Telecom
Future of Telecom is 3G – Qualcomm
Nigeria’s four major mobile operators have been advised to invest more in the 3G technology space to drive further growth, seeing that voice is gradually getting saturated.
Alex Dadson, senior director, Business Development (West Africa), of Qualcomm noted that deploying more 2G networks at this stage of telecom development in the country does not make economic sense.
“The future of telecom is in data and in this sphere; we have seen the gradual migration and adoption of 3G technology by all the operators, which is a good development. But there is also a trend of first implementing 2G network infrastructure before migrating to 3G by some operators. I think that doesn’t really make economic sense,” said Dadson.
He noted that although Nigeria still lags behind South Africa, Egypt and Morocco in terms of data traffic in the continent, migration to the 3G infrastructure will greatly enhance data intake in the country and facilitate business-to-business transactions.
On the continued failing quality of service (QoS) by operators in the Nigerian market space, Dadson noted that Qualcomm has the technology to help operators implement seamless services.
“We do have the technology to drive high quality of service in the country. Qualcomm is a solution provision company, but you have sought our services,” he stated.
Dadson also noted that the continued failure of code division multiple access (CDMA), operators in the country is not a failure of technology, but rather a failure of ‘failed business module application.’
He stated further that they would only do well if they invest in the right technology. “If you don’t spend money, you don’t make money.”
Citing American operator Verizon Wireless, as a standard example of a successful CDMA operator that rules the North American market,
Dadson stated that Nigerian CDMA operators need to invest more in infrastructure and remodel their businesses not be in competition with GSM networks.
“First, they would need to redefine what business model they (CDMA operators) want to adopt. It could be as simple as what services do people and businesses in Lagos prefer and you go ahead to meet the needs of the people and businesses in Lagos. If your services are not meeting needs of the people, there is no way you would stay afloat in business,” he stated.
Looking ahead five years into the Nigerian mobile market, Dadson said: “Smartphones and other devices like tablets will drive 3G penetration and adoption. There is already a convergence of the PC and smartphones/mobile devices, so more people prefer their tablets or smartphones since they could still meet their office demands on the go. The future is in smartphones.”
Qualcomm is also implementing what it calls the Qualcomm Reference Design (QRD), a corporate social investment drive aimed at increasing youth app innovation in the region.
“What we do with the QRD is to fund projects that enable ICT education, innovation and research. This way, we try to encourage innovation among young graduates and budding entrepreneurs to increase their intellectual capabilities. We want to encourage these young persons and promote adoption of smartphones in designs. It is also a vehicle to encourage local app development,” he stated.
Lynda Saint-Nwafor, chief Enterprise business officer, MTN Nigeria, has assured the network subscribers that the new end-user billing system for the use of USSD services will jot affect them.
USSD, otherwise Unstructured Supplementary Service Data codes are commonly used for banking transactions, airtime recharges, and other mobile services.
The telco said that there is no significant impact or change other than the fact that they will now pay the same N6.98 per session (120 seconds) with their airtime instead of direct bank debit.
Saint-Nwafor, said this during a chat with MTN MIP fellows, explaining that the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) have ordered telecom operators to ensure that the new billing model resolves trust issues and ensures transparency in the billing process.
“Our regulator insisted that at the end of every month, we are going to be providing history and statistics on the performance of the service across the board”, she explained.
Saint-Nwafor added that the new billing model has standardized messaging across all operators and ensures consistent communication with customers.
“We will take all the error codes and map them into messages that are standardised across the board. So, if you initiate a transaction, you will know if it is failing. And, when the transaction fails, you will know if it is from your bank or the telco,” she explained.
The U.S. government has recovered $225 million in what is now the largest seizure of funds linked to a cryptocurrency investment scam.
In a statement released Wednesday, June 18, the U.S. Attorney’s Office said the recovery followed an extensive investigation by the FBI and the U.S. Secret Service, using blockchain analysis and other forensic tools. The statement did not confirm whether any arrests had been made.
According to the authorities, the stolen funds originated from fraudulent cryptocurrency investment schemes that tricked victims into believing they were making legitimate investments. More than 400 individuals around the world, including dozens in the United States, were reportedly affected.
The operation involved a sophisticated money laundering network that carried out hundreds of thousands of blockchain transactions to obscure the source and ownership of the stolen assets.
“These scams prey on trust, often resulting in extreme financial hardship for the victims,” said Shawn Bradstreet, Special Agent in Charge at the U.S. Secret Service office in San Francisco.
Bradstreet added that U.S. officials hope the recovered funds can eventually be returned to the rightful victims.
Cryptocurrency investment fraud accounted for over $5.8 billion in reported losses in 2024 alone, according to the statement.
In a rousing declaration that is electrifying minds across the continent, Hon. Nnaemeka Ani, Special Adviser on ICT to Enugu State Governor, Dr. Peter Mbah, has called for a homegrown digital revolution under the banner “Africa Will Rise: By Code, By Courage, By Us.”
Hon. Nnaemeka Ani
The message, part challenge, part philosophical—seeks to galvanize African innovators to move beyond buzzwords and build technology with impact and legacy in mind.
“Let’s stop building for hype. Let’s start building for legacy,” Ani urged while speaking to ICT journalists over the weekend. “Let’s stop waiting for someone else. Let’s start creating the future—on our own terms.”
At the heart of Ani’s vision is a shift from tech consumerism to tech authorship. With innovation hubs sprouting across cities like Enugu, Lagos, Kigali, Jo’Burg, and Nairobi, and a growing community of developers, engineers, and entrepreneurs determined to solve Africa’s unique challenges, the movement is already taking shape.
Ani emphasized that Africa’s future lies not in flashy apps or international admiration but in persistent, intentional solutions that uplift communities—solutions that digitize public services, bridge rural-urban divides, empower women and youth, and build resilience in food and climate systems.
“We have the talent,” he said. “Now it’s time to harness it—to stop building for likes and start building for lasting impact.”
With support from leaders like Ani and rising momentum in Africa’s tech corridors, it seems that a new chapter is being written—one line of code at a time.
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