Telecom
GSMA Launches Mobile Enabled Community Services Programme

GSMA has launched Mobile Enabled Community Services (MECS) programme, which leverages mobile technology and infrastructure to help improve access to basic energy and water services in underserved communities.
The new programme is supported by a £4.1million grant from the UK Government’s Department for International Development (DFID), which works to alleviate global poverty by delivering UK aid around the world.
Currently 1.3 billion people, nearly 20 per cent of the world’s population, are without access to energy and 783 million people, 10 per cent of world’s population, do not have access to ‘improved’ water resources.
This gap is due to challenges such as last mile distribution, operation and maintenance capabilities and costs, and payment ability and collection.
MECS will facilitate access to affordable and reliable energy and clean water, which is vital for health and wellbeing and can also help reduce poverty and drive economic growth.
“More than 3.4 million people die each year from water, sanitation and hygiene-related causes according to the WHO,” said Chris Locke, managing director, GSMA Mobile for Development
“Mobile penetration in the developing world has risen exponentially in the last decade; for instance, in Africa, we estimate that mobile will reach 76 per cent of the population by 2014. Through mobile technology, we will be able to support and improve the provision and maintenance of energy and water services, providing a critical resource to underserved communities.”
The DFID grant will back a two-year programme within MECS, which will be implemented by the GSMA’s Mobile for Development division, to support the creation of new, innovative mobile-enabled technologies and business models to improve access to energy and water services. DFID and the GSMA will also launch a Challenge Fund open to the mobile industry, start-ups, academia and the not-for-profit sector, which will provide seed funding to companies for research to identify and develop pioneering solutions to overcome the challenges and obstacles to community service provision.
Mobile technology and infrastructure are already being used to improve access to energy and water through product distribution via existing channels, pay-as-you-go financing via mobile payments, and remote activation, monitoring and data collection.
“The GSMA has proven experience in bringing together mobile operators, energy service companies, community service provider, the development community and other key stakeholders to; foster partnerships; gather and share knowledge.
Through the MECS Programme and Challenge Fund the GSMA will help to accelerate the development of commercial mobile services for underserved people in emerging markets,” continued Locke.
Telecom
NIMC Migrates Telcos to NINAUTH Platform

National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) has announced the successful migration of all Telecommunications firms to the new National Identification Number (NIN) verification platform (NINAuth).
According to Dr Kayode Adegoke, head, corporate communications, NIMC, the migration marked a significant step forward in enhancing the security, efficiency, and user experience of NIN verification services.
Adegoke said in a statement that the NINAuth platform, designed and implemented by NIMC, offers seamless verification services to Nigerians.
He described it as a more convenient and secure way to verify citizens identities.
” By migrating to this new platform, Telecommunications firms can now provide uninterrupted verification services to their subscribers.
“This achievement is a result of NIMC’s painstaking efforts to put the power to control NIN data in the hands of the holders.
“The NINAuth platform enhances data protection, gives control of personal data to the owners, offers seamless verification, and provides convenient sign-on access to services,” Adegoke said.
He quoted Lanre Yusuf, director, IT/IDD, NIMC, as confirming that all telecommunications firms have been successfully migrated and uninterrupted verification services are being offered by the Commission.
While the Commission assured that the Verification and Authentication Service platforms are functional and accessible to all , it however, said any issue being experienced by NIN holders on New SIM registration, SIM swap, SIM migration, Welcome back SIM, and others should be directed to the Telcos for resolution.
Telecom
Aliyu Aboki, WATRA Executive Secretary Champions Regulatory Harmonisation to Unlock West Africa’s Digital Economy

