General News
eStream will Bring Real 4G Services to Nigerians – Ogungboye
Muyiwa Ogungboye is the managing director of e.Stream Network, an internet service provider.
He spoke to chike onwuegbuchi on issues around e.Stream Network’s decade of service delivery in Nigeria as well as it expansion plan to other cities with LTE technology.
eStream 10 Years of Operation
eStream was founded on March 2006, so, we have clocked 10 years old. As an entrepreneur that saw a problem in the country in terms of connectivity and providing a solution to it, that was how eStream was formed.
We started with VSat as means of communications. Ten years ago, the fiber network in Nigeria was limited, radio connectivity was also limited. Mainly, satellite was the choice. As years go-bye we found that there was a need for us to start incorporating newer technologies in our network.
To that end, we have put in fiber and radio. We still have satellite running up to date.
Actually, over the past ten years, it has been challenging. The situations in the country are such that dollar has never been stable, all the equipment are bought from abroad, government regulations have been tough with accruable multiple taxation. Accessing funds from the banks is another major bottleneck we encounter in as we pursue growth. In all, we have been able to weather the storms.
Generally, I will say that it was the urge to solve problems in the country that manifested in having eStream come to live. We also want a situation that indigenous companies can be perceived as capable of executing, even better projects, what Americans and Europeans are doing for us. So, during the course of our ten years, we also obtained our certification on quality management. I think we got that ISO:1900 certification when we clocked seven (7) years.
The whole idea is to prove to the outside world that there are some indigenous companies that can do it in the right way. Corporate governance is something we hold very seriously in this organization. Quality is also something we don’t play with. In all, it has been challenging and interesting in the life of the company.
Moving forward, we intend to expand our network on fiber and especially on radio. There are some sub-marine cables that have come into the country, but the problem is distribution. It is a factor to induce results in the sector.
Expansion Strategy
Last year, we came up with a five-year business plan. When we started the company ten years ago, the business plan we had was exhausted at about the fifth year. Another one was written, which ended last year. So, our focus for the next five year is majorly on expansion.
Right now, we have agreements on colocation on certain base stations across the country, but we also want to invest on some of those base stations. We have some already, but we are expanding. Like in Onitsha, the ones we have are not enough. In Abuja we have one and we will launch another one before the end of the month. There is an existing one in Calabar, we want to launch another one there too; so that we can cover the larger part of the country and also the hinterlands.
Secondly, we just signed an agreement with Bitflux, which won the licensing for deploying LTE in Nigeria. But by the law they can’t sell to the end users, rather through internet service providers like us. We are one of their major partners. The base stations we are building will help in spreading their signals across the country; it is a collaborative drive where they set up some and we do too. We also have plan for setting up our cloud services. Discussions are on with Microsoft and Dell for the purchase of the software and hardware. We expect that the cloud will soon be up and running.
For the LTE, it is not going to be working only on WiFi or MiFi; it will still work on mobile as well. It is not restrictive; as long as your phone has the capacity of working on 2.3GHz spectrum, the signal will work. We are spending a lot of money in setting up these base stations. It costs a minimum of N20million to set up one base station. If we do some arrangements with people that have buildings, we will be spending N10 to N12million. That is going to be the major drive of our services.
Investments on Distribution
For this year, we have a budget of about $1.2million. What we did was to break down the five year plan into yearly focus. That is why, this year we are focusing on coverage. By next year, it is going to be more on Value Added Services (VAS), because the coverage would have been established. Then, we have plans to have a TV business. TV perfectly works on satellite. We are trying to incorporate IPTV into our existing business. That will probably happen by next year. Our team is already having talks with a Kenyan Company. We have visited each company’s facilities; we are hoping to tidy up the agreements this year, so that by next year we can launch our IPTV business.
End-Users Services against Corporate Services Delivery
What heralded the birth of our Company was due to the challenge in the corporate market, basically, connectivity. We have achieved a milestone on that, however, we also realized that in the retail or mass market sector, what is focused on is mobile, be it MiFi, or mobile phone, that was what led us into signing agreement with Bitflux. It is basically to solve some problems in the mass market segment. But you know that as at today most of the mobile internet services providers are on 2G/3G. None of them is actually what is regarded as full 4G. What we intend bringing on board is the pure 4G service which has a minimum of 10Megabytes per second. Anything short of that is not 4G, but most Nigerians do not understand the definitions of 2G, 3G or 4G. If the public is educated on how to test the service they are getting, they will understand better. Therefore, we want to bring alongside, education on 4G. It comes with exceptional speed at a very competitive price. You can imagine getting 100megabytes per second for as little as N5,000. As I speak, it is already happening in some locations in Lagos such as Ikoyi, Victoria Island, among others. Our focus is that before the end of the year, Lagos State would have been covered. With that, you and I will have access to affordable, reliable and exceptionally fast internet connectivity. In Europe you get a minimum of 12megabytes per second. They are advanced, because on the move you want to watch CNN, BBC, skype with your wife or husband. These services need big bandwidth, which 2G or 3G cannot really offer.
