Telecom
FG Hands Over NITEL to NATCOM, Core Investor
Federal government yesterday finally handed over the beleaguered first national telecommunications company to new core investor, NATCOM Consortium.
At a ceremony attended by notable persons in the privatisation circle, the Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE) handed over instruments of ownership and licences of operation to Mr. Tunde Ayeni, chairman of the NATCOM Consortium, who said over $1bn was required to revive the company.
Speaking at the ceremony, Vice President Namadi Sambo, who chairs the National Council on Privatisation said the formal handover was a clear indication that where there is focus and determination, there is a way.
Sambo who was represented by a member of Mr. Emmanuel Amadi, technical committee of NCP, listed the several failures in the past and added that the success at this time was a reflection of the determination of the NCP and the BPE to increase competition in the telecommunications industry.
He said, “It was the realisation that Nigeria will not attain the desired economic growth without adequate reforms and liberalisation of the telecommunications sector that informed commencement of the telecoms sector reforms in 2001.
“These led to the attempted privatisation of NITEL and M-Tel through strategic/core investor sale to Investors International London Limited. Unfortunately, that flagship transaction failed as the preferred bidder could not meet the deadline for the payment of the purchase consideration.”
He continued, “Failure of first strategic investor sale led to the execution of a management contract with Pentascope in 2005. The management contract did not improve the operational and financial position of NITEL and M-Tel and was terminated.
“Orascom Telecoms emerged the highest bidder with $256m during the second privatisation attempt. Its bid was however rejected by the Federal Government as it was below the reserve price.”
NCP in 2006 adopted the ‘willing buyer-willing seller’ strategy. The strategy which threw up Transnational Corporation as the core investor was adopted to shorten the transaction period since the financial position of NITEL was deteriorating.
Following the inability of Transcorp to turn around the fortunes of NITEL, the NCP on June 1, 2009 revoked the sale of the telecommunications company and its mobile subsidiary.
In another strategic/core investor sale in 2011, both New Generation Communications Limited and Omen International Limited that emerged preferred and reserve bidders could not pay the purchase price and the transaction had to be cancelled again.
Consequently, NCP approved the privatisation of NITEL and M-Tel through guided liquidation. It also on November 11, 2013 approved the appointment of Chief Olutola Senbore as the liquidator of NITEL/M-Tel.
At the financial bid opening on December 3, 2014, NATCOM emerged the preferred bidder with an offer of $252.25m bid price.
NATTAG which had been prequalified by BPE to participate in the process was disqualified as a result of the failure of the company to include a $10m bid bond as had been prescribed in Request for Proposal document.
Speaking at the handover ceremony, Ayeni said immense gaps and opportunities still exist in the Nigerian telecommunications market despite the competition in the industry.
According to him, with a good team of investors and management, NATCOM was ready to make the difference required to succeed. He indicated that the company would roll out services soon after rebranding.
Airtel Nigeria, telecom service provider, has announced that its AI-powered Spam Alert Service issued over 9.6 million spam alerts between March 13 and May 20, 2025.
As part of its ongoing commitment to protecting customers from unwanted and potentially fraudulent communications, Airtel designed the AI Spam Alert service to analyze traffic patterns and detect anomalies.
In the period since launch the AI pinpointed a total of 9,667,008 SMS as potential spam messages in the two months after its launch.
Of these, the system identified 528,080 on-net (Airtel-to-Airtel) and 9,138,928 off-net (from other networks) numbers as suspected spam messages, demonstrating the scale of the threat and Airtel’s advanced processing capability.
Airtel Nigeria is a subsidiary of Airtel Africa.
Commenting on this development, Dinesh Balsingh, CEO, Airtel Nigeria, restated Airtel`s commitment to protecting its customers.
“This milestone demonstrates the strength of our AI-driven infrastructure in combating the growing menace of spam and scam calls. At Airtel Nigeria, we are focused on connecting Nigerians and ensuring their safety and confidence while using our network.
“We understand that trust is the cornerstone of digital communication. That’s why we’ve invested heavily in intelligent systems that not only detect potential threats but also learn and evolve with data. As threats become more sophisticated, so will our solutions. As a company, we remain focused on leading the industry in innovation and customer satisfaction, ensuring that every Nigerian can enjoy a safer and smarter digital experience,” Mr. Balsingh said.
