Telecom
NCC Says Increased Broadband Penetration Boosts BYOD
The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has again reiterated its drive towards increased broadband penetration in the country.
This was part of Professor Umar Danbatta, NCC executive vice chairman’s goodwill message at the two-day DigitalSENSE Forum Series 2016 held in Lagos during the week, adding that the Commission will not relent on creating enabling environment for competition among operators in the industry as well as ensuring the provision of qualitative and efficient telecommunications services throughout the country.
The EVC represented by Oluwatoyin Asaju, deputy director, Spectrum Admin at NCC, added that increased broadband penetration will lead to more organisations adopting Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) and other flexible approach to work environment.
According to the International Communications Union (ITU), an “increasing number of workers are relying on mobile devices to do their jobs, and smart companies and nations realize that this trend can help them cut costs and boost efficiency”.
To this end, the EVC said in a paper titled, “Internet governance: creating opportunities for all Nigerians: the role of broadband”, was in line with the Commission’s mission “support a market driven Communications industry and promote universal access”.
He said that the future broadband is nonnegotiable, as almost 3 billion people, estimated 40% of the world’s population, are using the internet and two third of the number are from the developing world.
“In developing countries, the number of Internet users will have doubled in 5 years, from 974 million in 2009 to 1.9 billion in 2014. Mobile broadband remains the fastest growing telecommunications market segment, with continuous double-digit growth rates in 2014.
“Mobile broadband is growing fastest in developing countries, where 2013/2014 growth rates were expected to be twice as high as in developed countries (26% compared with 11.5%), according to the ITU”.
All regions continue to show double-digit growth rates but Africa stands out with a growth rate of over 40% – twice as high as the global average.
Meanwhile, mobile-broadband subscription in Nigeria tripled from 30,939,112 subscriber in 2012 to 97,034,843 subscribers as Dec. 2015.
The EVC boosted that Nigeria has met ITU’S broadband target for 2015, especially by establishing a national broadband plan, in which the country sets major broadband target of 30% Broadband Penetration by 2018.
According to him, “This means we will see increase in GDP! More small business will contribute to GDP because, 10% increase in Broadband equals 1.3% increase in GDP!
“We have taken the right steps towards unleashing broadband like, Licensing of infrastructure companies; Auction of 2.6GHZ spectrum; Fiber connectivity of internet exchange points and Determination of whole sale pricing for lease capacity.
“Therefore, with over 107 percent teledensity for voice segment of telecommunications services already achieved in Nigeria, Nigeria remains a sure haven for ICT investments”.
The National Bureau of Statistics recently collaborated Professor Danbatta’s optimism by presenting Nigeria as “Nigeria has one of the largest and fastest growing telecoms market in Africa; Telecommunications constitutes a significant portion of the Nigerian economy. It contributes 8.88% to the nations economy. Telecommunication is the 5th most resilient sector in Nigeria”.
The EVC who commended DigitalSENSE Africa (DSA) Media for the Forum, said, specifically, that mobile broadband is the most dynamic market segment and stands at around 78 active subscriptions per 100 inhabitants in Europe and the Americas.
He added that Africa is the only region where mobile broadband penetration remains below 20%; thus, the Broadband market in Nigeria is huge and ripe as consumers are the major beneficiaries of Broadband availability and services.
“Other opportunities include: satellite services; bandwidth provision; clearing houses gateway services; education and training; consumer rights protection; information services; and opportunities in rural areas.
He however noted that the underlying concept of Universal Service is to ensure that telecommunications services are accessible to the widest number of people (and communities) at affordable Prices.
But, “In spite of the sector’s recorded successes, the industry experiences challenges. Some of these include: poor quality of service caused primarily by network capacity constraints; the lack of physical and transmission infrastructure; scarce spectrum resources; unreliable power supply; disparity in telecommunications facilities between urban and rural areas; shortage of long term investment capital; skill shortages; security challenges; theft; transmission cable cuts. These challenges are opportunities for growth and investment”.
Although the Commission’s strategies have proved successful in stimulating private sector investment and involvement, the Commission welcomes the views of the private sector on how to improve broadband services and more ways to attract additional private sector investment.
He noted that the Commission will continue to promote transparent regulation as an affirmation of the Nigerian telecommunications sector as a safe haven for investors.
He described the Nigerian market as has moved to a fully liberalized market where the law of jungle has been replaced by the law of competition.