True Value Of What Subscribers Pay
We are already in mobile, just that the devices that will support our 4G services are not yet available. I want to believe that before the end of the year, it will be available. As we speak, Huawei is already producing 2.3Ghz phone which is compatible with our services. I want to believe that organizations like Samsung, among others are thinking towards that direction. We don’t want to be restrictive in such a way that you must buy our particular set of mobile phones. No. let people have varieties. It will definitely happen.
On whether other companies offer real 4G, I wouldn’t want to quote companies, but what we have experienced is that some are still deploying 2G or 3G. But they say it is 4G. Education needs to come in, the Nigerian citizens to understand the differences. A typical 4G services have minimum of 10megabytes speed. But 2G is like 2megabytes while 3G gives about 4megabytes. It is not enough to watch Nollywood content via the mobile phones, but people need the services real time. Only 4G can accord you the pleasure.
World Health Organisation (WHO), yesterday, said that Ebola outbreak is “very high” but added that the global risk remains “low”.
So far, 82 cases and seven deaths have been confirmed in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), but WHO, said, the real scale of the outbreak is likely far larger, with nearly 750 suspected cases and 177 suspected deaths reported
Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, chief, WHO, said the situation was “deeply worrisome”.
He said there were now nearly 750 suspected cases in the DR Congo and 177 suspected deaths, as health workers scramble to track down contacts of everyone thought to be infected with the virus.
“The Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo is spreading rapidly,” he told a press conference.
“So far, 82 cases have been confirmed in DRC, with seven confirmed deaths.
“But we know in people who travelled from DRC and one death.
Measures to address the epidemic in DRC are much larger.
There are now almost 750 suspected cases and 177 suspected deaths.”
He said the situation in Uganda was “stable”, with two cases confirmed in Uganda, including “intense contact tracing” and calling off the Martyrs’ Day commemorations, “appear to have been effective in preventing the further spread of the virus”, Tedros added.
While a US national who was working in the DRC has tested positive and been transferred to Germany for care, Tedros said another US national deemed to be a high-risk contact had been transferred to the Czech Republic.
Besides national staff already in the DRC, he said 22 international staff had been deployed to the field, “including some of our most experienced people”.
Tedros said that violence and insecurity were impeding the response to the outbreak in the DRC.
“We are now revising our risk assessment to very high at the national level, high at the regional level, and low at the global level.
“So far, 82 cases have been confirmed in DRC, with seven confirmed deaths.
“But we know the epidemic in DRC is much larger. There are now almost 750 suspected cases and 177 suspected deaths.
“The situation in Uganda is stable, with two cases confirmed in people who travelled from DRC, with one death.”
Tedros said that violence and insecurity were impeding the response to the outbreak.
Nigerian Army has acquired additional drones and other advanced force multipliers to strengthen surveillance operations, improve target acquisition, and enhance precision strike and casualty evacuation capabilities.
Lt.-Gen. Waidi Shaibu, chief of Army Staff (COAS), said that the new drones will boost surveillance, precision strikes.
Shaibu, who disclosed this in a statement shared via the Nigerian Army’s official X handle, noted that the conference provided a platform for critical assessment of ongoing operations and the development of forward-looking strategies to address Nigeria’s evolving security challenges.
He said deliberations at the Nigerian Army Conference Centre, Asokoro, focused on sharpening operational responses, strengthening training frameworks and adapting to the demands of modern security warfare.
According to him, the resolutions reached are aimed at building a more agile, combat-ready, technologically driven and mission-oriented force capable of responding effectively to emerging threats.
A key highlight of the reforms is the Army’s increasing investment in modern warfare technology, including the acquisition of additional tactical drones and the reconfiguration of Army aviation assets for combat roles.
Shaibu explained that these developments have significantly enhanced intelligence gathering, precision targeting, operational mobility and casualty evacuation across various theatres of operation.
He also highlighted ongoing improvements in recruitment, advanced training, professional military education and leadership development, stressing that discipline, competence and meritocracy remain central to building a stronger institution.
Reaffirming his “soldier-first” philosophy, the COAS said troop welfare remains a top priority, stressing that “troop welfare remains non-negotiable; well-motivated soldiers operating in conducive environments are critical to mission success.”
He urged senior officers to ensure that resolutions from the conference are fully implemented in field operations, stressing that the true value of the gathering lies in measurable impact on the battlefield.
Describing the ongoing reforms, Shaibu said: “We are not just reforming the Army; we are building a lethal, technology-driven fighting force where only discipline, merit, and mission success matter.”
