Telecom
Made in Nigeria Phones Ready in November-PAPDAN
Plans have reached very advanced stage to launch two new Made-in-Nigeria mobile phone brands into the nation’s booming telephony market later this year, the Phone and Allied Products Dealers Association (PAPDAN) has disclosed.
Godfrey Iyke Nwosu, president of PAPDAN, who disclosed the plan, said that the Made in Nigeria phone brands is the outcome of a joint venture among 20 Nigerian investors who have pooled resources to introduce devices that will cater to local market needs.
The two new phone brands will be called iQ and MaxTel said Nwosu, who made this disclosure at the inaugural edition of the monthly Technopreneurship Breakfast Meeting hosted by TECHNOLOGY TIMES for business leaders and SMBs in Lagos.
Nwosu said that PAPDAN has identified a growing appetite for cutting-edge technologies among Nigerian telecoms consumers also says that two Nigerian brands will cater to three market segments in the feature, medium and smart phone segments to offer choice to consumers.
The President of PAPDAN, a group representing the interest of phone dealers in Ikeja Computer Village, the nation’s largest market cluster for technology products ad services, says that its membership today counts over 3000 businesses.
Members of PAPDAN occupy a crucial place in the retail end of the tech market, as they sell in excess of two million units of phones and allied devices monthly into Nigeria and several economies across West Africa, Nwosu said.
The Nigerian telecommunications industry is a booming market for diverse handsets and devices range catering for mobile phone users numbering as the industry grew into 120 million active lines as at July 2013, according to the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), the industry regulator.
The PAPDAN President also told attendees at the event that included major business leaders, CEOs of businesses in Ikeja Computer Village, key market association including the leadership of Computers and Allied Products Dealers Association (CAPDAN), PAPDAN, NACET, among others that the planned introduction of the new phones will provide home-grown solutions for the Nigerian technology market.
Earlier in a thought leadership keynote presentation, Tomi Davies, acclaimed Futurist and CEO of Technovision, urged the market leaders to be mindful of the fast pace of technology and its impact on their businesses.
According to him, more than 60 per cent of their customers today form part of the 60 per cent of the population who fall below the age bracket of 24.
Miniaturisation, which is one of the key trends driving the evolving technology industry, will define the choice that these new consumers will make and their businesses must continuously adapt to these changes.
Also commenting at the event, Ganiyu Alimi, chairman, Board of Trustees of the Computers and Allied Products dealers Association of Nigeria (CAPDAN), the influential umbrella body for businesses in Ikeja Computer Village, commended Technology Times for creating a platform to promote the key technology market.
“We must strategise and begin to think about what products we must target to these changing population because we don’t want to be left out”, the CAPDAN BOT Chairman added in response to the changing demographics of the today’s customers.
“Our industry is a vibrant one and we should position ourselves so that we can be relevant every time”, he told business leaders and key market associations from Ikeja Computer Village that attended the Monthly meeting.
Shina Badaru, founder of Technology Times, told attendees that the initiative is part of the drive by the news and information hub on the Nigerian ICT sector to promote new platforms that will further open up local technology businesses to an increasingly dynamic market in Nigeria, Africa and beyond.
According to him, Technology Times is working with CAPDAN, PAPDAN, among other key groups on a new online trading platform that aggregates over 10,000 businesses in Ikeja Computer Village.
The trading will be launched by Q4 2013.
“Our vision is to enable all businesses in Ikeja Computer Village to be able to leverage new platforms opened by technology to expand their business into a new and truly borderless market that enables them trade efficiently, productively and profitably”, Badaru added.
MTN Nigeria, in collaboration with ONErpm and Ultima Studios, has announced Ayodeji Benson, popularly known as Ayo Benzi, as the winner of the maiden edition of the Next Afrobeats Star reality show.
L-R: Onyinye Ikenna-Emeka, Chief Marketing Officer, MTN Nigeria; Ayodeji Benson, Winner, Next Afrobeats Star Reality Show (Season 1) and Emamoke Ogoro, General Manager, Brand and Communication, MTN Nigeria, at the grand finale of the Next Afrobeats Star Reality Show (Season 1), held at the Ultima Studios, Lekki, Lagos on Saturday, December 13, 2025.
The grand finale, held on Sunday night at Ultima Studios in Lekki, Lagos, marked the climax of a nationwide talent search that began in September with over 15,000 aspiring musicians.
After weeks of auditions, mentorship, and rigorous training, five finalists – Ayo Benzi, Dave Cash, Kaeko, Somto O’Laker, and Lucky Yay – battled for the top prize in a high-energy showcase of performance and artistry.
At the end of the electrifying contest, Ayo Benzi emerged victorious, securing a ₦150 million music deal. Dave Cash was named first runner-up with ₦100 million, while Kaeko, Somto O’Laker, and Lucky Yay received ₦75 million, ₦50 million, and ₦25 million respectively.