“NCC has removed the barriers to market entry and now rely upon natural market forces and technology to ensure market sustainability.”
To this end, the EVC said “We are passionate about facilitating Broadband penetration through provision and optimization of access to and use of affordable fixed and mobile broadband in Nigeria. It will necessarily take time and effort, but at the NCC, we are confident that, from the records of achievement in the past 15years, the goal of 30% Broadband Penetration by 2018 will be achieved very soon. We will not relax until all Nigerian homes, offices, parks and citizens are connected online and until we meet and surpass all ITU standards for broadband penetration. We must include all and exclude none!
Samsung Electronics has laid off hundreds of employees in its United States consumer electronics business as part of a headquarters relocation from New Jersey to Texas, amid mounting pressure on its mobile and home appliance divisions.
The South Korean technology giant said Samsung Electronics America (SEA) would relocate its headquarters to Texas, a move affecting 739 positions in Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey.
The company said most affected employees had been offered relocation packages, while others were laid off.
In Plano, Texas, about 100 employees, including workers in Samsung’s mobile division, were also dismissed, according to a source familiar with the development.
Samsung said the relocation could lead to workforce changes involving employees unable to relocate and the restructuring of certain functions to align with business priorities.
Documents cited by Reuters indicated that affected employees were informed on June 30 of an enterprise-wide workforce reduction that would have a significant impact on staff.
Several employees also disclosed their departures through posts on LinkedIn, including senior sales and marketing executives based in Texas and New Jersey.
The layoffs come despite Samsung’s semiconductor division recording strong growth driven by rising global demand for artificial intelligence (AI) chips.
The company recently projected a 19-fold increase in second-quarter profit, supported by booming AI-related chip sales, and announced plans to invest hundreds of billions of dollars in expanding chip manufacturing.
However, Samsung’s consumer electronics business continues to struggle with higher semiconductor costs and increasing competition.
Its mobile division is expected to record its first-ever operating loss as it faces stiff competition from Apple, while Chinese brands, including TCL and Hisense, continue to gain market share in the television and home appliance segments.
Industry observers say the contrasting performance highlights Samsung’s growing reliance on its semiconductor business as consumer electronics revenues weaken.
Samsung denied reports of a broader global restructuring, insisting there was no company-wide overhaul of its consumer products division.
According to the company, relocating its U.S. headquarters is intended to improve collaboration and strengthen operations within Texas’ expanding technology and AI ecosystem.
Texas has increasingly attracted major technology companies due to its lower taxes and business-friendly environment, with firms such as Tesla and Oracle also relocating significant operations to the state.
Samsung already operates semiconductor manufacturing facilities in Texas, alongside its mobile operations hub in Plano.
As of the end of 2025, Samsung Electronics employed about 11,770 workers across the United States, including staff in its semiconductor business.
Meanwhile, Samsung SDS America, the company’s IT services affiliate, has also notified authorities that 179 positions could be affected by the relocation of its North American headquarters, although Samsung said the move was unrelated to layoffs or corporate restructuring.
Telecom
NCC Urges African Unity Ahead of ITU 2026 Conference, Calls for Stronger Telecom Collaboration
Nigerian Communications Commission has urged African countries to adopt a unified and technically coordinated position ahead of the 2026 International Telecommunication Union Conference, saying stronger regional collaboration is essential for the continent to influence global telecommunications and digital economy policies.
The Executive Vice-Chairman of the NCC, Dr Aminu Maida, made the call on Monday in Abuja while declaring open the African Telecommunications Union Conference Preparatory Committee meeting.
Maida said Africa must strengthen cooperation to shape global telecommunications and digital economy policies, noting that the two-day meeting was expected to produce greater continental alignment ahead of ITU 2026, establish practical collaboration mechanisms between conferences and sustain Africa’s technical participation in ITU processes.
“Preparation is not a procedural step; it is the place where coherence is built,” he said. “Africa must prepare together, work together and arrive at global forums with solutions that are both coherent and technically compliant.”
He said the committee would review the ATU’s activities between 2023 and 2026 and prepare agenda items, resolutions, decisions and recommendations for the 18th Conference of the Union.
According to him, while the forthcoming ATU conference will determine the direction of the continental body, the ITU conference will shape global telecommunications leadership and priorities.
