Telecom
eBusiness Life Takes A Deeper Look At the 5G Technology and What it Holds for Nigeria At 5G/GSM @20 Forum
As Nigeria is celebrating 20 years of deployment of Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM), and the Federal Government has set in motion the deployment of the fifth generation (5G) technology, significant changes will introduced to existing standards, leading to the emergence of a new generation of mobile network (G).
Vice President at DigiVation Network, Mr. Hilary Damissah, and panelists made up of the Publisher, eWorldNews, Mr. Aaron Ukodie; Editor, ICT Desk at ThisDay Newspapers, Mr. Emma Okonji; Executive Secretary of the Association of Telecommunication Companies of Nigeria (ATCON), Mr. Ajibola Olude; and Chief Project Manager, Digital Encode Limited, Simileoluwa Oyediji, who represented the Founder/COO , Digital Encode Limited, Dr. Obadara Peter Adewale.
e-Business Life Communication Limited recently held its 5G/GSM@20 forum at the Oriental Hotel, Lagos Nigeria on Friday, November 5, 2021.
Speaking on the theme of the forum, “Setting the Stage for 5G Journey – Requirements, Deployment and Challenges”, the Keynote Speaker, Executive Vice Chairman, Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Prof. Umar Garba Danbatta, spoke of the successes recorded in the 20 years of GSM evolution, and enumerated the need for 5G technology in the country.
The EVC, represented by the Director of Technical Standards and Network Integrity (DTSNI) at NCC, Engineer Wakil Bako, said that before the 5G wheel is set in motion, certain milestones are expected in place and like other countries, the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) is setting the stage for 5G roll-out in Nigeria.
From telegraphic submarine cable connecting Lagos to London in 1886 till date, Nigeria has experienced various telecommunication technologies and telecoms industry has become a formidable arm of the economy, so strong to boost the GDP and bring the country out of recession.
Tracing the evolution of generation of mobile network from 0G to 4G and now 5G, the EVC defined 5G as new global wireless standard after 1G, 2G, 3G and 4G networks and was designed to connect virtually everyone and everything together.
Danbatta, said that the new technology is meant to deliver higher multi-GDPs peak data speed at ultra-low latency; more reliable and massive network capability.
He said that consumers should expect higher performance and improved efficiency in user experience and connection to new industries.
He however, listed 5G requirements from the administrative angle to include; availability of adequate spectrum, regulatory policy, stakeholders awareness programme, conducive atmosphere for investments and reasonable regulatory charges.
Expatiating further on the need for 5G, the EVC said it will lead to huge boom in mobile usage, stressing that the huge growth of wireless network equipment and machines with communication-enabled capabilities attest to this fact.
“Already, over 22 billion IoT devices already connected as at 2018 and expected to reach 100 billion connections by 2030. Technology is no longer rated by speed but by latency (instant response) and 5G was designed for massive intelligent connectivity of things. 3G and 4G networks cannot meet these demands. So, 5G is to meet the demands that 4G, 3G and 2G cannot provide, particularly in areas of latency and massive connections”.
He also disabused the minds of telecom consumers who thought 2G, 3G and 4G must give way for 5G; adding that 5G will co-exist with its predecessor generation of wireless networks. “In most parts of the world, successor generation of mobile networks does not supplant, until when it becomes very necessary to decommission the oldest generation network”.
With specific focus on challenges to 5G deployment he said that in other to fiberize the towers/base stations, the issue of Right-of-Way (RoW) must be well addressed; also inflation and increasing exchange rates should be addressed; and subjecting the barrage of IoT devices to Type Approval process within limited timeframe should be considered.
“The current tower capacity of 1 Gbps (for 2G to 4G services) does not match the 20 Gbps peak speed required for 5G. This calls for the urgent need to increase fiberization of network, and the reliable energy supply to power the base stations.”
Despite the challenges, Prof. Danbatta said that 5G was designed to meet the very large growth in data and connectivity needs of today’s society, the IoT with billions of connected devices, and future innovations.
With regards to the proof of concept post-trial of 5G in Nigeria, he said that relevant stakeholders such as the Ministry of Communications and Digital Economy (MoC&DE), security agencies, operators, equipment vendors and others have been engaging on the modalities for 5G deployment in the country.
“Auction committee for 5G is also developing deployment plan. Federal Executive Council approved 5G network deployment policy for Nigeria at its recent meeting; 500MHz of spectrum in the 3.5GHz band identified for 5G NSA; 5 Slots of 100MHz planned (3.4GHz – 3.9GHz); 2 Slots already earmarked for auction with reserved price of $197.4m per slot and Auction planned for December 13, 2021”.
