Telecom
FG Has Final Say on 5G Deployment – NCC
Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) at the weekend said that only the federal government has the final say on the date for the deployment of Fifth Generation (5G) technology in the country.
The Commission also explained that currently, there is an industry-wide consultation on the 5G technology, especially regarding the various myths and controversies surrounding it.
Dr. Ikechukwu Adinde, director of Public Affairs, NCC, disclosed this when he led the Commission’s media team to Rutam House, headquarters of The Guardian Newspapers on a familiarisation visit.
Adinde said the Commission has not concluded plans for the deployment of the 5G network, adding that the Draft Consultation Document for the 5G of deployment in Nigeria has been produced and uploaded on the NCC’s official website.
He explained that this document defines the implementation plan for the deployment of 5G in Nigeria, adding: “it provides a background into the benefits of 5G technology and outlines the Commission’s plans and strategies for a successful implementation of 5G in Nigeria.
It presents guidelines for the relevant areas of the technology and the expectations of the Commission from the operators. This Plan takes into account the expectations of all the stakeholders in the communications industry in Nigeria.”
According to him, 5G trials were held in selected locations within the country in collaboration with an operator in 2019, too, among others, study and observe any health or security challenges the 5G network might present.
Adinde said the Commission also has an ongoing engagement with the academia, while also funding 5G-related researches, to ensure the nation is provided with the best in terms of findings and policy input, to drive the implementation and deployment of the 5G technology.
“These engagements are targeted at enabling the development of robust policies, which will put Nigeria in the best place to contribute maximally to the digital economy drive. The specific targets of these engagements include the development of policies with the potential of accelerating the deployment of 5G networks in Nigeria; maximizing the productivity and efficiency benefits of 5G, creating new opportunities for Nigerian businesses at home and abroad, and encouraging in-country investment, and ensuring the operations of 5G networks are in conformity with international standards,” he stated.
On broadband, Adinde revealed that the efforts of Prof. Umar Danbatta, executive vice chairman of NCC, have deepened penetration, as, within a space of five years, penetration rose from six to 43 per cent as of September.
He said efforts including the introduction of Infrastructure Companies (InfraCo); spectrum trading, spectrum re-farming, among others have been introduced by the Commission to ensure broadband is escalated even to the remotest part of the country.
Also, he noted that NCC’s efforts on Right of Way (RoW) are fast yielding fruits, as some state governors have complied with the N145/linear meter charges, while some have even made it free, to ensure that their states attract investments.
While calling for constructive criticism of the Commission’s activities, Adinde assured that the regulator is working to ensure that consumers get the benefits of telephony service, including impacting their experiences.
To enhance security, he said SIM registration is on-going and is being done in collaboration with the telecoms operators and the Nigeria Identity Management Commission (NIMC), which is expected to issue the National Identity Number (NIN) to subscribers to ensure that it is properly documented.
Telecom
Celebrating African Creativity: Made by Africa, Loved by the World’ Returns for Its Fifth Year
The “Made by Africa, Loved by the World” campaign is back for its fifth year, celebrating African creativity and global influence. This year’s theme, “Where Culture Meets Connection,” highlights how social media fosters conversations around cultural moments worldwide.
The campaign features three cinematic films premiering on the Meta Africa page, showcasing the groundbreaking work and personal stories of six dynamic African creatives.
These artists, from Nigeria, Kenya, Ghana, and South Africa, represent diverse disciplines, including rap, animation, dance, photography, fashion, and videography.
Here are some of the featured talents:
- Ladipoe (Nigeria) – A BET-nominated rapper known for blending global hip-hop with African rhythms.
- Fatboy Animations (Kenya) – An animation studio founded by Michael Muthiga, recognized by Forbes for its original African storytelling.
- Lisa Quama (Ghana) – A dancer who gained fame after appearing in Beyoncé’s “Already” music video.
- Gilbert Asante (Ghana) – A photographer and creative director featured in GQ and Glam Africa.
- David Tlale (South Africa) – A fashion designer whose bold designs have been showcased at major fashion events, including the Met Gala.
- Ofentse Mwase (South Africa) – A filmmaker with over 24 international awards for his unique visual storytelling.
Kezia Anim-Addo, Communications Director for Africa, Middle East & Turkey, emphasized that the campaign not only celebrates individual success stories but also showcases how culture and social media drive meaningful connections and inspiration.
Association of Telecommunications Companies of Nigeria (ATCON), has raised the alarm over a diesel supply crisis caused by an ongoing strike by the National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG).
Mr Tony Emoekpere, president, ATCON in a statement said that the fuel supply disruption is critically affecting telecom base stations, pushing them to the brink of a shutdown and threatening millions of mobile and internet users in the region.
“This strike, which stems from the persistent harassment of tanker and petroleum product drivers by police officers in Lagos State, has effectively halted all truck loading operations and fuel movements,” Emoekpere stated.
He explained that diesel supply to telecom infrastructure has been severely impacted, leaving critical sites with dangerously low fuel levels.
According to him, if urgent measures are not taken, the situation could escalate into a full-blown network blackout, disrupting essential services, including mobile and internet access, business operations, emergency response systems, and daily communications.
ATCON has called on the governors of Lagos and Ogun states to intervene immediately by facilitating the release of diesel from depots to telecom operators to prevent further deterioration of the situation.
“This is not just a telecom issue—it is a national emergency that could cripple economic activities and compromise public safety,” Emoekpere stressed.
The association also appealed to security agencies and petroleum unions to resolve the crisis swiftly to safeguard Nigeria’s connectivity and economic stability.
ATCON emphasised that a prolonged disruption in fuel supply to telecom infrastructure could have far-reaching consequences for both businesses and individuals who rely on stable communication networks for daily operations.
In 2023, Nigerians spent a total of about ₦5.3 trillion on telecommunications services, which includes calls, data, SMS, and other telecom services, according to the Leadership.
Specifically for voice calls, Nigerians made approximately 408.5 billion minutes of local calls, generating around ₦3.28 trillion from outgoing calls and ₦3.23 trillion from incoming calls, totaling about ₦6.51 trillion in call-related revenue according to projections based on 2023 call volumes and tariff data.
However, the ₦5.3 trillion figure represents the overall telecom sector revenue, with voice calls being a major component but also including data and other services.
For individual spending, MTN subscribers spent an average of ₦2,508 monthly on voice calls in 2023, showing a 14.4% increase from 2022, while Airtel customers spent about ₦1,694 monthly on voice calls.
Total telecom spending (calls, data, SMS, etc.): ₦5.3 trillion in 2023
Estimated revenue from voice calls alone: around ₦6.5 trillion based on call minutes and tariffs
Average monthly spending on calls per subscriber: ₦1,694 to ₦2,508 depending on the network
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