Telecom
Dr. Aminu Maida Advocates for Smarter Data Usage at Telecoms Consumer Parliament
Dr. Aminu Maida, the Executive Vice Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), has addressed consumer concerns on data depletion, emphasizing that the commission’s findings revealed most depletions are due to advancements in technology.
Dr. Maida delivered this message during a keynote speech at the 93rd Telecoms Consumer Parliament (TCP) held at the Communications and Digital Economy Complex Auditorium. The event, themed “Optimizing Data Experience: Empowering Consumers through Awareness and Transparency in a Consumer-Centric Telecom Industry,” underscored the critical need for data transparency and consumer empowerment in Nigeria’s telecommunications sector.
He highlighted the remarkable transformation of Nigeria’s telecommunications landscape over the past two decades, evolving from basic voice services to high-speed data connectivity.
He emphasized the significant impact of 3G, 4G, and now 5G networks on the adoption of digital services such as social media, e-commerce, and online banking. With the increasing demand for data, Dr. Maida addressed pressing consumer concerns over data depletion and billing transparency.
“Despite the advancements in technology, many consumers feel their data depletes faster than expected,” Dr. Maida stated. “Our analysis revealed that data depletion and billing issues are top concerns for consumers.
“In response, we directed Mobile Network Operators and ISPs to conduct audits of their billing systems, which reported no major issues.
“However, perceptions persist due to the impact of high-resolution devices and the complexity of operator tariffs.”
Dr. Maida explained that with the advent of 4G and 5G networks, as well as devices with ultra-high-definition screens, data consumption has naturally increased. For instance, viewing a photo on Instagram that might have required only 100 kilobytes of data five years ago can now consume between two to four megabytes due to advanced camera resolutions. Streaming platforms like YouTube can consume about 3.5 to 5.4 gigabytes per hour, further contributing to data depletion concerns.
To tackle these challenges, the NCC launched a Joint Industry Campaign on Consumer Awareness on Smarter Data Usage, aimed at educating consumers on effective data management.
The campaign spans various media platforms, including radio, television, newspapers, and SMS, offering practical tips for managing data usage.
Dr. Maida also highlighted the NCC’s efforts to simplify tariffs and provide clear, accessible information on data plans and pricing. “Transparency will empower consumers to make better-informed decisions about their data usage and billing,” he asserted.
In addition to these initiatives, the NCC is finalizing Major Incident Reporting Guidelines, which will require operators to inform consumers of major incidents impacting their networks.
The Commission is also working on coverage maps detailing operators’ network strength across the country, allowing consumers to make more informed choices when selecting an operator.
Dr. Maida concluded his speech by reaffirming the NCC’s commitment to transparency and accountability within the sector. “Our goal is to create a truly consumer-centric telecom industry, where consumers feel valued, informed, empowered, and satisfied with the services they receive,” he said.
The 93rd Telecoms Consumer Parliament provided a platform for open and honest dialogue, with stakeholders discussing ways to optimize the data experience for telecom consumers in Nigeria.
Association of Telecommunication Companies of Nigeria (ATCON) on Monday commended the Federal Ministry of Communication, Innovation, and Digital Economy (FMCIDE) for spearheading a new initiative known as ‘Project Bridge’.
Tony Emoekpere, president, ATCON, stated in an interview with NAN in Lagos that the initiative aimed to create a robust and resilient telecommunications backbone across Nigeria.
Emoekpere stated that the project was an ambitious public-private partnership designed to connect all 36 states and Abuja, as well as LGAs, via fiber optic cables.
According to him, the initiative is not meant to replace existing infrastructure but to complement it, creating a more resilient network.
“Right now, most of the networks that we have are linear in nature. ’Just imagine, if there’s only one road from Lagos to Ibadan; if anything happens to that road, you would not get to Ibadan.
‘’This project will create alternative routes,” he said.
The ATCON boss stated that the project was modeled after the successful PPP framework in the energy sector, with the government contributing a certain percentage to the Special Purpose Vehicle and the private sector providing the remaining funding.
He stated that the project’s goal was to establish alternative, redundant connections, thereby ensuring that services remained uninterrupted even if one part of the network was compromised.
The president expressed the full support of telcos, noting that the project would enable members to deliver services more effectively in locations where infrastructure was currently a significant challenge.
“With this project, we will have multiple options,” he said.
Project BRIDGE involves building a nationwide fiber optic network to expand digital infrastructure and connectivity, rather than a physical bridge, as part of Nigeria’s National Broadband Plan.
The project is a public-private partnership ($2 billion cost) using an SPV to deploy 90,000km of fiber-optic cable to enhance education, healthcare, and the digital economy.
MTN Nigeria has successfully completed a scheduled network maintenance operation that affected 101 sites across 15 Local Government Areas (LGAs) in Adamawa, Borno, and Kano States.
The restoration marks a significant step in the company’s ongoing efforts to enhance service reliability in the Northeast region, amidst multiple fibre cuts and vandalism.
The maintenance, which took place on Sunday, August 24, involved the cutover of traffic to a newly installed fiber span along the AFCOT–Bawo Village route in Adamawa State.
This upgrade was necessary to replace a previously damaged section of the network infrastructure. All service maintenance was done within timeframe and restorations before 1 PM on Sunday August 24th.
We can confirm that all impacted sites have been fully restored, and services are now operating normally. We appreciate our subscribers’ patience and sincerely apologize for any inconvenience caused during the downtime.
The affected services included 2G, 3G, 4G, and enterprise connectivity, with temporary disruptions experienced in LGAs such as Girei, Song, Mubi North, Hong, and Michika in Adamawa; Askira/Uba and Shani in Borno; and Nasarawa in Kano.
The work was scheduled during daylight hours to ensure the safety of field engineers, given the linear and unprotected nature of the route.
This restoration is part of MTN’s broader strategy to strengthen its infrastructure in underserved regions and ensure consistent service delivery across Nigeria, amidst constant fibre cuts and vandalism.
TikTok has launched its music insights platform, TikTok for Artists, in Nigeria to support artist growth and fan engagement across the country’s vibrant music industry.
The platform, which debuted globally earlier this year, provides artists, labels, and management teams with access to daily-updated dashboards and analytics tools to track music performance, audience demographics, and fan interactions.
Toyin Mustapha, Head of Music Partnerships for the UK, Ireland, and Sub-Saharan Africa at TikTok, said the initiative was part of the company’s commitment to empowering African creators.
“With the launch of TikTok for Artists in Nigeria, we’re giving artists and their teams access to insights that can help them engage their fans in more meaningful ways and grow their careers globally,” Mustapha said.
The platform offers detailed song performance metrics, including views, posts, and creator engagements per track. It also provides granular post-level data such as likes, comments, shares, and completion rates, alongside demographic breakdowns by gender, age, and language.
In addition to analytics, TikTok for Artists includes educational resources and step-by-step guides to help artists build sustainable careers.
A key feature of the platform is the Pre-Release tool, which allows artists to launch campaigns for upcoming albums and enables fans to pre-save tracks on streaming platforms like Spotify and Apple Music.
British artist Jordan Adetunji described the platform as a “game changer,” noting its value in helping artists and their teams plan effective campaigns.
TikTok said the rollout reaffirms its investment in Africa’s creative economy and aims to foster deeper connections between artists and fans across the continent.
The platform is now available to all certified TikTok Artist Accounts, with access also extendable to managers and label teams.
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