential across solar, wind, hydro and geothermal resources. Leveraging these assets can support greener data centres, while strengthening energy security and long-term competitiveness.”
Africa’s data centre market is projected by Mordor Intelligence to reach $4.36 billion by 2031, with the South African market considered a “sweet spot” due to its favourable position on the African continent.
South Africa is the largest data centre market on the continent, with55 data centres already built. The country’s geographical position also makes it a strategic hub for regional and international connectivity.
Firms such as Digital Realty-owned Teraco, Vantage Data Centres, Open Access Data Centres and Equinix have expanded their data centre footprint in SA, while hyperscalers Amazon Web Services (AWS), Google and Microsoft Azure have also built local data centre facilities.
The country’s data centre momentum has been highlighted by president Cyril Ramaphosa on several occasions, notably stating that more than R50 billion in investment is expected in the local data centre space over the next three years.
The data centre capacity buildout has also resulted in government calling for accelerated cloud migration, as the state’s digital transformation efforts require greater use of cloud.
Digital rush
The report notes that the global data centre industry is booming as demand for this “digital gold” accelerates.
Valued at $243 billion in 2025, the market is projected to double by 2032, according to the World Economic Forum.
Meanwhile, UN Trade and Development reports that data centre projects accounted for over one-fifth of all greenfield foreign direct investment in 2025.
“This surge reflects the growing need for artificial intelligence (AI) infrastructure, cloud services and digital networks, positioning data centres as indispensable assets driving global growth strategies,” states the report.
“Several converging trends are driving this expansion. Cloud adoption continues to shift workloads off-premises, while AI and big data are reshaping infrastructure needs.”
On the other hand, hyperscale facilities − operated by giants like AWS, Microsoft, Google and Alibaba − have doubled in number roughly every five years, with hyperscale capital expenditure rising nearly 58% year-on-year in 2024.
“Governments across Asia, the Middle East and Africa are offering incentives to attract greenfield projects, recognising data centres as foundations for innovation, skilled employment, and adjacent industries like fintech and AI. Yet Africa faces a stark challenge.
“The continent’s share is expected to expand only in line with global growth, rather than closing the gap. This opportunity has not stayed unnoticed, and investors, expecting high returns, have poured funds into increasing the sector’s capacity by approximately two-thirds.”
Legal steps
According to the report, the heightened activity in the data centre market has resulted in data sovereignty becoming policy reality.
It notes that as of early this year, over 40 African nations have enacted data protection legislation or established data protection authorities, while five additional countries are drafting laws.
Additionally, 15 countries have formalised national AI strategies.
As noted in the ADCA report, the frameworks aim to protect citizens’ rights, while providing legal certainty for investors and digital service providers.
“Governments are increasingly recognising data centres as critical national infrastructure, central to digital sovereignty, financial stability and AI competitiveness.
“As Africa’s digital economies expand, the rules governing ‘where’ and ‘how’ data is stored, processed and transferred are becoming central to economic competitiveness and state capacity.
“Data sovereignty – the principle that data generated within a country should be governed by that country’s laws – has evolved from a legal aspiration into a strategic policy lever, shaping investment patterns, infrastructure deployment and the localisation of digital value chains.”
Even with the frameworks, enforcement capacity often lags legislative ambition, states the report.
“World Bank and GSMA assessments highlight constraints linked to staffing, funding and technical expertise. Yet this enforcement gap also represents a growth opportunity: stronger, more predictable regulation is increasingly seen by investors as a prerequisite for scaling local digital infrastructure. And well-functioning regulation is increasingly functioning as a demand signal.
“Clear localisation and data-protection requirements create predictable demand for compliant, in-country infrastructure, improving bankability for data centre projects and attracting long-term capital.
“Data localisation policies are emerging as part of this broader regulatory maturation. When aligned with market realities, localisation can strengthen oversight, improve accountability and support the development of domestic data centre ecosystems.”
GigaLayer, a prominent player in Africa’s cloud infrastructure and domain services sector, has announced the acquisition of Registeram, a Nigerian domain registration and hosting firm.
GigaLayer
This move marks a significant consolidation in the local tech ecosystem, as GigaLayer continues its aggressive expansion strategy to dominate the digital infrastructure market in Nigeria and across the continent.
Consolidating the Digital Backbone
The acquisition of Registeram, which has been operational since 2008, is the latest in a series of strategic buyouts by GigaLayer.
The company has previously integrated brands such as Trudigits, Hub8, MainOne’s SMEinaBox, and LagosHost, effectively positioning itself as a primary consolidator in a fragmented hosting industry.
According to Ahmad Mukoshy, Founder and CEO of GigaLayer, the deal is less about increasing headcount and more about infrastructure resilience.
“This acquisition reinforces our commitment to building resilient, locally operated cloud and domain infrastructure for African businesses. We are not just acquiring customers; we are strengthening Africa’s digital backbone,” Mukoshy stated.
What this means for Registeram customers
GigaLayer has assured Registeram’s existing clientele of a seamless transition with no immediate service disruptions.
