Telecom
NCC Rallies Stakeholder Support to Protect Telecom Infrastructure
Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has reiterated its commitment to the full operationalisation of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Executive Order on Critical National Information Infrastructure (CNII), which designates telecommunications facilities as critical national assets deserving optimal protection.
This comes on the heels of a successful mediation led by the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA), in collaboration with the Commission, which resulted in the suspension of a planned strike by the Natural Oil and Gas Suppliers Association of Nigeria (NOGASA).
The strike, if carried out, would have disrupted the supply of diesel to telecommunications sites nationwide, severely affecting network operators’ ability to power their diesel-driven generators and maintain uninterrupted connectivity.
In the days leading up to the resolution, the ONSA, under the leadership of the National Security Adviser (NSA), Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, held strategic engagements with NOGASA’s leadership, with the Commission providing technical and regulatory guidance to highlight the potential implications of service disruptions on national security, the economy, and everyday life.
The discussions culminated in an agreement to call off the industrial action, averting what could have been a nationwide disruption of telecom services.
“Telecommunications infrastructure is the backbone of our connectivity and digital economy. Any disruption, whether through vandalism, accidental damage during construction work, theft of equipment, denial of access to maintenance teams, or interruptions in the supply of essential operational materials, has far-reaching implications for service delivery, economic stability, and national security,” the NSA said.
The Commission expressed appreciation to the ONSA for its leadership and dedication to protecting national assets and commended the maturity and understanding demonstrated by relevant stakeholders in recognising the national importance of telecommunications services.
Commenting on the development, the Executive Vice Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of the Commission, Dr. Aminu Maida, stated: “We will continue to enforce strict compliance by our licensees with technical standards for the deployment and maintenance of telecommunications infrastructure, while working closely with relevant stakeholders to strengthen awareness and cooperation on their protection.
“We also recognise mediation as an effective tool for building consensus among stakeholders. This resolution underscores the importance of dialogue in preventing avoidable service disruptions. Ultimately, we call on all Nigerians to regard telecom infrastructure as a shared national asset, one that underpins our ability to connect with loved ones, transact businesses, access healthcare, pursue education, and participate in the global digital economy.”
The Commission reaffirmed that it would continue to coordinate with security agencies, industry stakeholders, and the public to ensure that Nigeria’s telecommunications infrastructure remains protected, resilient, and reliable for all.
Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has thrown its weight behind the upcoming Telecom Sector Sustainability Forum (TSSF 7.0), confirming its role as the headline keynote speaker for the Lagos event.
Over the years, the Telecoms Sector Sustainability Forum (TSSF) has evolved into a landmark industry convergence platform and an actionable catalyst for policy alignment, driving critical dialogue around the regulatory, economic, and infrastructural frameworks required to sustain Nigeria’s digital economy.
Taking place on 16th September, 2026, at the Radisson Blu Hotel, Ikeja, Lagos State, the seventh edition of the Telecoms Sector Sustainability Forum (TSSF 7.0), organised under the aegis of Business Remarks, will bring together key stakeholders driving the next phase of Nigeria’s telecommunications and digital growth.
Themed “Rethinking Nigeria’s Digital Infrastructure Strategy to Attract Investment and Drive Innovation”, TSSF 7.0 will address some of the sector’s most pressing priorities, such as policies, digital infrastructure expansion, digital inclusion, good connectivity, partnerships and investments needed to accelerate Nigeria’s next wave of innovations, digital transformation and economic growth.
Organised by Business Remarks, the forum has consistently brought together policymakers, mobile network operators (MNOs), infrastructure providers, data centre operators, policy advocates and financial technology stakeholders to dissect the pressing challenges facing the telecommunications ecosystem and chart a sustainable path forward.
Past editions have successfully addressed pivotal industry shifts, ranging from broadband penetration strategies, human capital flight, mobile virtual network operators (MVNOs) sustainability and infrastructure deficit funding to the operational integration of emerging technologies. By providing a neutral, high-level platform where regulators like the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) can interface directly with private sector players, the forum plays a vital role in ensuring that regulatory frameworks evolve in tandem with market realities.