Concluding his keynote speech, the EVC said that every new technology comes with improvement with far better capabilities and efficiencies over the previous version adding that 5G comes with better capacities and efficiencies over the previous generations.
“Electromagnetic radiation emission rom 5G networks are far safer than preceding generations of mobile network. 5G networks will provide enormous economic benefits to the citizens by providing more jobs opportunities, creative and innovations.
“We recognize the need for sensitization of the public before deployment of 5G in the country. The support of the NASS is highly desirable and critical”.
The EVC said that despite the challenges, 5G is going to be awesome.
Goodwill Message:
In his goodwill message, Engineer Ikechukwu Nnamani, President of ATCON, congratulated the firm for organizing the event.
Nnamani who spoke through Ajibola Olude, Executive Secretary of ATCON said that discussions around 5G deployment should not neglect the need for telcos to migrate to IPv6 as most of their current equipment are on IPv4.
In his words, “We are happy to identify with the organisers of this event and the CEO, Mrs. Ufuoma Emuophedaro in particular.
“For us at ATCON, 5G should be discussed in readiness of telcos to migrate to IPv6. Presently, most of our networks are on IPv4. The networks have to be compliant to the global trends.
“There is also need to ensure the security of the networks as 5G is discussed with Spectrum management. There is also need to note that we will need more base stations; and what different States charge is quite exorbitant. For instance, in Lagos, our members are writing us to complain about the charges.
“IoT should be considered where almost everything will be connected. And issues around privacy must not be neglected.
“In terms of GSM @20, the revenue generation to the country is quite commendable. The job creation through GSM must be commended as many youths are gainfully engaged due to the impact of GSM.
He pledged ATCON’s continued support to work with industry stakeholders for the growth of the industry.
GSM@20: A new horizon beckons for telecoms Industry – Emuophedaro
Earlier in her welcome address, Mrs. Ufuoma Emuophedaro, the Publisher, e-Business Life Communication Limited, traced the journey of 20 years since the first call on the GSM network in Nigeria was made.
She said that the journey which led to the historic GSM ‘call’ on August 8, 2021, began when Digital Mobile Licenses (DMLs) were issued by the Nigerian government, through the NCC in January 2001. “I dare to say it has been 20 years of transformation with a lot to be proud of, and so much more to look forward to in Nigeria’s telecommunications story.
“Before the GSM rollout in 2001, Nigeria had a combined subscription of about 400,000 lines, which were built on the defunct Nigerian Telecommunications (NITEL) network and few other existing Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) networks, from the time of independence in 1960 to 2001. As at November 2020, active telephony subscribers stood at 208 million with teledensity standing at 108.92% while active internet subscriptions were 154.9 million and a broadband penetration of 45.07% , among others.
Mrs. Emuophedaro said it was no longer news that the telecoms sector in 20 years, have significantly transformed the government, businesses and individuals with great impact on every area of life.
“Chief among these contributions includes increased contribution to GDP, addition of nearly $80 billion in foreign and local direct investments; and the ability of Nigerians to communicate through the mobile phone and the opportunity to carry out several transactions/activities on the mobile phone, while on the move”.
She added that as the country is celebrating 20 years of GSM revolution a new horizon beckons for the telecom regulator as countries around the world move to digitize their economies and leverage the power and infrastructure of the telecommunications industry.
“Twenty years after GSM, a second generation mobile technology, Nigeria has stepped up to 3G, 4G and is moving on to 5G technology”.
She aligned with the NCC on the expectations that the deployment of 5G technology will spur services that will stimulate growth in different sectors of the Nigeria’s economy, including the health, education, financial and commerce sectors.
Chief Project Manager, Digital Encode Limited, Simileoluwa Oyediji, spoke on the need for the government to find ways of reducing cost, especially knowing that operators will spend so much more in deploying 5G across the country.
He further harped on the need for security, stating that aside the security features embedded in the 5G technology, further care should be taken as cybercriminals are not resting, but devising ways of breaking through the security features. He advised all stakeholders to use multi-layer security architecture, and users to maintain security consciousness, while the government and operators must engage in constant enlightenment campaign to inform and educate the masses.
Panel session:
The Panel Session has its discussion topic as “5G: Adoption, Infrastructure, Service as critical Elements for Competitive Digitized Economy
During a panel session on 5G: Adoption, Infrastructure, Service as critical Elements for Competitive Digitized Economy, moderated by the Vice President at DigiVation Network, Mr. Hilary Damissah, and panelists made up of the Publisher, eWorldNews, Mr. Aaron Ukodie; Editor, ICT Desk at ThisDay Newspapers, Mr. Emma Okonji; Executive Secretary of the Association of Telecommunication Companies of Nigeria (ATCON), Mr. Ajibola Olude; and Chief Project Manager, Digital Encode Limited, Simileoluwa Oyediji, who represented the Founder/COO , Digital Encode Limited, Dr. Obadara Peter Adewale.