Maida stressed that Africa’s influence at international forums would depend less on the size of its delegations than on the quality of its preparation, the coherence of its positions and consistency in advancing them.
He identified spectrum management, artificial intelligence governance, data protection, universal access, cybersecurity and digital infrastructure development as priority areas requiring stronger collaboration among African countries.
“No administration can address these challenges effectively in isolation. Our regulatory cooperation must therefore become more continuous, more technical and more institutionalised,” he said.
The NCC boss also called for greater support for African experts to participate actively in technical discussions where international standards and frameworks are developed.
“Our objective in Africa is not to resist global standards. It is to help shape standards that are globally sound and sufficiently informed by African realities,” he added.
He commended the leadership of the African Telecommunications Union for strengthening the coordination of Africa’s positions at the ITU and other international platforms.
Maida reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to supporting the ITU process through technical expertise, regulatory experience sharing and peer learning among African administrations.
Earlier, the Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Nadungu Gagare, described the meeting as critical to advancing Africa’s digital transformation agenda.
He said the committee’s recommendations would provide the foundation for decisions at the forthcoming ATU Conference of Plenipotentiaries and expressed confidence that the deliberations would strengthen the union’s capacity to promote inclusive and sustainable digital development across the continent.
“As we navigate an era of rapid technological advancement and digital innovation, the importance of collaboration among member states has never been greater,” Gagare said.
Also speaking, the Secretary-General of the ATU, John Omo, said the Conference Preparatory Committee plays a vital role in processing documents and proposals ahead of the main conference to enable member states to adopt common positions.
Omo disclosed that the union’s membership had increased from 49 to 52 countries, while associate membership had risen from 50 to 56, with 18 African academic institutions now participating in its activities.
He said the ATU had recorded progress in broadband development, satellite communications, spectrum coordination, internet governance, rural broadband, standardisation and digital infrastructure resilience.
However, he expressed concern over irregular financial contributions by some member states, warning that predictable funding remained essential for implementing the union’s programmes effectively.
Omo added that the forthcoming conference would elect members of the Administrative Council and a Secretary-General for the 2027–2031 tenure.
He commended the Federal Government, the NCC and the Ministry of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy for hosting the preparatory meeting, which brought together representatives of African countries, academia, sector members and development partners to discuss the continent’s telecommunications and digital future.
News
NITDA Communications Director Hadiza Umar Named in 2026 PR Power List, Graces Glazia Magazine Cover
Mrs. Hadiza Umar, Director of the Corporate Communications and Media Relations Department at the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), has been officially recognised as one of Nigeria’s top public relations professionals in the prestigious 2026 PR Power List.
The definitive annual list, compiled by GLG Communications in partnership with The Guardian, was unveiled to commemorate World PR Day.
It celebrates 50 outstanding professionals within Nigeria and the diaspora whose strategic communication strategies have significantly shaped organisations, influenced public discourse, and advanced the profession over the past 12 months.
Adding to the momentous milestone, Mrs. Umar was hit with a major surprise at the exclusive PR Power List Soirée and Awards ceremony held at the Alliance Française in Ikoyi, Lagos, where she was unveiled as a front-cover personality for the Glazia Magazine PR Power List Special Issue.
The double recognition highlights her exceptional distinction and impact in public sector communications and narrative management.
Speaking on the dual achievement, Mrs. Umar expressed profound gratitude for the honours, describing the magazine cover appearance as a breathtaking surprise.
“I am deeply humbled and honored to be recognized on the 2026 PR Power List and to feature on the cover of Glazia Magazine alongside other exceptional industry titans,” Umar said.
“This milestone is a testament to the enabling environment and visionary leadership of the Director General of NITDA, Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi, CCIE, which has allowed us to strategically drive the narrative of Nigeria’s digital economy and technological innovation.”
Mrs. Umar, a highly respected corporate communications strategist, holds professional fellowships in the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (Chartered), the African Public Relations Association (APRA), and the Institute of Corporate Administration (CICA).
Under her supervisory role, NITDA’s media relations have consistently projected national information technology frameworks, start-up support frameworks, and digital literacy initiatives, to position Nigeria competitively on the global stage.
The 2026 PR Power List selection process involved a rigorous, independent evaluation led by a distinguished international jury.
The organisers noted that the class of 2026 represents professionals raising the standard of strategic communications and introducing new ideas to the industry.
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