Telecom
Legend Internet, Spectranet in Merger Talks
Legend Internet Plc, an internet service provider, plans to merge with Spectranet, Nigeria’s largest ISP by subscribers, in a deal that signals a new wave of consolidation as competition intensifies in the broadband space.
The proposed transaction, disclosed in a regulatory filing to the Nigerian Exchange (NGX) on Monday, will see both companies combine their businesses under a unified corporate structure.
The deal is pending approval from the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) and the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), with completion targeted for Q2 2026.
The merger brings together two players that have long competed for the same urban broadband customers and signals that Nigeria’s internet service provider market may be entering a consolidation phase.
With infrastructure costs rising, spectrum constraints tightening, and competition intensifying from MTN and Airtel’s home broadband arms, mid-tier ISPs face growing pressure to scale or get squeezed.
Legend’s board, which approved the transaction in October 2025 before shareholders ratified it in November, framed the deal in terms of network capacity and operational efficiency.
“The proposed merger aligns with Legend’s long-term strategy to expand broadband infrastructure and strengthen its position within Nigeria’s telecommunications sector,” Legend said in the filing.
“The Transaction is expected to deliver significant strategic and financial benefits, including enhanced network capacity through the integration of fibre and wireless infrastructure, improved operational efficiency, and expanded coverage across key urban markets.”
The combined entity would inherit Spectranet’s established brand recognition among home and SME broadband users alongside Legend’s listed status and infrastructure footprint.
The filing did not disclose the financial terms of the transaction, including the valuation or the structure of the share arrangement.
The deal also reflects broader shifts in Nigeria’s ISP market, where scale, network quality, and capital investment are becoming critical to survival. By merging with Spectranet,
Legend is betting that consolidation can deliver the scale needed to compete more aggressively.
Spectranet, once a dominant force in Nigeria’s fixed wireless segment, enters the merger from a position of relative weakness. In 2025, its active subscriber base fell below 100,000 for the first time since the NCC began publishing ISP data. The company lost 3,732 users in the second quarter alone, marking its second consecutive quarterly decline.
That drop came amid intensifying competition from newer entrants and alternative technologies. Satellite internet provider Starlink, for instance, has recorded rapid growth, increasing its subscriber base significantly over the same period. Fibre-focused players like FibreOne are also expanding, putting additional pressure on legacy wireless operators.
Despite these challenges, Spectranet remains a significant player. As of late 2024, it controlled about 47.3% of Nigeria’s wireless ISP market and remained the largest ISP by subscriber count as of mid-2025. However, its lead has been narrowing, underscoring the urgency of strategic repositioning.
For Legend Internet, the merger could provide a faster route to scale than organic growth alone. The company, which listed on the NGX in April 2025 through a listing by introduction, has seen a volatile stock performance.
After debuting at ₦5.64 per share and climbing to a high of ₦10.35 in May 2025, the stock fell to a low of ₦4.30 in September before beginning a recovery. As of March 23, 2026, Legend’s shares trade at around ₦6.00, giving it a market capitalisation of approximately ₦12 billion. The stock has gained about 13.4% year-to-date, suggesting a modest return of investor confidence following its post-listing swings.
Google has launched its Search Live feature globally to over 200 countries, including Nigeria, where AI Mode is available, enabling voice-and-camera conversations in users’ preferred languages.
Powered by the new multilingual Gemini 3.1 Flash Live model, it delivers natural, real-time interactions via the Google app on Android or iOS—tap the Live icon under the Search bar.
Ideal for hands-free help, users can speak queries for audio replies, follow-ups, or web links. Camera integration adds visual context, like troubleshooting a shelving unit, or pairs with Google Lens for real-world chats.
From the app or Lens, Nigerians can now explore, learn, or solve tasks instantly, boosting everyday productivity worldwide.
Clean and reliable power for telecom networks in Ethiopia, Liberia, and Sierra Leone will be expanded following a $45 million investment by the International Finance Corporation (IFC) in IPT PowerTech.
The investment targets countries where limited power supply continues to slow digital connectivity and broader economic participation, the institution stated earlier this week.
To enable this expansion, the IFC is providing a $45 million corporate financing package consisting of an A-loan of $27 million and $18 million in blended finance.
The blended portion is sourced from the Canada-IFC Blended Climate Finance Programme and the IDA20 Private Sector Window Blended Finance Facility.
The initiative marks the IFC’s first direct infrastructure engagement in Liberia in a decade and in Sierra Leone in six years.
It will help scale solar- and battery-based power systems that reduce reliance on diesel and support greener, more resilient telecom networks.
By improving the quality and stability of power to telecom towers, the initiative will strengthen mobile coverage and ensure that households, schools, health centres, and small businesses can depend on consistent digital services, said the IFC.
The funding supports the modernisation, operation, and maintenance of 2 235 telecom sites across the three nations. More than 90% of these are located in off-grid or weak-grid locations.
With new solar and battery systems powering these sites, mobile networks will experience fewer outages and improved service quality.
Optimising the energy mix is estimated to reduce power costs for operators by up to 30% in Liberia, 26% in Sierra Leone, and 52% in Ethiopia.
This transition is also expected to cut emissions by more than 10 624 tonnes of carbon dioxide annually. Furthermore, the partnership will promote gender inclusion by expanding opportunities for women in technical, operational, and leadership roles within the sector, says the IFC.
This agreement reflects a shared vision for a greener telecom industry and empowers the company to scale its innovative energy platforms, according to Nabil Haddad, CEO of IPT PowerTech Group.
Reliable and affordable power for telecom networks is a cornerstone of Africa’s digital transformation, said Nathalie Kouassi-Akon, IFC regional director for West Africa and the Gulf of Guinea.
Through this partnership, the institution is supporting a scalable, private sector-led solution that enables mobile operators to reach underserved and fragile communities more sustainably, added Kouassi-Akon.
The project advances the World Bank Group and African Development Bank’s Mission 300 initiative, which aims to provide electricity to 300 million Africans by 2030.
Expedier has unveiled “Expedier for Business,” an online pro-banking platform to simplify global payments, multi-currency transactions, and financial operations for expanding companies.
Kingsley Madu
The tool centralizes payments, invoicing, payroll, and treasury into one secure dashboard, tackling challenges like fragmented systems and poor visibility that hinder international scaling.
Kingsley Madu, Co-Founder and CEO of Expedier, said: “African businesses are increasingly global… Expedier for Business was built to simplify how companies manage money across borders while maintaining visibility, control, and compliance.”
Key features include customizable dashboards for payments, invoices, and workflows; support for USD, CAD, GBP, EUR, and more; virtual cards; automated payroll/invoicing; currency swaps; and real-time tracking.
Security measures cover two-factor authentication, KYC/KYB verification, and team access controls.
As cross-border trade and remote work boom in Africa, the platform aids firms dealing with international suppliers, teams, and customers. It is now available for organizations scaling globally.
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