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Telecom

NgREN Pushes Bandwidth Demand to 377 STM-1

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Funke Opeke is Chief Executive Officer and Founder of MainOne
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Launch of Nigerian Research and Educational Network (NgREN)  recently have increased bandwidth demand by telecommunications operators, banks among other companies using the commodity to 377 Synchronous Transport Module, level 1 (STM-1) frame.

The Synchronous Transport Module, level 1 (STM-1) frame is the basic transmission format for SDH—the first level of the synchronous digital hierarchy of bandwidth from undersea cable infrastructure as well as satellite.

There is 155 megabyte per second in an STM-1 frame.

Nigeria CommunicationsWeek gathered that NgREN currently delivers 155mbps (STM-1) capacity to each of the 27 university in addition to 350 STM-1 on demand before the launch of NgREN.

Also, demand for STM-1in the country has recorded a steady increase from 200 STM-1 in 2012 to 350 as June this year representing 75percent growth.

Dewole Ajao, operations manager, Bandwidth Consortium, said that beyond just downloading from the Internet, students and researchers in connected universities should be empowered to further their research and education using NgREN.

A basic example is access to meteorological data for research into suitability of different areas for crop production.

The applications are limitless; the key is to open up the networks and content to students and researchers for innovation.

The NREN should also be used to encourage collaboration and reduce duplication of efforts.

“Very importantly, it would be good to see all the various research institutes we have across Nigeria plugged into the REN so we can harness their output. After all, what is the usefulness of research that ends up in a remote silo that cannot be accessed by those that could benefit from it?

He added that the celebration could be seen by some as a demonstration of videoconferencing which has been a basic communication tool for several years. It goes beyond that; it is hopefully the beginning of a new era in learning and research in Nigeria.  I look forward to seeing real work being done with the REN and at the very least, access to research data that will help exploit opportunities and solve problems.

Mohammed Rudman, managing director, Internet Exchange Point of Nigeria, stressed the need for the required bandwidth for higher educational institutions and research centres.

According to him, with the launch of National Research Network (NREN) by National University Commission that has got 27 federal universities connected to the network, universities will require bandwidth for its operation.

Nigeria CommunicationsWeek investigations revealed that the available bandwidth capacity from undersea cable infrastructure is put at 7,862 STM-1.

It was gathered that as at 2009 fiber link capacity available in the country were provided through Sat-3 operated by Nigerian Telecommunications Limited (Nitel) and Suburban Telecom. Sat-3 has 64 STM-1 capacity out of which 30 is demanded while Suburban contributes 3 STM-1 bringing available capacity in the country from the fiber optic infrastructure to 67 STM-1.

In the last three years the capacity has increased by over 4,000 per cent due to the launch of commercial service by Glo 1 contributing 2,345 STM-1 and MainOne which has 1,765 STM-1. More so, the coming of WACS with additional capacity of 3,685 STM-1 brought about the overall percentage increase to rise by 7000%.


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Nigeria CommunicationsWeek believes that technology makes life more exciting and helps improve the lives of people around Nigeria and indeed the world. So since 2007, we have devoted our energy to independent reportage of technology and how they affect lives.

Telecom

Telcos Warn of Nationwide Telecom Blackout over Diesel Shortage

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Mr Tony Emoekpere, president, ATCON
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Association of Telecommunications Companies of Nigeria (ATCON), has raised the alarm over a diesel supply crisis caused by an ongoing strike by the National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG).

Telcos Warn of Nationwide Telecom Blackout over Diesel Shortage

Mr Tony Emoekpere, president, ATCON in a statement said that the fuel supply disruption is critically affecting telecom base stations, pushing them to the brink of a shutdown and threatening millions of mobile and internet users in the region.

“This strike, which stems from the persistent harassment of tanker and petroleum product drivers by police officers in Lagos State, has effectively halted all truck loading operations and fuel movements,” Emoekpere stated.

He explained that diesel supply to telecom infrastructure has been severely impacted, leaving critical sites with dangerously low fuel levels.