Mr. Aliyu Yusuf Aboki, executive secretary of the West Africa Telecommunications Regulators Assembly (WATRA), has reaffirmed the Assembly’s commitment to -promoting a harmonised digital policy and regulatory environment across West Africa—stating that consistent, coordinated regulation is key to unlocking investment, innovation, and growth in the region’s digital economy.
Speaking at the opening of the third meeting of WATRA’s Working Groups in Accra, Ghana, Mr. Aboki emphasised that a harmonised regulatory space would turn West Africa into a coherent, unified digital market attractive to global and regional investors.
“WATRA is not just facilitating dialogue—we are laying the foundation for a seamless regional market where innovation and investment can thrive,” said Mr. Aboki. “This meeting in Accra reflects our collective determination to build regulatory infrastructure that enables inclusion, trust, and scale.”
Hosted by Ghana’s National Communications Authority (NCA), the four-day high-level session brings together telecom regulators, private sector leaders, development partners, and digital policy experts to share knowledge and experiences and develop recommendations that will refine regional frameworks in three key areas: consumer experience, infrastructure development, and cybersecurity.
Why Harmonisation Creates a Larger Market
The ECOWAS region—home to over 400 million people—has immense potential as a single digital market. Yet divergent national regulations have led to fragmented investment environments, increased compliance costs, and inefficiencies in service delivery.
By aligning rules and standards across borders, harmonisation expands the effective size of the market available to telecom operators, fintechs, digital platforms, and infrastructure investors. Instead of dealing with 16 different licensing regimes, spectrum policies, or consumer regulations, companies can scale more efficiently across the region—reducing costs and risks while increasing innovation and competition.
“Regulatory harmonisation transforms fragmented national markets into one larger, more investable region,” Mr. Aboki explained. “It’s the gateway to building regional tech champions, improving affordability for consumers, and fostering resilient digital systems.”
Why the Working Groups Matter
WATRA’s Working Groups—on Consumer Access and Experience, Infrastructure Development, and Cybersecurity—are the Assembly’s strategic engines for technical cooperation and reform. Under Mr. Aboki’s leadership, they are designing regional frameworks that serve as models for national implementation.
- Consumer Access and Experience: Enhancing consumer trust and fair service standards increases uptake of digital services and drives inclusive digital participation.
- Infrastructure Development: Harmonised infrastructure policies—especially around spectrum allocation, satellite communications and sub-sea and terrestrial optical fibre—attract investment in broadband, towers, and regional connectivity.
- Cybersecurity: Establishing regional cyber standards is critical to protecting users, safeguarding cross-border digital trade, and ensuring investor confidence.
“The Working Groups produce actionable, home-grown solutions that regulators can adapt to national contexts,” Mr. Aboki said. “They are where vision meets implementation.”
A Sector of Strategic Importance
West Africa’s telecommunications industry is a cornerstone of the region’s economic development. With over 250 million mobile subscribers, more than 120 million internet users, and nearly 15% of Nigeria’s GDP coming from ICT, the sector plays a transformative role in commerce, education, governance, and job creation.
Yet, the absence of harmonised rules continues to impede regional scale. Mr. Aboki stressed that the creation of a Single Digital Market in West Africa could unlock billions of dollars in annual value, supporting seamless mobile roaming, digital financial inclusion, cross-border e-commerce, and regional cloud infrastructure.
A Vision for Regional Digital Transformation
The Accra meeting will finalise recommendations and technical outputs for validation and adoption at WATRA’s next Conference of Regulators. These outcomes are expected to serve as shared regional standards—improving regulatory consistency while respecting each country’s unique context.
Ghana’s Acting Director-General of the NCA, Edmund Yirenkyi Fianko, expressed support for the harmonisation effort, citing Ghana’s leadership in ECOWAS free roaming and regional cybersecurity frameworks.
Aliyu Aboki’s Strategic Leadership
Since taking office, Mr. Aboki has steered WATRA into a new era of proactive, consensus-driven regional leadership. His efforts are helping to position the Assembly as a continental thought leader in telecom and digital regulation—bridging national priorities with a unified regional vision.
“Regulation should be an accelerator of innovation, not a barrier,” Mr. Aboki concluded. “Through harmonisation, we can build a larger, safer, and more inclusive market that delivers real benefits to citizens, investors, and governments alike.”
Telecom
NCC and Attorneys-General Forge Powerful Alliance to Accelerate Nigeria’s Digital Transformation

Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has officially inaugurated its first-ever Annual Workshop for Attorneys-General, convening top legal officers from across Nigeria to strengthen regulatory collaboration and drive the nation’s digital agenda forward.

L-R: Head, Legal & Regulatory Services, Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Chizua Whyte; Chairman, Presidential Fiscal Policy and Tax Reforms Committee, Taiwo Oyedele; Attorney General of Lagos State, Lawal Pedro, SAN; Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, SAN; Executive Vice Chairman/Chief Executive Officer, NCC, Dr Aminu Maida; and Executive Commissioner, Stakeholder Management, NCC, Barr. Rimini Makama, during the 1st edition of a two-day Annual Workshop for Attorneys General on Emerging Issues in the Communications Industry, hosted by the Commission which started in Lagos on Wednesday, July 30, 2025.
Opening the workshop at the Sheraton Hotel in Ikeja, Dr. Aminu Maida, Executive Vice Chairman/CEO of the NCC, emphasized the urgent need for strategic partnerships between the legal community and regulatory authorities.
“Collaboration is not optional—it is essential,” said Dr. Maida.
The workshop aims to catalyze reforms in the outdated Nigerian Communications Act of 2003, aligning regulatory frameworks with cutting-edge technologies and evolving consumer needs. Areas of focus include artificial intelligence governance, 5G infrastructure rollout, and stronger data protection protocols.
Delivering the keynote address, Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Chief Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, praised the NCC for initiating this impactful dialogue. He underscored the importance of legal clarity and enforcement in combating obstacles such as fragmented taxation, overlapping regulatory mandates, and infrastructure vandalism.
Citing notable setbacks—including the 2023 vandalism of base stations in Kano and the tax conflicts in Ogun State—Chief Fagbemi described these incidents as economic sabotage and called for unified legal responses.
He also spotlighted Anambra State’s Right-of-Way policy, which led to a 38% increase in fibre optic deployment, urging other states to emulate such progressive approaches.
A pivotal highlight of the workshop was the reaffirmation of telecom networks as Critical National Information Infrastructure (CNII), officially designated under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s 2024 Executive Order. This new status demands heightened protection and robust legal support.
The NCC announced that the workshop will become an annual platform for cross-governmental collaboration on emerging digital challenges, including cybersecurity, sustainable connectivity, consumer rights, and regulatory innovation.
As Nigeria positions itself at the forefront of Africa’s digital revolution, this unified effort by regulators and legal stakeholders marks a bold step in shaping an inclusive, resilient, and future-ready communications landscape.
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