Telecom
Concerns over Telcos, Data Miners Unsolicited SMSs

Telecommunication operators in Nigeria are washing their hands of unsolicited short messaging services (SMSs), pointing at some unscrupulous foreign data miners, although when you dig deeper, there are possible sounds of denial.
Near the end of the 75th Telecoms Consumer Parliament (TCP), organized by the Nigeria Communications Commission (NCC), operators blamed the “so-called” data miners who they claimed are working in connivance with guerrilla marketers.
Telecommunications subscribers waxed worriedly and urged the NCC to protect them, while the NCC threatened to sanction any firm found to be sending unsolicited SMSs.
Mrs. Maryam Bayi, Director, Consumer Affairs Bureau at the Commission said network operators are yet to adhere to its warning to stop unauthorized value added service (VAS) providers within their networks.
Sahe said the Commission has since commenced the enforcement process on identified VAS providers and the network operators.
In a swift reaction, Mr. Akinwale Goodluck, corporate services executive at MTN Nigeria, stated “The issue of unsolicited SMS should not be dumped on the doorsteps of the operator alone, because of the growing trends of gorilla marketers who go about obtaining, buying and selling of data captured from functions.”
Nodding in agreement, Kenechukwu Ofili, manager, Back Office and Complaints Resolution, Customer Care at Etisalat Nigeria, said that the guerrilla marketers are in the habit of deceiving unsuspecting network subscribers.
“It is something we are dealing with. I am not saying that operators are completely blameless in terms of unsolicited SMS, but the bulk of the SMS, especially those coming at 2am or 3am, by and large, are coming from the guerrilla marketing SMS” Ofili stated.
Also, Ajay Bakshi, director, Customer Services at Airtel Nigeria, said, “Sometimes in March I attended a function and people were asked to drop their business cards. There, you have your phone number and email address copied, photocopied or duplicated by these people. So, some individuals play fast-one; find a way to duplicate the data and sell to people. The truth is that we must find a way out of this even as the public should be vigilant and not too forward in dropping their details with people”.
Also commenting, Maria Svensson, director, Customer Care Globacom Nigeria, said that “I know for sure that my network has stopped such kind of bulk SMS. Now, other people are using our network to send such things”
In spite the explanations, Dr. Martins Iwuanyanwu, founder and chief executive officer, Leadership Watch (LW), said that subscribers remain dissatisfied and called value for their money and protection on the networks.
He said, “The concerns are unabated. Now, operators are telling us that ‘data miners’ invade certain network or compromise their systems; while these things are happening; there are also technologies to counter those activities” Iwuanyanwu stated.
There is concern that the trend may persist with subscribers losing monies if not properly educated on the illegal marketing and anti-spam SMS trends.
But Bayi of NCC urged the operators to install more anti-spam technologies to filter the unsolicited SMS passing through their networks.
The NCC said that in consistence with Section 89 of the Nigerian Communications Act 2003 which mandates the Commission to monitor all significant matters relating to the performance of all licensed telecoms service providers and publish annual reports at the end of each financial year, it had developed Compliance Monitoring and Enforcement strategies to achieve ethical market conduct and optimal quality of service in the Nigerian telecommunications industry.
Telecom
SHELT Named in Prestigious 2025 MSSP 250 List for Cybersecurity Excellence

SHELT, a leading cybersecurity-as-a-service provider, has earned inclusion in the 2025 MSSP 250, the annual ranking of the world’s top 250 Managed Security Service Providers (MSSPs) by MSSP Alert, a CyberRisk Alliance publication.

SHELT
The list evaluates firms on business performance, service breadth, and industry impact, spotlighting those excelling in growth, operational excellence, and advanced managed security amid rising cyber threats. Selection criteria include annual recurring revenue, profitability, workforce expansion, business growth, and the depth of managed security offerings.
SHELT’s recognition underscores its investments in scalable security operations, threat intelligence, and tailored managed services across multiple regions, enabling clients to navigate complex risk landscapes effectively.
“Being recognised in the MSSP 250 is a meaningful milestone for our team,” stated Youssef Abillama, CEO of SHELT. “It validates our focus on building practical, resilient security services that help organisations manage risk and respond effectively to today’s evolving cyber threats.”
The company hailed the honour as testament to its teams’ dedication and expertise worldwide, reaffirming commitment to enhancing capabilities and delivering trusted cybersecurity solutions.
Telecom
Meta Names Ex-Trump Adviser Dina Powell McCormick as President

Meta Platforms, owner of Facebook, has appointed Dina Powell McCormick, a former adviser to President Donald Trump, as its new president and vice chairman, bolstering its leadership amid aggressive AI and infrastructure expansion.

Dina Powell McCormick
The announcement, made on Monday, positions Powell McCormick – who recently stepped down from Meta’s board after eight months – to guide overall strategy, including multi-billion-dollar investments in data centres and global partnerships.
A Goldman Sachs veteran with 16 years in senior roles and prior stints as deputy national security adviser under Trump and in the Bush administration, she brings deep finance and international ties to the role.
Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg hailed her as “uniquely qualified” for the company’s next growth phase, while President Trump praised the move on Truth Social as a “fantastic choice”.
The hire signals Meta’s efforts to strengthen White House relations, following recent dinners with Trump and U.S. investment pledges worth hundreds of billions
Telecom
X Suspends Twitter Account for Rules Violation

X, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter, has suspended the @Twitter account, replacing its profile with a standard notice citing violation of platform rules.

Musk
The action, which occurred on Sunday, January 11, left users encountering the handle greeted by a bold “Account Suspended” message on a black screen, with no details provided on the specific rules broken or the duration of the suspension.
The development has sparked widespread confusion and nostalgia among users, given that Elon Musk rebranded Twitter to X in July 2023, approximately six months after acquiring the platform for $44 billion in late 2022.
The @Twitter handle had remained dormant since before Musk’s takeover, serving as a legacy remnant of the platform’s original branding, and its suspension appears to mark the final erasure of the Twitter name amid X’s ongoing efforts to combat spam, impersonation, and rule violations.
X’s official statement on the suspended page simply reads: “X suspends accounts that violate our rules,” without offering an appeal process or further explanation, unlike standard user suspensions.
Public reactions on social media ranged from humorous laments of “RIP Twitter” to speculation that the move resulted from automated moderation or a deliberate cleanup of legacy trademarks.
xAI’s Grok AI described it as a purposeful retirement of outdated elements rather than a genuine infraction, while neither Elon Musk nor X spokespeople issued any comment as of Monday morning.
This incident underscores the evolving identity of the platform under Musk’s ownership, which also saw a domain shift to x.com in 2024, further distancing it from its Twitter roots.
Industry observers note that while the suspension aligns with X’s stricter enforcement policies, the lack of transparency has fueled debates on consistency in applying rules to high-profile legacy accounts.
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