The Army Chief expressed appreciation to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for his support, as well as the Minister of Defence, Minister of State for Defence, Chief of Defence Staff, service chiefs and intelligence agencies for their continued collaboration.
The conference ended with the presentation of commendation plaques to senior officers recognized for outstanding contributions to operational effectiveness.
The UK Special Envoy for Freedom of Religion or Belief (FoRB), David Smith MP, concluded a three-day visit to Abuja this week, marking Nigeria as the first focus country he has visited under the UK’s FoRB strategy.
During the visit, David Smith MP held a wide range of meetings with senior Nigerian government officials, religious leaders, civil society organisations, and local communities – reflecting the UK’s commitment to sustained, practical engagement and partnership on freedom of religion or belief in Nigeria.
Meetings included discussions with the National Security Adviser, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, the Honourable Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, and the Governor of Plateau State, Caleb Mutfwang.
The Special Envoy also met with the co-chairs of the Nigeria Inter-Religious Council, Archbishop Daniel Okoh, President of the Christian Association of Nigeria, and HRH the Sultan of Sokoto, Muhammadu Sa’ad Abubakar III, President-General of the National Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs.
At the end of the visit, the UK Special Envoy for Freedom of Religion or Belief, David Smith MP, said: “Over the past few days, I have been honoured to meet a wide range of people — from senior government figures and civil society to faith leaders and local communities. I came to listen, learn, and see both how freedom of religion or belief is experienced in everyday life, and how it connects to – and is a core part of addressing – Nigeria’s wider challenges around security and cohesion.
“Some of the most powerful moments of this visit were at community level. Visiting Father Emmanuel Unamba’s parish and meeting Christian and Muslim neighbours living side by side was a real reminder that peaceful coexistence is something people build every day through leadership, dialogue, and shared responsibility.
“What I take away from this visit is the importance of further progress being Nigerian led, rooted in strong institutions and inclusive dialogue, with FoRB at its heart. The UK will continue to support practical efforts in ensuring greater peace, security and prosperity for all.”
The visit also included a roundtable with partners of the UK’s Strengthening Peace and Resilience in Nigeria (SPRiNG) programme, a £38 million UK government-funded conflict and resilience programme operating primarily in Kaduna, Katsina, Benue and Plateau states.
During the visit, Special Envoy David Smith MP held meetings with the Institute for Peace and Conflict Resolution, the Nigerian National Human Rights Commission, and civil society organisations working at the intersection of insecurity and religious freedom. He also visited the National Mosque and the National Ecumenical Centre in Abuja.
Speaking to the various stakeholders, Mr Smith called for greater tolerance across religion or belief in Nigeria and hoped that the cohesion he saw on a community level in the capital, could be achieved nation-wide with the same resolve. He hoped to continue these dialogues with interlocutors in the UK.
The visit builds on the momentum of President Tinubu’s State Visit to the United Kingdom in March 2026, which reinforced the UK-Nigeria Strategic Partnership and included interfaith events attended by President Tinubu and His Majesty The King, underlining both countries’ shared commitment to fostering constructive interfaith dialogue.
WHO Says Ebola Risk Now at Highest Level
Airtel Africa Launches $110m Share Buyback Programme for Capital Efficiency
NCC Drafts New Rules for Virtual Mobile Operators
LG Electronics Showcases Advanced HVAC Solutions at Mega Clima Nigeria 2026
FG Unveils AI Public Services Platform
MTN, VDT, Zoracom, Digital Realty Back 2026 Girls in ICT Campaign
Vitel Wireless Partners Fintechs to Expand Access to Services
Kaspersky Discovers Vulnerability in Qualcomm Snapdragon Chips that can Lead to Data Loss & Device Compromise
Bank Customers to Pay N1,500 for ATM Card Issuance, Replacement – CBN
FG Okays 112 as Toll-Free National Emergency Response Number
Telecom2 days agoGoogle unveils Gemini-powered advertising, commerce tools at Marketing Live 2026
E-Financial2 days agoGriffin Capital Group Launches Integrated Financial Services Group Positioned to Strengthen Capital Formation in Nigeria, Africa
E-Financial2 days agoCBN to Simplify Bank Alerts over Rising Customer Complaints
E-Business2 days agoKaspersky Detected More than 92,000 Malware Attacks Disguised as AI Services in Four Months
Telecom2 days agoNigeria gets AI-ready Lagos data centre
Telecom2 days agoTelcos in Nigeria, other Emerging Markets Squeezed by Diesel Crisis
Telecom2 days agoipNX Seeks Coordinated Action on Fibre Deployment @ National Dig-Once Forum
General News2 days agoOtedola Plans $100m Investment in Dangote Refinery ahead of Proposed IPO