According to him, if urgent measures are not taken, the situation could escalate into a full-blown network blackout, disrupting essential services, including mobile and internet access, business operations, emergency response systems, and daily communications.

ATCON has called on the governors of Lagos and Ogun states to intervene immediately by facilitating the release of diesel from depots to telecom operators to prevent further deterioration of the situation.

“This is not just a telecom issue—it is a national emergency that could cripple economic activities and compromise public safety,” Emoekpere stressed.

The association also appealed to security agencies and petroleum unions to resolve the crisis swiftly to safeguard Nigeria’s connectivity and economic stability.

ATCON emphasised that a prolonged disruption in fuel supply to telecom infrastructure could have far-reaching consequences for both businesses and individuals who rely on stable communication networks for daily operations.

 

 

 


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Telecom

Nigerians Spend N5.3 Trillion on Telecom Services

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In 2023, Nigerians spent a total of about ₦5.3 trillion on telecommunications services, which includes calls, data, SMS, and other telecom services, according to the Leadership.

Nigerians Spend N5.3 Trillion on Telecom Services

Specifically for voice calls, Nigerians made approximately 408.5 billion minutes of local calls, generating around ₦3.28 trillion from outgoing calls and ₦3.23 trillion from incoming calls, totaling about ₦6.51 trillion in call-related revenue according to projections based on 2023 call volumes and tariff data.

However, the ₦5.3 trillion figure represents the overall telecom sector revenue, with voice calls being a major component but also including data and other services.

For individual spending, MTN subscribers spent an average of ₦2,508 monthly on voice calls in 2023, showing a 14.4% increase from 2022, while Airtel customers spent about ₦1,694 monthly on voice calls.

Total telecom spending (calls, data, SMS, etc.): ₦5.3 trillion in 2023

Estimated revenue from voice calls alone: around ₦6.5 trillion based on call minutes and tariffs

Average monthly spending on calls per subscriber: ₦1,694 to ₦2,508 depending on the network

 

 

 


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MTN Chairman, Industry Leaders Honour Late Dr. Pascal Dozie’s Legacy at NGX Tribute

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Nigeria’s corporate elite gathered recently to bid farewell to one of the nation’s most influential business titans, Dr. Pascal Gabriel Dozie.

The Nigerian Exchange Group’s headquarters in Marina, Lagos, played host to an ‘Afternoon of Tributes’ that saw industry captains, financial moguls, and family members celebrate the extraordinary legacy of a man who helped reshape Nigeria’s economic landscape.

MTN Nigeria Chairman, Dr. Ernest Ndukwe, captured the mood of the gathering when he described the late Dozie as “a visionary leader, a true patriot, and a trailblazer” whose impact continues to reverberate across Nigeria’s business terrain.

“Thanks to his remarkable foresight and unwavering dedication, MTN Nigeria didn’t just find its footing—it soared,” Ndukwe told the distinguished audience.

“Today, it stands not only as the largest telecommunications company in the country but also as one of the most highly valued corporations on the NGX Premium Board.”

The symbolic bell-ringing ceremony—a highlight of the event—paid homage to Dozie’s pivotal role in transforming both Nigeria’s capital market and telecommunications sector.

Speaker after speaker painted the portrait of a man whose influence transcended conventional boundaries. Beyond founding Diamond Bank and steering MTN Nigeria to unprecedented heights, Dozie was celebrated for embodying the rare combination of business acumen and ethical leadership.

Throughout the afternoon, the late business icon was remembered not merely as a successful entrepreneur but as a nation-builder whose contributions spanned critical sectors from banking and telecoms to public policy and education.

More than his corporate achievements, however, it was Dozie’s personal qualities that dominated tributes—his uncompromising integrity, innovative thinking, disarming humility, and lifelong commitment to service.

As the event concluded, it became clear that the gathering was more than a memorial—it was a celebration of possibilities, a testament to what can be achieved when purpose meets passion and when leadership is firmly rooted in service to others.


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