Telecom
Extending Telecoms Connectivity to rural Africa
In spite of tremendous growth in telecommunications service delivery in Africa, greater percentage of rural populace in the region is yet to enjoy telecom access, due mostly because rural areas are not commercially viable.
Governments in Africa have attempted to lure operators in providing service to rural dwellers through incentive such as tax waivers and provision of telecom infrastructure to no avail.
Against this backdrop that a report dealing with the broader issues of rural connectivity in Africa launched last week by the Commonwealth Telecommunications Organisation (CTO). The report reveals that a number of novel and multi-stakeholder partnerships, unique business models and innovative technologies are, for the first time, paving the way to connect many of Africa’s rural communities, on a sustainable, profitable basis.
The report provides evidence that contrary to some assumptions that the private sector can lead the effort to connect Africa’s rural populations, the experiences of industrialized countries like Canada, the Unites States and Australia is that governments have had to lead the effort, but in close collaboration with the private sector and local communities. The report calls for Commonwealth African governments to implement their national ICT policies as part of a wider national development strategy and to make faster in-roads into rural ICT rollout through public private peoples partnerships (PPPPs), with local communities playing a more pivotal role.
The report finds that the key to successful partnerships between the public and private sectors and other ICT stakeholders is to encourage local ownership, thereby nurturing the community’s enthusiasm for effective connectivity and ensuring the sustainability of ICT investments.
The CTO study found that whereas Commonwealth countries such as Malaysia and India have made significant in-roads in rural connectivity, Commonwealth African countries like Sierra Leone and Zambia are lagging behind in rural access, leading to poor and overall slow economic growth. The report finds that although recent years have seen dramatic growth in penetration rates in some African countries, especially through mobile networks, the continent’s aggregate penetration rate is still less than 20 percent.
"For Internet access and use, the figures are well below 5 percent for most of Africa. Over 60 percent of Africa’s population lives in unconnected rural areas and represent an untapped market, holding enormous potential for growth for service providers, equipment manufacturers and the entire telecommunications industry", the report claims.
By way of conclusion the report calls for ICT policy provisions that focus on universal and rural access, in order to affirm the commitment of governments to providing basic ICT services to poor, isolated and marginalized communities . There is also the need for continued incremental and a more methodical process of liberalization and privatization of the telecommunications sector in many African countries, and a variety of regulatory safeguards need to be put in place to foster competition and promote a conducive environment for rural connectivity.
Commenting on the initiative, Dr. Ekwow Spio-Garbrah chief executive officer of CTO said that the evidence they have accumulated in the course of the 9-month study demonstrates that most of Africa’s rural populations could well be connected over the next decade. "This is partly because an unusual confluence of sounder policies, relevant legislation, improving regulatory practices, the establishment of universal access and service agencies and the revenues they have acquired, new technologies and business models, and the availability of funding from a plethora of sources, all make it now possible for most of Africa to be connected wirelessly within the next ten years," he said. According to Spio-Garbrah, who is a former Minister of Communications in Ghana, ‘the pilot project models we have found to work best are where a combination of public institutions and private ICT operators or equipment vendors have found it possible to involve local groups or communities in structuring, ownership or management of the ICT assets, to ensure their more effective use and sustainable operation. We hope that more companies will join the CTO as we move to the second phase of this important initiative to replicate and scale-up a number of selected model projects, so that the benefits of ICTs can be enjoyed by millions more in Africa’. "Connecting the majority of Africans to the Information Super Highway is necessary if African countries are to benefit from the global knowledge revolution," he said.
The project was undertaken under the auspices of the Commonwealth Connects programme, which involves collaboration with a number of Commonwealth agencies, including the Commonwealth Secretariat. It is supported by the International Telecommunication Union, as part of efforts to help unearth market opportunities, enhance technological advancements, as well as accelerate social development and economic growth by connecting rural communities in the 18 Commonwealth African countries.
The first phase of the project was aimed at discovering how telecommunications regulation, policy, legislation, and operational, technological and financial models affect the potential for cost-effective rural connectivity in the 18 African Commonwealth countries. The research compiled similar information on initiatives and best practices of five selected non-African countries such as USA, Canada, Australia, Malaysia and India, countries that have enjoyed greater success in connecting their rural populations. Subsequently the initiative is to devise effective dissemination channels for the report and identify 10 pilot projects for adaptation and replication to form the basis for the second phase of the project.
Can it happen in Nigeria?
Just as the telecom sector in India is fully liberalized and fastest growing so also is Nigeria’s. The question now is why is Nigeria moving at a slow pace? Currently, all the successes recorded in the sector are essentially an urban phenomenon. The four digital mobile operators have concentrated their activities in high density areas. Locations without access are either remote or are relatively poor communities. This has therefore affected some regions more than others.
