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
Celebrating African Creativity: Made by Africa, Loved by the World’ Returns for Its Fifth Year
The “Made by Africa, Loved by the World” campaign is back for its fifth year, celebrating African creativity and global influence. This year’s theme, “Where Culture Meets Connection,” highlights how social media fosters conversations around cultural moments worldwide.
The campaign features three cinematic films premiering on the Meta Africa page, showcasing the groundbreaking work and personal stories of six dynamic African creatives.
These artists, from Nigeria, Kenya, Ghana, and South Africa, represent diverse disciplines, including rap, animation, dance, photography, fashion, and videography.
Here are some of the featured talents:
- Ladipoe (Nigeria) – A BET-nominated rapper known for blending global hip-hop with African rhythms.
- Fatboy Animations (Kenya) – An animation studio founded by Michael Muthiga, recognized by Forbes for its original African storytelling.
- Lisa Quama (Ghana) – A dancer who gained fame after appearing in Beyoncé’s “Already” music video.
- Gilbert Asante (Ghana) – A photographer and creative director featured in GQ and Glam Africa.
- David Tlale (South Africa) – A fashion designer whose bold designs have been showcased at major fashion events, including the Met Gala.
- Ofentse Mwase (South Africa) – A filmmaker with over 24 international awards for his unique visual storytelling.
Kezia Anim-Addo, Communications Director for Africa, Middle East & Turkey, emphasized that the campaign not only celebrates individual success stories but also showcases how culture and social media drive meaningful connections and inspiration.
Association of Telecommunications Companies of Nigeria (ATCON), has raised the alarm over a diesel supply crisis caused by an ongoing strike by the National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG).
Mr Tony Emoekpere, president, ATCON in a statement said that the fuel supply disruption is critically affecting telecom base stations, pushing them to the brink of a shutdown and threatening millions of mobile and internet users in the region.
“This strike, which stems from the persistent harassment of tanker and petroleum product drivers by police officers in Lagos State, has effectively halted all truck loading operations and fuel movements,” Emoekpere stated.
He explained that diesel supply to telecom infrastructure has been severely impacted, leaving critical sites with dangerously low fuel levels.
According to him, if urgent measures are not taken, the situation could escalate into a full-blown network blackout, disrupting essential services, including mobile and internet access, business operations, emergency response systems, and daily communications.
ATCON has called on the governors of Lagos and Ogun states to intervene immediately by facilitating the release of diesel from depots to telecom operators to prevent further deterioration of the situation.
“This is not just a telecom issue—it is a national emergency that could cripple economic activities and compromise public safety,” Emoekpere stressed.
The association also appealed to security agencies and petroleum unions to resolve the crisis swiftly to safeguard Nigeria’s connectivity and economic stability.
ATCON emphasised that a prolonged disruption in fuel supply to telecom infrastructure could have far-reaching consequences for both businesses and individuals who rely on stable communication networks for daily operations.
In 2023, Nigerians spent a total of about ₦5.3 trillion on telecommunications services, which includes calls, data, SMS, and other telecom services, according to the Leadership.
Specifically for voice calls, Nigerians made approximately 408.5 billion minutes of local calls, generating around ₦3.28 trillion from outgoing calls and ₦3.23 trillion from incoming calls, totaling about ₦6.51 trillion in call-related revenue according to projections based on 2023 call volumes and tariff data.
However, the ₦5.3 trillion figure represents the overall telecom sector revenue, with voice calls being a major component but also including data and other services.
For individual spending, MTN subscribers spent an average of ₦2,508 monthly on voice calls in 2023, showing a 14.4% increase from 2022, while Airtel customers spent about ₦1,694 monthly on voice calls.
Total telecom spending (calls, data, SMS, etc.): ₦5.3 trillion in 2023
Estimated revenue from voice calls alone: around ₦6.5 trillion based on call minutes and tariffs
Average monthly spending on calls per subscriber: ₦1,694 to ₦2,508 depending on the network
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