Telecom
Delivering on the National Broadband Plan by 2025
Network sharing as an option to drive pervasive broadband in Nigeria
By: Eniola Campbell
Broadband has long been seen as an enabler of new business processes and product innovation that can boost job creation and raise economic growth and productivity.
Eniola Campbell, Country Senior Officer and CBT Head for Nigeria at Nokia
According to the ITU, a 10% increase in mobile broadband penetration in Africa would lead to a 2.5% increase in GDP per capita.
And while Covid-19 has increased the pace at which organisations and countries digitalize, there are still many obstacles in the way of reaching pervasive broadband on the African continent.
Nigeria has the largest number of internet users on the continent, sitting at 104.4 million users in January 2021 according to Datareportal, bringing internet penetration to 50%, but local operators still face several challenges in broadband rollout.
These include prohibitive right of way charges for fiber deployment in parts of the country, unreliable power supply and the cost of running diesel generators to power sites, multiple taxation by national and sub-national governments and insecurity in many parts of the country.
Last year, the Minister for Communication and Digital Economy, Dr Isa Ali Pantami, launched Nigeria’s 2020-2025 National Broadband Plan, an ambitious plan to deliver data download speeds of a minimum of 25Mbps in urban areas and 10Mbps in rural areas. As part of the plan at least 90% of the population will have coverage by 2025 at no more than N390 per 1GB of data.
The policy is expected to eliminate some of the impediments identified to broadband penetration. Nokia believes the increase in broadband will have a positive impact on Nigeria’s economy, especially as broadband enables digital transformation of business operations, which, in turn will bring operational efficiency and release value to businesses.
While this is a step in the right direction, it means that network operators must also consider various options in their network rollout strategies to enable them to roll out infrastructure within the timelines of the policy.
Nigeria can encourage the proliferation of network boosting initiatives to enhance coverage, capacity and ultimately improved end-user voice and data experience for telecoms subscribers.
Solutions like massive MIMO based on Active Antenna, for example, will help boost network coverage and capacity, while ensuring OPEX is also minimized as space and power will be effectively reduced by these advanced site solutions. This will be a win-win situation as telcos will experience increased revenue while delivering high quality of service (QoS) to their end users.
Nokia believes that network sharing could be an option for mobile operators as they continue to face pressure to cut the cost per bit of delivering mobile data and improve their own operational efficiencies, while reducing the cost of delivering mobile broadband.
Where it is not deemed anti-competitive in the local market, it enables operators to opt to co-operate and share network resources.
This is often done by setting up a separate joint venture entity to allow rivals to work together, or it can be managed by bringing in a neutral third party to deploy and operate the shared network in a managed services deal.
There are three different sharing models available to network operators. Passive sharing is the sharing of physical sites and passive elements such as towers and power supplies. Active Radio Access Network (RAN) sharing takes it a step further, requiring joint decision-making on investments and operations, while roaming-based sharing sees the customers of one operator seamlessly roam in a host operator’s network to plug gaps in coverage.
Due to the harsh competitive nature of the telecommunications industry, maintaining and operating a shared network can be a sensitive area for operators.
This can be overcome through a managed services approach to reduce friction and ensure that commercially sensitive data does not need to be shared.
Nokia has a proven history of providing solutions for greenfield sharing and outsourcing for sharing established networks providing governance and operational models to suit all the outlined scenarios.
Combining shared networks with managed services gives operators the best chance of realizing the maximum benefits possible.
As a leading managed services provider Nokia uses standardization, automation, and a proven operations model to deliver best-in-class services. A managed services approach will also reduce costs by outsourcing some operations, enabling the operators to exploit economies of scale that few operators could otherwise achieve.
Eniola Campbell is Country Senior Officer and CBT Head for Nigeria at Nokia
Telecom
VDT Communications Achieves Two Prestigious Certifications ISO /IEC 27001:2022, ISO/IEC 27032:2023 Reinforcing its Leadership in Broadband Service Provision
VDT Communications Limited, a provider of Enterprise communication solutions, is proud to announce that it has been awarded the ISO/IEC 27001:2022 Information Security Management System (ISMS) and ISO/IEC 27032:2023 Cybersecurity Management System certifications.
These prestigious certifications demonstrate VDT’s commitment to maintaining the highest standards of information security and cybersecurity, ensuring the protection of sensitive customer data and maintaining the trust of its clients.
These certifications are a testament to VDT’s dedication to implementing robust information security and cybersecurity measures, aligning with international best practices.
The ISO/IEC 27001:2022 certification recognizes VDT’s ability to establish, implement, maintain, and continually improve its ISMS, ensuring the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of customer information. The ISO/IEC 27032:2023 certification highlights its commitment to protecting its customers’ information assets and preventing Cyber threats.