A Nigerian Communications Commission NCC/World Bank study has looked at the market potential for telecoms services in the country. The study looked at a range of variable including geo-demographic, socio-economic and infrastructure data. It concludes that the entire country is reachable and that a significant market scope exists. The study conducted ranking among states. The most challenging northern states are typically low socio-economically.
They have low revenue potential, poorest infrastructure and highest cost for telecoms development. However, some challenging southern states exist, but are less difficult to serve. These states usually are small in size: have potential to cover cost, and have good chances of returning a profit.
So far, digital mobile licensees have been slow in expanding into rural areas, despite the fact that the NCC requires them to invest part of their income in setting up services in the rural communities. Market assessments suggest that about 22 states will need some form of incentive to attractive mobile operators. The universal Access fund (UAF) operated by the stakeholders (operators, government and donors) is expected to be a vehicle to deliver these incentives.
Over two thirds of Nigeria’s population resides in rural area. Increasingly, poverty in the country is wearing a rural face. From 28.3 percent in 1980 poverty among the rural population grew to 51.4 percent in 1985, has since risen to 69.8 percent.
Little wonder that global consultancies and analysis believe that if only the operators could convert the challenges in rural Nigeria to opportunities, Nigeria would be an exciting story for other countries of the world to emulate.
British Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has announced plans to ban children under the age of 16 from accessing major social media platforms, describing the move as necessary to protect young people from online harm.
The proposed restrictions will apply to platforms including TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, Snapchat, YouTube and X.
Messaging services such as WhatsApp and Signal will not be affected by the measures.
In a recorded video message released on Monday, Starmer said the government was taking decisive action in response to growing concerns about the impact of social media on children’s wellbeing.
“It’s a big step for our country. Social media is making our children unhappy and unsafe, and as a parent, as much as a Prime Minister, I just can’t let that go on anymore,” he said.
The announcement follows a national consultation conducted between March and May, which received more than 116,000 responses on children’s use of technology.
According to the findings, more than 83 per cent of parents believed the risks associated with social media outweighed its benefits, while 90 per cent supported setting 16 as the minimum age for accessing social media platforms.
The British government said legislation would be introduced before Christmas, with the protections expected to come into force next spring.
Under the proposed framework, children under 16 will also be prevented from using livestreaming features and from communicating with strangers on affected platforms.
Starmer acknowledged that implementing age restrictions would be challenging but said the government had carefully reviewed available evidence and lessons from other countries before deciding to proceed.
“It’s not an easy thing to do. We haven’t rushed into it. We’ve looked carefully at the evidence and will continue adapting our approach as technology changes,” he said.
The Prime Minister also signalled a willingness to confront major technology firms that may oppose the policy.
“We will take them on, and we will win, because the need for action could not be any clearer,” he added.
The move comes amid increasing global efforts to regulate children’s access to social media.
Last year, Australia became the first country to enact legislation restricting access to major social media platforms for children under 16.
However, Australian authorities have reported enforcement challenges, with a recent study indicating that many children continued to maintain accounts despite the restrictions.
Alongside the proposed ban, the British government announced a £132.5 million “Every Child Can” programme aimed at expanding access to sports, arts and nature-based activities in schools and local communities as alternatives to excessive screen time.
The initiative follows recent calls by the government for technology companies, including Apple and Google, to strengthen safeguards preventing children from taking, sharing or viewing nude images online.
The government said the measures were designed to combat online exploitation, reduce children’s exposure to harmful content and improve online safety.
Meanwhile, social media companies in the United States continue to face legal challenges alleging that their platforms contributed to mental health problems among young users and failed to adequately protect children from online predators.
Supporters of stricter age-verification requirements argue that they are necessary to shield children from harmful online content, while critics have raised concerns over privacy, data protection and freedom of expression.
TikTok says football remains one of the strongest passions among its users in Nigeria, with 59 per cent of users on the platform following the sport.
TikTok
The social media platform disclosed this in a report highlighting the growing influence of football communities and sports content across Sub-Saharan Africa.
According to TikTok, 28 per cent of its users in Nigeria actively participate in football, underscoring the sport’s significance as a cultural touchpoint and a driver of engagement on the platform.
The report noted that football-related hashtags such as #football, #soccer, #SuperEagles and #NaijaFootball have become active hubs for fan reactions, commentary, highlights and match-day conversations.
TikTok said it had evolved into a leading platform for sports entertainment and football culture, bringing together fans, athletes, clubs and content creators through its #SportsOnTikTok initiative.