Mr. Aaron Ukodie commended the NCC for taking the bold steps to adopt GSM as “today we are reaping the benefits. The same thing will apply to 4G era when the question was on roll-out and achieving national coverage; pricing and RoI and the price for the license. Today, the era is phasing out because telcos and other ISPs did roll out. Nigeria cannot play the laggards’ role in 5G as nations are deploying 5G and taking the benefits. NCC has taken the right decision to deploy 5G.”
Infrastructure-wise, Ukodie said that InfraCos are expected to be the legs through which 5G can be deployed across the country. “For instance, we expect them to take fibre to our homes, public spaces or metropolitan networks for more seamless signals. But the inability of the InfraCos to rollout services should be looked into”.
On the price of Spectrum for 5G deployment, he argued that the Nigerian market is hungry for data hence the regulator and the operators should reach an agreement on the bidding price benchmark. He recalled that similarly scenario played out in 2001 when the GSM license and spectrum were auctioned, there was outcry against the $100 million price cap, however, those that eventually purchased the license have not regretted it.
Mr. Emma Okonji agrees that infrastructure is key. He said that from the telcos’ point of view, they declared readiness to deploy equipment for 5G.
“However, the issue is whether other stakeholders like the States are ready too, because without infrastructure, it will be difficult to achieve 5G deployment. We want to give them the benefit of the fact, because honestly we need to get the internet services to the hinter lands.
“From the regulatory point of view, NCC also has been doing its beat. We should recall that in 2019 they conducted the trial in three cities – Lagos, Abuja, and Calabar and the results show 5G will work effectively in Nigeria.
“We also need to consider the readiness of different State governments like the time GSM was introduced as they are critical stakeholders with regards Right of Way and other issues”.
Okonji, however, called on the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) to review the price for 3.5GHz Spectrum downward to encourage telcos to bid for it.
According to him, the current price tag of N75 billion will likely discourage the telcos’ from participating in the bidding process.
Speaking on readiness of telecom operators to invest in 5G equipment, Mr. Ajibola Olude said that the present economic climate situation of Nigeria discourage investments in the telecoms sector, especially with regards to the exchange rates fluctuations.
He also lamented the position of most State Governments which are yet to adhere to the N145 price cap per linear meter on Right-of –Way.
In his words, “Lagos State charges over N1000 per linear meter for fibre deployment. There is even charge disparity between mainland and Island (higher rates). So the Federal Government should engage more with the States to understand why the N145 cap should be maintained.
Sourcing of dollar to buy equipment is too cumbersome and not encouraging”, Olude said.
From security perspective, Simileoluwa Oyediji said it cannot be overemphasised how 5G will enable encryption and other privacy issues.
He however, said that infrastructure remains critical. “Government needs to step in and normalize things. For instance, how many people can afford 5G smartphones. We need them to connect and make good uses of 5G.
“Innovation also comes with its own disruptions; therefore, service providers need to develop their own skills. We shouldn’t rely solely on international vendors for deployment. We need to groom local talents because 5G will drive IoT, autonomous vehicles, smart cities, etc.
“Also, we need to look at the power issue because the mini-cells distributed close to the consumers will require such capacity to achieve the end-goal. It boils down to government’s ability to support the telcos and other service providers to ensure consumers can afford the rates.
“For security, we have to continue to improve as the innovations are launched”, he concluded.
Award
e-Business Life Communications Limited also presented ‘Technology Transformer Award’ to the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), “for creating an environment for ICT growth and engendering economic development through policies, education and regulatory excellence,” among other resounding achievements.
Digital Encode Limited also bagged ‘Cybersecurity Mastery Award’, “for its passion in fortifying industry and non-industry players against cyber-threats and creating a safe environment for ICT growth.”
In attendance were media personnel from different media houses; the Chairman of the Nigeria Information Technology Reporters Association (NITRA), Mr. Chike Onwuegbuchi; the Director, Public Affairs, NCC, Dr. Ikechukwu Adinde and other stakeholders.
Telecom
Airtel Nigeria Launches Web Data Calculator to Give Customers Greater Visibility into Data Usage
Airtel Nigeria has launched the Airtel Web Data Calculator, a new digital tool designed to help customers estimate and better understand their internet data consumption based on real-life usage patterns.
