Telecom
NCC to Review Numbering Plan- EVC
Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has started the process of reviewing existing Numbering Plan (NP) in the telecoms sector, according to Prof Umar Dambatta, executive vice chairman/CEO, NCC.
Dambatta, said it is in the spirit of ensuring that the telecoms ecosystem is regulated in tandem with the demand of the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) era.
He spoke at the 2019 Information Communication Technology and Telecommunication (ICTEL) Exhibition organised by the Lagos Chmaber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) at Landmark Event Centre, Victoria Island, Lagos.
The event had: Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) – The Nigerian Story as theme.
Dambatta said based on recent developments in the global telecommunications industry, such as man-to-machine (M2M) communications, Internet of Things (loT), Over the Top (OTT) and others, and other services made possible by fourth-generation, the futuristic 5G/6G technologies, the NCC has considered it important for the numbering plan in the country to be reviewed.
He said: “The development of the new NNP therefore, will help to provide numbers that will satisfy the needs of the projected 500 million Nigerians to be connected and about 1 billion globally-interconnected machines and devices by 2050.”
Dambatta said the measure would also “promote efficiency in the allocation of this scarce national resource; promote competition among service providers; eliminate the risk of running short of all categories of numbers; facilitate the introduction and development of new and above all, encourage growth of the innovative services and telecommunications sector,” as well as increase job creation and contribute to National Gross Domestic Product (GDP), among others.
The NCC chief pointed out that NP is very key to telecoms services for proper identification of devices and services, saying that the regulator is reviewing the existing National Numbering Plan (NNP) with the objective of developing a new NNP that is robust, futuristic and adaptable to address the numbering needs of the country taking into account the country’s growing population.
He said new services have emerged in the country’s digital space, stating that there is need to integrate such services into the telecoms environment.
“Also, people are now interested in having all their communication services conveyed by a single device. Services such as voice, data, short messaging services (SMS), television programmes, banking services, etc.are now being received via a handheld mobile device.”
According to him, this convergence of services requires upgrade and adopting the NP to accommodate the new habits and culture. Dambatta said the Commission is upgrading, expanding and re-designing the numbering system in order to ensure the country derives the maximum benefit from this scarce resource.
He said the country is at the forefront of adopting latest technologies engendered by effective regulation of the industry by the NCC.
“It feels good to state that our Nigerian story in the 4IR is an exciting one but more needs to be done in order for us to properly harness all these new technologies to the advantage of our country.
All we need at this stage as a nation, is to join hands together to support the building of more robust telecom infrastructure that will further helP to deepen the nation’s broadband penetration beyond its current figare of 33 per cent towards supporting the explosion of digital activities to be witnessed as we immerse ourselves into the realities of the 4IR w
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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