Speaking about the event, the Convener, Bukola Olanrewaju, said the Nigerian telecoms sector investment has grown to $75.6 billion as of 2025, with a planned investment of over $1.38 billion in network capacity upgrades in 2026 targeted to enhance infrastructure resilience, boost coverage and improve quality of service for subscribers nationwide.
“As the industry faces a new frontier defined by deepening 5G and 4G penetration, expanding fibre optic networks, and complex macroeconomic pressures, the need to meet the growing demands for digital services while remaining profitable has become the defining challenge of the modern telecommunications landscape.”
At a time when investment in connectivity, subsea cables, fibre networks, data centres, cloud infrastructure and cybersecurity is reshaping the country’s digital landscape, TSSF remains a vanguard of thought leadership and industry engagement, fostering the public-private collaborations necessary to safeguard the backbone of Nigeria’s digital transformation.
MTN Nigeria is accelerating investments in network expansion and modernization to address rising demand for mobile and data services across the country.
The operator is deploying additional base stations, upgrading existing infrastructure, and expanding fiber connectivity to improve network capacity, coverage, and service quality.
The investments are designed to support increasing smartphone adoption, higher data consumption, and the growing use of digital services by consumers and businesses.
MTN said the expansion aligns with its long-term strategy to enhance customer experience while strengthening Nigeria’s digital infrastructure.
The company expects the ongoing upgrades to improve connectivity, support economic growth, and enable broader access to reliable telecommunications services as demand for high-speed broadband continues to increase.
Airtel Africa’s CEO, Sunil Taldar, has announced the telco’s commitment to connecting 5,000 schools across its operating countries in Africa to the internet by 2027 through its philanthropic arm, Airtel Africa Foundation, in partnership with the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF).
So far, the $57m partnership, which was launched in 2021, has cumulatively connected 3,296 schools and provided access to over 2 million learners and about 40,000 teachers. 64 digital learning platforms have been zero-rated thereby enabling more than 11m users to access educational content at no cost.
Speaking during a visit to St. Monica’s Girls School in Lusaka, which is one of the 300 schools already connected to the internet in Zambia, the Airtel Africa CEO stated that the initiative is having a profound impact on the quality of education by expanding access to digital learning resources for African children, in collaboration with governments.
Mr Taldar added: “Students are accessing best-in-class education from the curriculum developed by UNICEF in partnership with various Ministries of Education and provided through Airtel’s connectivity.
“We are also training teachers, so that they deliver digital education effectively. We aim to continue deepening meaningful connectivity in schools by providing free internet access, zero‑rated platforms and training teachers across the continent”.
Expressing her appreciation, the Headmistress of St. Monica’s Girls’ School, Sr Matilda Soloko said: “Being among the first schools connected in the initial stage, our learners have been able to study using the learning portal and their studies have been intensified. We remain grateful to Airtel and UNICEF.”
UNICEF’s Country Representative for Zambia, Dr Saja Farooq Abdullah said: “What this partnership has brought is really bridging the equality gap and the digital divide. It is making sure that every child learns wherever they are. It was exciting and interesting to see and hear from the girls how they can learn at their own pace, how they can review the materials, and how they do their homework with comfort.
The Director of Secondary Education in Zambia’s Ministry of Education, Yvonne Mwemba Chuulu lauded UNICEF and Airtel for the partnership saying: “At the Ministry of Education, we cannot do it alone, and we are grateful for the partnership that we have today.
“Our children are able to learn in a blended fashion, where we have a teacher who is also employing digital devices. We have also heard from the learners that they are able to access the portal when they are at home, which is a good thing because our learners continue to learn in the comfort of their homes”.
The School Connection programme is expanding digital learning to learners in 13 countries: Chad, Congo, Democratic Republic of Congo, Gabon, Kenya, Madagascar, Malawi, Niger, Nigeria, Rwanda, Tanzania, Uganda, and Zambia. By equipping these schools with internet connectivity and training teachers on using the digital tools, it is providing children, particularly in underserved and remote regions, with the digital tools and skills they need to thrive.
Airtel Africa Foundation is advancing inclusive development across four strategic pillars, Financial Inclusion, Education, Environmental Sustainability and Digital Inclusion.
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