Key highlights of the integration include:
Infrastructure Upgrade: Services will be migrated to GigaLayer’s enterprise-grade platform to improve performance and redundancy.
Security & Support: Users will gain access to enhanced security standards and GigaLayer’s robust support system.
Product Expansion: Existing customers will now have access to broader cloud compute and high-availability hosting solutions.
Focus on Local Cloud Sovereignty
As Nigerian businesses face increasing pressure to comply with local data residency regulations, GigaLayer is doubling down on local cloud sovereignty.
The company currently operates infrastructure across two data centers in Lagos, focusing on bare-metal and cloud compute capabilities designed for enterprise workloads.
By reducing reliance on offshore providers, GigaLayer aims to provide high-performance solutions that are both compliance-ready and tailored for the Nigerian economic climate.
“We believe Africa’s digital future must be built on African infrastructure,” Mukoshy added.
Strategic Outlook
The founders of Registeram are expected to exit to pursue other ventures, while GigaLayer takes full operational control of the assets and client portfolio.
This acquisition signals a maturing market where local players are scaling up to compete with global giants by offering localized support, Naira-based pricing stability, and low-latency infrastructure.
Olugbenga Agboola, Flutterwave CEO has joined a $22 million funding extension for Nigerian defensetech start-up Terra Industries as Africa’s fast-growing drone and security technology sector begins to attract capital far beyond traditional venture circles.
The round was led by Lux Capital, with participation from Agboola through Resilience17 Capital and returning investors including 8VC and Nova Global.
It follows an $11.75 million raise just weeks earlier, bringing Terra’s total funding to $34 million as the company accelerates expansion into high-risk security markets.
Terra, founded in 2024 by 24-year-old chief engineer Maxwell Maduka and CEO Nathan Nwachuku, builds autonomous drones and surveillance systems designed to protect critical infrastructure such as energy facilities, logistics corridors and industrial sites. The startup says it is already safeguarding assets worth billions of dollars while securing early federal and commercial contracts.
Agboola’s involvement highlights a broader shift in African tech investment patterns. While fintech has long dominated venture flows, escalating infrastructure sabotage and terrorism threats have elevated demand for locally developed security hardware.
“Nigeria’s drone ecosystem is rapidly evolving from hobbyist and mapping use cases toward industrial monitoring, border surveillance and energy protection, areas increasingly seen as foundational to economic stability.
“This is about backing infrastructure security at scale. Africa’s growth depends on resilient systems that protect critical assets,” said Agboola.
Terra CEO Nwachuku is adamant that locally engineered systems are better suited to African operating conditions. “We are building tools designed for the realities on the ground. Security technology should not always be imported when local innovation can respond faster and more effectively,” he stated.
Lux Capital partner Brandon Reeves underlined that the investor appetite, which has drawn fintech heavyweight interest such as Agboola, reflects rising cross-sector confidence in African defense technology as a commercial category. “Security is a prerequisite for economic growth,” he said.
“As Terra ramps production and expands regionally, its funding milestone illustrates a wider transformation. Drone and autonomous security platforms are no longer peripheral experiments but emerging pillars in Africa’s technology landscape, where fintech leaders and venture capital converge around safeguarding the infrastructure powering the continent’s next growth phase,” said Reeves
Ecobank Nigeria Fully Repays $300m Eurobond Notes
Chams Carves Out Subsidiary to Support Africa’s Digital Transformation
BoI Secures CBN’s Approval for Non-interest Banking Operation
Nigeria, South Africa Drive Stablecoin Spending in Africa
Africa’s Active Data Centres’ Capacity on Back Foot, Despite Investment Push
Nigeria’s 9 Top FinTech Firms Valued at $10.6Bn in January 2026
Firm Detected a Fivefold Surge in QR Code Phishing Attacks in the Second Half of 2025
DG NCC Tasks University Dons on Research Commercialization, IP Management to Build Global Competitive Ecosystems
Kaspersky Launches OT Calculator to Align Cybersecurity Investments with Business Goals
Firm Detected a Scam Exploiting OpenAI’s Teamwork Features
News2 days agoAfrican Leaders Highlight Africa’s AI Ambitions
General News3 days agoUBA Unveils Diaspora Platform to Connect Global Africans with Investment, Wealth Opportunities
General News2 days agoNDPC Orders Probe into Temu over Alleged Data Privacy Breaches
Telecom2 days agoMTN, BUA, Dangote & Other Industry Giants Triumph at NGX Made of Africa Awards
Telecom2 days agoX Suffers Global Outage, Millions Barred from Access
Telecom2 days agoMTN CIO Urges Africa to Lead Fourth Digital Revolution
News2 days agoLG Nigeria Begins Nationwide Search for Oldest Working TV, Rewards Loyalty with AI QNED Upgrade
General News3 days agoLeo Stan Ekeh Foundation, Zinox Group To Invest 10B on 1000 University Tech Scholarships for Indigent Nigeria Wiz-kids