The Spam Alert Service is part of Airtel Nigeria’s broader strategy to integrate artificial intelligence into its core offerings to deliver smarter and safer experiences for its customers across the country.
Recall that the Spam Alert Service was launched on March 13, 2025. A groundbreaking and free solution from Airtel, it notifies users in real-time of suspected spam SMS messages by analyzing over 250 parameters.
The Airtel AI Spam Alert Service is available to all Airtel subscribers on smartphones and feature phones.
Vitel Wireless Limited, pioneer mobile virtual network operator (MVNO) in Nigeria has made another history by announcing the successful completion of interconnectivity with all major Mobile Network Operators (MNOs) in Nigeria.
Kenneth Nwabueze, Chairman and CEO of Vitel Wireless
Recall that Vitel Wireless, became the first Mobile Virtual Network Operator to receive a dedicated number series (0712) from the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC).
This breakthrough enables Vitel Wireless subscribers to make and receive calls with users on MTN Nigeria, Airtel Nigeria, Globacom (Glo), and 9mobile Nigeria.
It also marks the first time an MVNO in the country has successfully interconnected with all the major MNOs, setting a new precedent for Nigeria’s telecom sector.
Following the NCC’s licensing of 46 MVNOs, Vitel Wireless continues to lead the way in establishing a dynamic MVNO sector in Nigeria—Africa’s largest market and most populous nation.
The company has already achieved several historic firsts: the first MVNO issued a numbering plan and national and international routing codes, the first to launch a location awareness network in Africa, and the first to unveil a strategic nationwide rollout plan.
“We are gathering momentum for our big launch,” said Kenneth Emeka Nwabueze, chairman and CEO of Vitel Wireless.
“We are proud to be showing what’s possible for MVNOs, while also creating a path for others to follow. By leveraging our years of experience in Nigeria’s telecom industry, we are opening up new possibilities where there used to be none.”
Interconnectivity was achieved through a combination of direct fiber connections with some MNOs and indirect routing via third-party providers.
This milestone was the result of a collaborative effort involving engineers from Vitel Wireless, Wireless Technology Labs (WTL), and Interconnect Clearinghouse Nigeria (ICN), working closely with engineers from MTN, Airtel, Glo, and 9mobile.
“We wish to thank the regulatory agency, the Nigerian Communications Commission, for their timely interventions and guidance, which were instrumental in achieving this interconnectivity and bringing the formal launch of the Vitel Wireless nationwide network one step closer to reality,” said Nwabueze.
The company entered a nationwide pilot phase in May 2025, with plans for a full rollout in July 2025, aiming to deliver next-generation mobile services to millions across Nigeria.
Layer3 Limited, One of Nigeria’s foremost ICT solutions providers, has once again solidified its place as a trailblazer in Africa’s technology landscape, emerging as the Enterprise Solutions Provider of the Year and Leadership Award in Cloud Services at the prestigious African Beacon of ICT Leadership and Awards held on May 24, 2025, at the Four Points by Sheraton, Lagos.
This year’s event brought together leading tech innovators, policymakers, and thought leaders to recognize organizations making extraordinary contributions to Africa’s digital transformation.
Among the many luminaries in attendance, Layer3 stood out for its 19+ years of consistent innovation, technical excellence, and client-centered service delivery.
Speaking at the event, the organizers praised Layer3’s pioneering work in delivering robust enterprise solutions across sectors, as well as its bold leadership in advancing cloud infrastructure and services across Nigeria and beyond.
“These awards are more than recognitions, they are a reminder of the fulfilment to our mission to deliver peace of mind to our customers,” said David Ita, the Head of Strategy and Business Development of Layer3.
“They speak to the impact we’ve made and the promise we hold for the future of the cloud and enterprise technology business in Africa. We dedicate this honor to our clients, partners, and the hardworking Layer3 team who continue to redefine excellence every day.”
Since its founding, Layer3 has championed a future-forward approach to ICT services offering cutting-edge solutions in enterprise networking, cybersecurity, broadband, cloud computing, managed services, and IT advisory. The company’s Layer3Cloud platform and managed service offerings continue to power the digital ambitions of Nigeria’s leading businesses.
These accolades underscore Layer3’s unwavering commitment to driving transformation and supporting digital economies through smart, secure, and scalable technology.
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