Telecom
NCC Seeks Public Listing for Telecom Operators
Engr. Ernest Ndukwe, executive vice chairman, Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has called on big telecommunications operators in the country to consider listing in Nigerian Stock Exchange. He explained that telecom operators going public will give Nigerians the opportunity of owing shares and enthrone transparency in the management of such companies.
Ndukwe stated this during a media parley on the allegation of bribing attempt leveled against the commission by Honourable Dino Melaye, chairman, House of Representative Committee on Information and National Orientation.
The commission according to him does not have the legal backing to enforce operators to go public but, that they will continue to advocate in that direction with the hope of realizing it in the coming year.
On effort by the NCC to ensure that broadband infrastructure is accessible to every Nigerian, Ndukwe reiterated the commission’s resolve to realizing the dream, which it began with the licensing of 3G in 2007. Nigeria he said is one of those countries where wireless applications have taken root and that aside from the people that get it through their mobile infrastructure in both GSM and CDMA the commission is planning to also use wired infrastructure. “This year, we have talked a lot about the State Accelerated Broadband Initiative, (Sabi) project. We have got to the final stages of that, and like what have happened in the year before, the two Ministers in the communications are eager in pushing this through, so we think in the next three or four months, a lot will be happening in this space,” he said.
He noted that NCC has given frequencies to some companies to enable them roll out broadband infrastructure copiously. And that by the end of the year, a lot of broadband infrastructure would have been rolled out across the country with enough speed to make users happy.
He added that the commission is planning a forum to discuss how to improve the speed of broadband in the country. “Many people are not happy with the current speed and there are some bottlenecks which the forum aims to relieve in order to get better speed of download across the various networks,” he said.
The commission he said has not relented in tackling poor quality of service through regulatory frame work as witnessed during the festive period last year. “Before the festive period, we warned operators against promotions and that anyone whose promotion affects the network would be banned for two years without lifting it and they became responsible. We will encourage them to expand, and I can assure you we will not allow them to rest. We will not tolerate any company that does not take the Nigerian people very seriously,” he stated.
He assured that nobody in NCC will do anything that will support the operators against the subscribers. “It is unthinkable; it has not happened and will not happen”.
He emphasized that several other factors such as topography, dense vegetation, buildings especially those built with concrete are responsible for loss of radio signals which often times lead to call drops. “The most common cause here in Nigeria is the fact that cell sites are not enough in number and spread. Yet operators are having problems with obtaining approvals for sites from local and state governments. There are also cases where existing cell sites are disabled due to breakdown, maintenance, vandalisation, theft of generators, lack of diesel, or out right sabotage. Once a cell site is disabled, it affects service in the area,” he said.
He stressed the need to continue to urge the operating companies to roll out 3G services so that more and more people will have access to broadband Internet, because that is the next wave of revolution in the country.
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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