VDT Communications Limited has consistently demonstrated its commitment to excellence, previously earning and maintaining ISO 9001:2015 Quality Management System and ISO 20000-1:2018 IT Service Management certifications. These certifications have enabled the company to deliver high-quality services, ensuring customer satisfaction and loyalty.
“We are thrilled to receive these two prestigious certifications, which reinforce our commitment to information security and cybersecurity. These certifications demonstrate our dedication to implementing robust security measures that ensure confidentiality, integrity and availability of customer data” said Engr. Abiodun Omoniyi, GMD of VDT Communications Limited.
The ISO/IEC 27001:2022 and ISO/IEC 27032:2023 certifications bring numerous benefits to VDT’s customers, including:
- Enhanced information security and cybersecurity posture
- Protection of sensitive customer data
- Compliance with international standards and regulations
- Improved risk management and incident response
- Increased trust and confidence in VDT’s services
“We are proud to serve our customers with the highest level of security and quality,” Bimbo Ikumariegbe, Chief Operating Officer (COO) of VDT. “These certifications demonstrate our commitment to excellence and our dedication to delivering innovative communication solutions that meet the evolving needs of our customers” – Olufemi Akinola, Head, Information Technology.
Nigeria Data Protection Commission (NDPC) has issued a stern warning to content creators filming and sharing videos of unsuspecting citizens on social media, describing such practices as direct violations of citizens’ rights to informational self-determination.
NDPC
The Commission drew attention to individuals capturing pictures and footage of the general public without consent, breaching Section 37 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended) and the Nigeria Data Protection Act, 2023 (NDP Act).
NDPC specifically flagged a content creator in Lagos State who films unsuspecting passersby at roadsides for a “reality show”. The Commission stressed that processing personal images in this manner demands explicit consent or a justifiable lawful basis under the NDP Act.
Preliminary investigations revealed no public or legitimate interest served by this “wilful invasion of privacy”. Data subjects, the Commission noted, have no reasonable expectation that their images would be captured and broadcast globally by an unknown individual.
National Commissioner/CEO Dr Vincent Olatunji has instructed social media platform owners—including TikTok, X (formerly Twitter), and Meta—to intensify enforcement of community guidelines to prevent harm from unlawful and unfair personal data processing.
Platforms failing to act promptly face sanctions under the NDP Act. Individual creators remain personally liable for violations, potentially facing criminal prosecution for infringing citizens’ and data subjects’ privacy rights.
The advisory was signed by Babatunde Bamigboye, Esq. CDPRP, Head of Legal, Enforcement and Regulations.
NDPC emphasised that abuse of rights under the guise of entertainment will not be tolerated, urging compliance to safeguard Nigerians’ data privacy in the digital age.
In celebration of International Women’s Day (IWD) 2026, Techeconomy, a leading business news platform in Nigeria, has unveiled its “100 Women Shaping the Future: Techeconomy Power List 2026,” recognizing exceptional women driving innovation, leadership, and impact across technology and the broader digital economy.
Techeconomy
The annual recognition spotlights women who are transforming industries through entrepreneurship, policy leadership, digital innovation, financial inclusion, media, education, and emerging technologies.
The initiative is part of Techeconomy’s commitment to promoting gender inclusion and highlighting female leadership shaping Africa’s technology ecosystem.
The Techeconomy IWD Power List features a diverse group of women, from corporate executives and startup founders to policymakers, ecosystem builders, and social innovators, whose work continues to influence the future of technology, business, and digital transformation in Nigeria and across Africa.
Speaking on the initiative, Joan Aimuengheuwa, the Managing Editor at Techeconomy, noted that the recognition goes beyond celebrating titles, focusing instead on impact, resilience, and the ability to shape the future through innovation and leadership.
According to her, “the women on the list represent different sectors including fintech, banking, healthcare, agriculture, education, communications, and the creative economy, demonstrating the growing role of women in advancing technology-driven development.
The unveiling aligns with the global celebration of International Women’s Day, which highlights the achievements of women and calls for accelerated progress toward gender equality. Across the world, the technology sector continues to push for greater female representation and leadership as part of efforts to build more inclusive digital economies.
Also speaking, Oluwatosin Aloba, the Brand Manager at Techeconomy, said: “Techeconomy IWD 2026 Power List is specially designed to inspire the next generation of female innovators and leaders by showcasing role models who are breaking barriers and redefining possibilities in the technology landscape.
“Techeconomy encouraged industry stakeholders, institutions, and the broader public to celebrate the achievements of these women while continuing to support policies, programs, and investments that expand opportunities for women in technology”, she added.
The full list of the “100 Women Shaping the Future: Techeconomy Power List 2026” is available on the Techeconomy website or visit: https://techeconomy.ng/techeconomy-iwd-2026-power-list-celebrates-100-women-shaping-the-future-of-tech/.
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