The launch comes amid a broader industry effort to improve transparency around data consumption and strengthen customer confidence in mobile broadband services.
It also aligns with ongoing collaboration between telecommunications operators and the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) to address customer concerns about data depletion and improve quality of service across the sector.
Recent industry initiatives have included customer education campaigns, daily usage notifications, billing audits, customer engagement forums, and the development of new tools that provide greater visibility into how data is consumed.
Available through Airtel’s website, the calculator enables customers to estimate data usage across common digital activities such as video streaming, social media engagement, voice and video calls, and everyday web browsing. By translating online behaviour into understandable data estimates, the tool empowers customers to make more informed decisions about their data plans and digital habits.
Speaking on the launch, Oladokun Oye, Customer Experience Director, Airtel Nigeria, said the initiative reflects Airtel’s commitment to customer empowerment and service transparency.
“As Nigerians become increasingly dependent on digital services for work, education, entertainment and communication, it is important that customers have clear visibility into how their data is consumed. The Airtel Web Data Calculator was developed to help our customers understand their usage patterns better, make informed choices, and enjoy greater confidence in their digital experience,” he said.
Oye added that customer concerns around data depletion have remained a recurring topic across the telecommunications industry, making transparency a critical component of customer experience.
“We believe that trust grows when customers have access to clear information. This tool is another step in our ongoing efforts to simplify the customer experience, provide greater clarity around data consumption, and support informed decision-making,” he said.
The launch follows a period of intensified engagement between telecom operators, regulators and consumers on data usage awareness. The NCC has consistently emphasized that many instances of perceived rapid data depletion are linked to factors such as high-definition video streaming, automatic application updates, cloud synchronization, background app activity and evolving smartphone capabilities. The regulator has encouraged operators to improve customer education and develop tools that help subscribers better understand their consumption patterns.
Industry data underscores the importance of such initiatives. Nigeria recorded more than 13 million terabytes of internet consumption in 2025, reflecting the country’s accelerating digital transformation and growing dependence on mobile broadband services.
Commenting on the significance of the launch, Dinesh Balsingh, Chief Executive Officer, Airtel Nigeria, said the company remains focused on building a network and customer experience ecosystem anchored on trust, transparency and continuous improvement.
“The future of telecommunications will be defined not only by network investments but also by how effectively operators help customers understand and manage their digital lives. The Airtel Web Data Calculator represents a practical innovation that places more information and control directly in the hands of our customers.”
He noted that Airtel continues to invest heavily in network modernization, customer experience initiatives and digital tools that improve service quality while making telecommunications services easier to understand and use.
“We welcome the industry’s collective focus on transparency and commend the NCC’s continued collaboration with operators to strengthen consumer confidence. As data becomes increasingly central to everyday life, Airtel will continue to develop solutions that make connectivity more accessible, transparent and rewarding for every customer.”
The launch also builds on Airtel Nigeria’s recent customer engagement initiatives, including forums dedicated to helping subscribers better understand data usage, value optimization and service quality. These engagements have brought together customers, regulators and Airtel executives to foster greater awareness and dialogue around digital consumption.
The Airtel Web Data Calculator is now available to customers nationwide and can be accessed via Airtel Nigeria’s website.
The Board of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has commended telecommunications operators for ongoing investments aimed at improving network coverage, capacity and quality of service across the country.
NCC
This was contained in a communiqué issued at the end of the Commission’s 109th Board Meeting held on May 25 in Abuja.
According to the communiqué, Mobile Network Operators (MNOs) have planned the deployment of more than 12,000 additional coverage and capacity sites nationwide, with over 5,000 already completed, representing more than 40 per cent of the target.
The Board also noted that fibre connectivity had been extended to more than 700 sites to improve network resilience, backhaul capacity and service reliability.
It added that co-location and infrastructure sharing licensees had upgraded equipment across more than 2,000 Base Transceiver Stations (BTS) to support network expansion and compliance with quality-of-service obligations.
The Board reviewed the implementation of the Commission’s directive requiring operators to compensate subscribers affected by poor service quality in areas where prescribed standards were not met.
It noted that full compliance by operators had resulted in compensation being offered to more than 75 million affected subscribers.
The Board said efforts were ongoing to independently verify operators’ claims and ensure that all eligible subscribers received the compensation due to them.
However, it expressed concern that tower infrastructure providers had only partially complied with directives requiring the reinvestment of regulatory fines into infrastructure upgrades through escrow accounts.
On broadband development, the Board noted rising data consumption across the country but observed that growth remained constrained by infrastructure limitations, reliance on mobile internet and duplication of assets.
