Telecom
NCC Tasks Telcos on 2018 Broadband 30% Penetration Target
Nigeria Communications Commission (NCC) has urged the telecommunications operators to step up the drive towards achieving 30% broadband internet penetration in the country by 2018.
The Commission extended the call to the operators during discussions on “Data Service Delivery: The Way Forward” at the 76th Telecoms Consumer Parliament (TCP) and second edition of the repacked series, held in Lagos on Thursday and reminded them that the users are hungry for data, especially with the increase in smarthphones, tablets, phablets and other devices now available in the country.
Data Service is referred to the distribution of internet service on demand to the user regardless of geographic or organisational separation.
NCC’s Complaint Management Database (CMD) shows that the prevalent consumer complaints on Data Service Delivery include, but not limited to inability to browse; abnormal depletion of data; unsuccessful data renewal and unauthorized service renewal.
During the period of July to October 2014 the percentile figures recorded on data service delivery complaints show that only Airtel recorded zero customer complaints in the month of July with MTN, Etisalat, and Glo recording 41.47%, 41.67 and 8.33% respectively.
For the month of August the telecos recorded the following percentage of complaints; MTN (63%), Etisalat (9.09%), Airtel (9.09%) and Glo (9.09%), while in September they recorded MTN (10%), Etisalat (40%), Airtel (10%) and Glo (30%).
Also in October, they recorded complaints MTN led with (42.86%), Etisalat (14.28%), Airtel (21.43%) and Glo (14.25).
Speaking at the TCP Dr. Eugene Juwah, executive vice chairman, Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), for a country of about 180m people as at 2014, having more than 130m subscriber base, the industry stakeholders cannot afford to be contented.
Juwah said, “The transformation of Telecom industry has led to more FDIs, Employment, and Efficient business transactions among others. This emphasizes the importance of ICT in the development path of a nation.
“ICT remains a priority of the Federal Government and an important sector in the transformation agenda of President Goodluck Jonathan administration for strong, inclusive, non-inflationary growth using ICT as the major driver for transformation. Mr. President requires us to ensure that ICT facilities are extended to all citizen of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
“In this regard, Internet and broadband have been globally acknowledged as the foundation for the nation’s transformation to a knowledge-based economy”.
The EVC admitted that the path to an efficient broadband service in Nigeria has been a long and difficult one. “Internet connectivity has come a long way from a single international submarine cable system with 340GB total capacity installed in 2001 (SAT3) to four cable systems with international bandwidth capacity of over nine Terra bits in 2012.
“Despite progress made, Nigeria is still a far cry from achieving what is considered global broadband standards even among other developing countries.
“In fact, it has become more worrisome the kind of services most Service Providers sell to their subscribers, all in the name of 3G, while some even canvassed to have 4G but nothing has changed in data services. Consumer experience is nothing to write home about,” he said.
In view of the foregoing, the NCC EVC said that the Commission has taken some steps towards realising effective deployment of broadband services in Nigeria.
“The world is now a global village and Nigeria cannot afford to be improperly integrated into it. This integration could be better achieved not only through voice telephony but also effective data service delivery.
“On consolidation of progress made so far, we have increased Teledensity from 63% in 2010 to more than 90% in 2014. The Nigerian Communications Commission, NCC, is targeting a 30 per cent increase in broadband internet penetration by 2018. The increase from its current level of six per cent is expected to come from the planned historic auction of the 2.6 gigahertz spectrum band.
Also speaking, Mrs. Maryam Bayi, director, Consumer Affairs Bureau of the NCC, said that one of CAB’s mandates is to ensure the protection of the rights, privileges and interests of telecommunications consumers as well as develop effective policies and strategies that promote efficient telecoms service delivery.
“The importance of Data Service to global technological revolution and contribution to national economic and social development cannot be overemphasized.
“Data Services are able to eliminate redundancy and streamline costs. This is because critical data is housed in one location, enabling data to be accessed and/or updated by multiple users. while ensuring a single point of reference for updates.
“Sourcing from our Complaint Management Database, we have compiled the most prevalent consumer complaints on Data Service Delivery. These include:- Inability to Browse, Abnormal Depletion of Data, Unsuccessful Data Renewal and Unauthorized Service Renewal,” she said.
NCC also reminded the operators that consumer satisfaction is key to a sustainable telecommunications industry, while efficient and effective data service delivery is paramount to enhancing broadband implementation and penetration in Nigeria.
The operators also shared with the ‘parliamentarians’ their strategies towards solving the issues raised such as consumer education, engagement of services of more customer care agents, rolling-out consumer-friendly data plan, among others, but NCC insisted on they unleashing statistics to back up their claims.