It revealed that more than 6.5 million videos had been created under the #SportsOnTikTok hashtag, reflecting growing interest in sports content ranging from match reactions and tactical analysis to creator-led storytelling.
“Football communities across Africa are increasingly using TikTok to celebrate their teams, share reactions, debate key moments and connect with global football audiences in authentic and engaging ways,” the report stated.
The platform also highlighted strong engagement during the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), noting that more than 1.2 million posts were created globally under the #AFCON2025 hashtag.
According to TikTok, 28.6 per cent of those posts originated from Sub-Saharan Africa, reinforcing the platform’s role as a major destination for football fans following tournaments in real time.
The report further showed that sports content on TikTok continues to influence audiences beyond the platform.
It stated that 85 per cent of sports fans globally use TikTok as a second-screen experience while watching sporting events, while 42 per cent are more likely to tune into live matches after viewing sports content on the platform.
Additionally, 90 per cent of fans reportedly take at least one action outside the platform after watching sports-related content, while 72 per cent enjoy viewing fan edits, reaction videos and other fan-generated sports content.
TikTok also highlighted the increasing participation of women in sports conversations on the platform.
According to the report, 64 per cent of women globally choose TikTok as their preferred destination for sports content, accounting for 46 per cent of all sports-related views on the platform during the first half of 2025.
The company said the findings reflected a new era of digital sports engagement in which football and other sporting experiences extend beyond the pitch through fan participation, content creation and online communities.
It added that TikTok was becoming a key destination for the next generation of football fandom, transforming passive viewership into active participation through shared experiences and real-time interactions.
Telecom
Nigeria Innovation Summit 2026 Set to Convene West Africa’s Brightest Minds to Shape the Future of Innovation
InnovationHub Africa, Africa’s foremost driver of technology and innovation, is proud to announce the Nigeria Innovation Summit (NIS) 11.0, the 11th edition of West Africa’s biggest and most celebrated innovation gathering, scheduled for October 6, 2026, at the Shell Hall, Muson Centre, Lagos.
Nigeria Innovation Summit 2026
The Summit promises to be the most ambitious, high-impact edition yet, bringing together Nigeria’s most brilliant minds, innovators, startups, trailblazing entrepreneurs, global thought leaders, and policy architects under one electrifying roof.
Disclosing the event’s agenda, Mr. Tony Ajah, the Programme Director of the Summit says, “The theme for this year’s event is ‘Innovating in the Age of AI’.” The theme confronts one of the defining questions of our time: how can Nigeria and Africa harness the power of AI to drive transformative innovation, accelerate economic growth, and compete boldly on the global stage?”
“We are living through the most consequential technological shift of our generation. AI is happening right now, reshaping industries, redefining careers, and rewriting the rules of competition. As AI reshapes every sector from agriculture to fintech, from healthcare to education, we are creating the most critical space for Nigeria’s innovators to get ahead of the curve,” Mr. Ajah says.
“NIS 11.0 is our clarion call to every Nigerian innovator and institution to get in the room, understand the wave, and ride it. We must not be spectators in the AI revolution but architects of it. So, this year’s event will go beyond inspiration to deliver actionable insights and measurable impact, empowering stakeholders to build resilient and future-ready systems,” he added.
NIS has established itself as a premier platform for advancing technology, entrepreneurship, and sustainable development, and continues to foster cross-sector collaboration and inspire solutions to pressing socio-economic challenges. It brings in experts within the Nigerian innovation ecosystem and around the world to connect, share ideas, and collaborate.
This year’s event will feature insightful discussions, Nigeria Innovation Experience talks (NiX Talks), innovative showcases of emerging technologies and their applications, workshops, fireside chats, startup pitches, and exhibitions. The Summit will climax with the 2026 Nigeria Innovation Awards.
Beyond discussions, the Summit is designed to catalyze strategic partnerships, investment opportunities, and policy directions that support innovation-led growth. Through previous editions, NIS has attracted over 15,000 delegates, 240 speakers and panellists, 100 tertiary institutions and research centres, 40 government ministries, attendees from 36 states, over 170 sponsors and partners, 42 countries, and over 97 innovation award recipients.
Participation in this event is open to local and international businesses, innovators, startups, MSMEs, public and private institutions, embassies/high commissions, investors, the academic community, and all the stakeholders in the innovation ecosystem. The event will also be live-streamed to a wider audience across Nigeria and beyond. Attendance is free and open to all registered delegates.
NIS 11.0 offers great opportunities through sponsorship, partnership, and exhibitions of innovative products, ideas, and services. For more inquiries and participation, please visit: https://innovationsummit.ng/
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