It welcomed the growth in Fibre-to-the-Home (FTTH) subscriptions, which rose from 84,141 in the fourth quarter of 2025 to 210,065 connections as of the first quarter of 2026.
According to the Board, expanding fixed broadband infrastructure will help reduce pressure on mobile networks, improve service quality and provide consumers with more connectivity options.
The Board also noted that the Commission was reviewing the telecommunications market structure to reflect current realities in both the wholesale and retail segments of the industry.
It reaffirmed that broader access to wholesale backbone fibre and expanded metropolitan fibre networks would help lower connectivity costs, improve network resilience and support the Federal Government’s digital transformation agenda.
The Board further identified infrastructure vandalism as a major challenge affecting industry growth despite ongoing efforts by security agencies to protect telecommunications facilities designated as Critical National Information Infrastructure (CNII).
It called for greater collaboration among stakeholders and disclosed that the Commission was exploring the feasibility of establishing a Communications Industry Security Trust Fund to strengthen infrastructure protection.
The Board also reviewed ongoing engagements with industry players on the development of a framework for zero-rating educational platforms and content to promote digital inclusion and improve educational outcomes.
In addition, the Board approved the appointment of Princess Oforitsenere Emiko, a Non-Executive Commissioner of the NCC, as Interim Chairman of the Governing Board of the Digital Bridge Institute (DBI).
It also approved the appointments of Engr. Abraham Oshadami, Executive Commissioner, Technical Services, and Ms. Rimini Makama, Executive Commissioner, Stakeholder Management, as interim members of the DBI Governing Board.
The Board reiterated the Commission’s commitment to fostering a sustainable and inclusive communications sector through improved quality of service, network resilience, consumer protection, transparency, fair competition and market discipline.
Stakeholders in Nigeria’s Information and Communications Technology (ICT) sector have expressed concerns over the inclusion of a foreign country code top-level domain (ccTLD) in a recent partnership under the Federal Government’s 3 Million Technical Talent (3MTT) programme.
The concerns followed the announcement by the Federal Ministry of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy (FMCIDE) of a 10 million-dollar partnership with Hello.cv, a platform associated with Cape Verde’s “.cv” country code domain.
Under the agreement, 20,000 beneficiaries of the 3MTT programme will receive access to Hello.cv’s profile package, which includes a personal .cv domain, an artificial intelligence-powered job search agent and professional CV writing services.
Some industry stakeholders argue that the arrangement appears inconsistent with the Federal Government’s “Nigeria First Policy”, which encourages Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) to prioritise local products and services.
The policy, approved by the Federal Executive Council in May 2025, seeks to reduce dependence on foreign goods and services, strengthen domestic industries and create jobs.
Speaking on the development, Chief Executive Officer of DNS Africa Media and Communications, Dr. Adebunmi Akinbo, said the use of a foreign domain for Nigerian trainees raised questions about data protection and digital sovereignty.
According to him, the country’s indigenous domain, .ng, managed by the Nigeria Internet Registration Association, is capable of accommodating the beneficiaries and should have been prioritised.
“If branding is important to the company, there are alternatives such as integrating the service within the .ng ecosystem. The focus should remain on promoting Nigeria’s digital identity and protecting citizens’ data,” he said.
Akinbo also expressed concerns about the storage and management of data generated through the platform, noting that government agencies should ensure that local digital assets remain at the forefront of national digital development efforts.
Also commenting, Emmanuel Amos, Chief Executive Officer of Programos and Innovationbed-AI Academy, said government institutions needed to demonstrate consistency in implementing policies designed to strengthen local technology ecosystems.
According to him, Nigeria must develop the institutional commitment required to support indigenous technology solutions and maximise value from local innovation.
The stakeholders noted that while the training partnership itself was commendable, the inclusion of a foreign domain component had generated questions about compliance with the spirit of the Nigeria First Policy.
Ugonma Egwuatu, an ICT and data protection expert at ECAM Global Services, called for greater clarity regarding data governance arrangements under the partnership.
She said agencies responsible for data protection should be satisfied that adequate safeguards were in place for the personal information of programme beneficiaries.
“We are dealing with the data of about 20,000 individuals. There should be clear explanations regarding how the data will be managed, protected and utilised,” she said.
Egwuatu added that transparency regarding data handling processes and any third-party arrangements would help address concerns among stakeholders.
The partnership is part of ongoing efforts by the ministry to equip young Nigerians with digital skills and improve their access to employment opportunities in the global technology ecosystem.
As of the time of filing this report, the ministry had not publicly responded to the concerns raised by stakeholders regarding the domain component of the partnership.
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