At the recently concluded NextNow Business Forum in Victoria Island, MTN Nigeria electrified the business community with a live demonstration of its forthcoming Communication Platform as a Service (CPaaS), a solution engineered to redefine how Nigerian enterprises connect with their customers.
Unlike traditional communication systems, MTN’s CPaaS is built for the realities of a mobile-first market. The platform unifies SMS, voice, WhatsApp, email, and more into a single, intuitive interface. This approach is especially significant in Nigeria, with over 107 million internet users, 45.4% of the total population, according to Data Report. This figure underscores the necessity for businesses to meet customers where they are.
During the demo, attendees witnessed how CPaaS enables two-way, real-time conversations between brands and customers. The platform’s support for rich media, instant analytics, and seamless integration with business workflows drew particular attention. These features are designed to empower businesses with data-driven insights and the agility to personalise every interaction, whether it’s a service notification, marketing campaign, or customer support exchange.
Akinbulejo Onabolu, Head of Enterprise Segment at MTN Nigeria, articulated the vision: “CPaaS gives enterprises the flexibility to interact with their customers on their preferred platforms; whether it’s chat, voice, or messaging, in a way that feels personal and immediate. We’re looking forward to the value this will unlock for businesses across industries once it launches.”
The fireside chat added depth to the conversation, with Omowunmi Olatunbosun, Head of SME Segment at MTN Nigeria, and Stephen Agbi of Bayobab, highlighting how digital engagement bridges the gap between businesses and audiences.
They emphasised that today’s consumers demand immediacy, relevance, and ease, qualities that CPaaS is built to deliver.
The stakes for digital transformation in Nigeria are high. In a report by Punch, the country’s enterprise tech market is projected to reach $22 billion by 2027, reflecting a surge in demand for scalable, cloud-based solutions that drive efficiency and customer loyalty.
The CPAAS Acceleration Alliance have estimated that globally, the CPaaS market is expected to grow from $14.7 billion in 2025 to $72.4 billion by 2035, at a compound annual growth rate of 18.4%, a testament to the platform’s transformative potential.
The event’s closing keynote from META’s Korhan Yunak reinforced the strategic value of digital channels like WhatsApp, which are now indispensable for business communication and engagement at scale.
As MTN Nigeria prepares for the Q3 2025 launch, the anticipation is unmistakable. With its promise of flexibility, intelligence, and seamless integration, MTN’s CPaaS platform is set to become the backbone of next-generation business-customer engagement in Nigeria, enabling enterprises to not just communicate but to connect, adapt, and grow in a digital-first era.
MTN Uganda is seeking input from stakeholders on a plan to structurally separate its mobile money service, MoMo, from its core telecoms business.
According to the company, the proposed change will be discussed at the upcoming extraordinary general meeting on July 2.
If approved, the telco’s fintech business will be run by a new company controlled by MTN Group Fintech Holdings B.V. and a trust benefiting minority shareholders following a merger.
Additionally, the restructuring also aligns with MTN Group’s ambition 2025 strategy which aims to unlock value, attract new investors, and strengthen regulatory compliance by creating standalone fintech entities in Uganda, Ghana, and Nigeria.
The company’s fintech division has over 13 million customers, with an 18.4% revenue increase in the first quarter of 2025, driven by 19.0% growth in mobile money services, 19.8% growth in transaction volumes, and a 31.4% increase in transaction value.
Reports say the decision is part of the telco’s compliance with the National Payment Systems Act 2020, which mandates mobile money businesses to operate as standalone entities, and to align with MTN Group’s regional fintech strategy.
MTN Uganda, which is led by CEO Sylvia Mulinge, highlighted that the implementation of the proposed transaction will be subjected to a number of conditions and regulatory procedures.
“The implementation of the proposed transaction shall be subject to a number of conditions, including the company and MTN MoMo receiving all required regulatory approvals and no-objections and complying with any regulatory conditions,” said MTN Uganda in notice.
Netflix has announced plans to invest more than €1 billion in Spanish film and television productions over the next four years, reinforcing its commitment to Spain as a key creative hub in Europe.
The announcement was made by co-chief executive Ted Sarandos at an event held at Netflix’s production studios near Madrid, celebrating the company’s 10-year presence in the country.
Sarandos emphasized that the investment would contribute significantly to Spain’s economy, create jobs, and enable the streaming platform to produce more local content. He was joined by Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez in unveiling the initiative.
Netflix first established its international production studios in Madrid in 2019, following the success of the Spanish-language hit series Money Heist.
Since then, its 22,000-square-meter facility has become one of Netflix’s major production centers within the European Union.
The company currently supports over 20,000 jobs in Spain, highlighting the nation’s growing influence in global entertainment.
The investment reflects Netflix’s ongoing strategy to expand its presence in European markets through original content and local talent.
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