Throughout the season, contestants were mentored by leading Afrobeats producers Sarz, Puffy Tee, P Prime, and Andre Vibez. Benzi, who was part of Puffy Tee’s team, credited the mentorship programme for sharpening his craft and stage presence.
Speaking at the event, Onyinye Ikenna-Emeka, Chief Marketing Officer of MTN Nigeria, said the initiative reflects the company’s commitment to youth empowerment and cultural expression.
“The Next Afrobeats Star platform is about creating real opportunities for young Nigerians and giving their talent the structure, visibility, and support it deserves.
“Afrobeats continues to place Nigeria on the global cultural map, and MTN is proud to be enabling the next generation of artists who will take this sound even further,” she said.
She added that the finale was not just a competition but a celebration of growth and readiness for the global stage.
In his acceptance speech, Ayo Benzi described the victory as a defining moment in his career.
“A big thank you to MTN. From the audition days, the treatment MTN has given us has been amazing. God bless the brand,” he said.
The finale also featured guest performances by Afrobeats stars Iyanya and Bella Shmurda, adding glamour to the night and reinforcing the show’s connection to the wider music ecosystem.
With the successful conclusion of the season, MTN Nigeria and its partners reaffirmed their role in championing youth ambition, supporting creative industries, and shaping the future of Nigerian music through platforms that turn potential into opportunity.
T2, formerly known as 9mobile, is under investigation by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) in Benue State for an undisclosed incident disrupting USSD, SMS, voice, and data services across nine local government areas.
T2
The affected areas include Ado, Agatu, Gwer East, Gwer West, Konshisha, Obi, Ohimini, Okpokwu, and Otukpo, as detailed in an advisory on the NCC Major Outages Portal, which tracks significant disruptions reported by Mobile Network Operators (MNOs) and Internet Service Providers (ISPs).
Neither T2 nor its public relations firm, Chain Reactions, has responded to inquiries on the outage’s cause or restoration efforts as of this report.
The NCC’s continued reference to the operator as 9mobile, months after its public rebranding to T2 in August 2025, has sparked questions about whether the name change was formally notified to the regulator.
This probe aligns with NCC mandates requiring operators to disclose major outages, their impacts, and timelines for fixes, with compensation obligatory for disruptions exceeding 24 hours under the Consumer Code of Practice Regulations.
Industry watchers note that such incidents, often linked to fibre cuts, power failures, or infrastructure faults, underscore ongoing challenges in Nigeria’s telecoms sector, particularly amid T2’s subscriber losses post-rebrand. NCC vows transparency via its portal to hold operators accountable and protect consumers.
Telecom
NCC Unveils Draft 5-Year Spectrum Roadmap, 60 GHz License-Exempt Guidelines to Boost Broadband, Innovation
Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has unveiled two pivotal regulatory draft documents aimed at reshaping Nigeria’s communications sector over the next five years and fast-tracking deployment of ultra-high-speed wireless technologies.
NCC
In a public notice dated December 19, 2025, and issued pursuant to its mandate under the Nigerian Communications Act (NCA) 2003, the Commission published the Draft 5-Year Spectrum Roadmap for the Communications Sector (2025–2030) and Draft Guidelines for the Use of the 60 GHz License-Exempt Band for Multi-Gigabit Wireless Systems.
Both documents are accessible on the NCC website for stakeholder review, with the roadmap outlining strategic spectrum planning, allocation, and management to optimise utilisation, support emerging technologies like 5G and IoT, expand broadband access, and align with global best practices.
The Spectrum Roadmap emphasises four core pillars: bridging the digital divide through low-band spectrum and satellite services, attracting investments via flexible licensing models, enhancing service quality with mid-band optimisation, and fostering innovation in areas such as direct-to-device connectivity and secondary spectrum trading.
It sets ambitious targets including universal 4G coverage nationwide, 50 per cent 5G penetration in state capitals, and average broadband speeds of 100 Mbps by 2030, while addressing rising data demand through band refarming and efficient management.
Complementing this, the 60 GHz Guidelines establish a license-exempt framework for the 57–66 GHz band, enabling multi-gigabit speeds up to 10 Gbps for short-range applications like WiGig, fixed wireless access, enterprise connectivity, urban broadband, and backhaul solutions.
The rules mandate NCC type approval for equipment, site registration for outdoor use, and interference mitigation measures, while prohibiting wide-area networks to safeguard primary users.
In line with Section 58 of the NCA 2003, NCC invites comments from industry operators, equipment manufacturers, consumer groups, and the public, with submissions due by Friday, January 16, 2025, via email to [email protected], [email protected], and [email protected].
The notice, signed by Mrs Nnenna Ukoha, Head of Public Affairs, stresses that stakeholder inputs will refine the frameworks to drive innovation, investment, competition, and sustainable growth in Nigeria’s telecoms ecosystem.
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