Telecom
Nigeria Mobile Operators and Host communities
Since the emergence of mobile telephone in the 2001, combined subscription is inching close to the 50 million mark and many more yet to sign up. The potentials are still enormous given the fact that total population under the licensed territory (Nigeria) is close to 140 million people.
Good as it may sound that we can now connect to the world without the endless wait and shoddy services that characterized the pre-GSM era, when Nitel’s monopoly hold sway. Despite all the rapid expansion and coverage in most cities nation wide, quality of service issues seems to the albatross of the mobile operators.
Quality of mobile phone services is commonly the most discussed topic outside politics and Energy issues which we are daily confounded with. Even the newly inaugurated senate had already debated on it! While the national regulator, NCC, in many instances and at different forums reinforced the importance of provisioning high quality services to millions of subscribers, the stark reality is that the situation seems to be getting worse by the day.
NCC also initiated the consumer outreach and consumer parliament to resolve subscriber’s frustrations which had taken another dimension with subscribers forming associations and even going further to advocate service boycotts in protest against poor service delivery and in some extreme cases, initiated court cases against mobile operators.
In the midst of allegations, accusations and claims by operators and subscribers alike, what the entire population failed to look at genuinely are some points that operators are raising.
Some time ago, MTN Communications had reasons to alert the public about its facilities that were maliciously damaged. Important components of mobile telephony technology are the radio equipments which are mounted on towers and mast all over the towns and cities. Fiber Optics cables also carry traffic crisscrossing the national boundaries and some of the longest cables in Africa in located here in Nigeria.
Recently we all witnessed massive degradation of services across all the networks and despite all efforts, its seems the problem is beyond them. Most service disruption is directly link to the handiwork of vandals and community agitators. In many instances, workers and their sub contractors are denied access to the base station sites to service power generators and other equipments, fiber optics unearth from the ground and severed, diesel theft and generator vandals. The irony is that the communities that now turned vandals at some point clamored for the Base stations to be sited in their community.
Most of the demands of the communities are unrealistic, ranging from multiple payments for acquired site properties, road construction, powering of communities and even scholarships!!! These are not the duties of companies that pay all forms of taxes to government. Though some of the activities of the operators do impact the environment negatively sometimes, care should be taken to ensure strict compliance with environmental regulations to curb noise pollution from generating sets, spillages from diesel and used engine oil which can pollute source of community waters.
Community empowerment programs can be implemented through engaging locals as site security, civil repairs works and immediate remedial repairs whenever their activities impact on the communities negatively. Mobile operators should also leverage on site where some basic infrastructure that can support their services exists. They can leverage on the branch network of banks and as they roll out new Bank Branches, they make provision for tower erections on the properties on a rental basis. This offers some level of security. Implementation of integrated maintenance of cell sites, will also reduce numbers and frequency of site visits for maintenance purposes. Increasing the storage tanks for diesel will greatly help in reducing frequent top up visits which seems to be a lucrative target for community extortions.
With communities and vandals taking its toll on the operations on the mobile operators and high cost of subscribers acquisition in face of keen competition, it is only natural that the subscribers will be at the receiving end through poor services and high tariffs. Just like crude oil production where you need a maze of pipelines to deliver contents likewise the telecommunications services too. The base stations might look like a stand alone installation but operationally, they are inter connected and linked with many others elsewhere and when one goes down, it might lead to disruption of services or a near collapse in a locality .
The oil communities militancy that is threatening the revenue source of Nigeria started and got elevated to this level because we did not look hard enough at the root cause for many years and now they cant just stop.
So next time you tried to make that important call and it does not connect, it does not mean that the MTN,Zain AND GLO are not alive to their responsibility but maybe area boys and your community people had just tampered with a diesel hose that feeds the generator which powers the base station in your community or had just chased away telecoms workers from site and you are denied access to reach your loved ones via your mobile phone.
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.
L-R: Febisola Oyeniyi, General Manager, Enterprise Sales, MTN Nigeria; Omotayo Ojutalayo, General Manager, Business Development, Enterprise Business, MTN Nigeria; Akinbulejo Onabolu, Head, Enterprise Segment, MTN Nigeria and Omowunmi Olatunbosun, Head, SME Segment, MTN Nigeria, during the MTN NextNow Business Forum.
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.
Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) and Rural Electrification Agency (REA) have teamed up to develop an initiative that will reduce the $350 million annual spending on diesel by telecom operators in Nigeria.
According to a press statement by Nnenna Ukoha, acting had of Public Affairs, NCC, this collaboration will focus on deploying renewable energy solutions to support telecom infrastructure, particularly in rural and underserved areas.
To that end, the two agencies have inaugurated what they called NCC–REA Collaboration Committee, aimed at deploying renewable energy solutions to power telecom infrastructure across the country.
According to the State of Africa’s Infrastructure Report 2025 by the Africa Finance Corporation, telecom operators in Nigeria consume more than 40 million litres of diesel every month, costing them over $350 million annually.
The statement read, “The Nigerian Communications Commission has formally inaugurated the NCC–REA Collaboration Committee, marking a pivotal step towards advancing Nigeria’s digital and energy inclusion objectives by developing modalities for the deployment of renewable energy to support telecom infrastructure in Nigeria.”
The inauguration ceremony, held on Friday, at the NCC Headquarters in Abuja, was presided over by Dr Aminu Maida, executive vice chairman and chief executive officer, NCC.
Maida was joined by Abba Aliyu, managing director of the REA, along with senior executives and committee members from both organisations.
Speaking at the event, Maida described the collaboration as a timely and strategic alignment of national priorities.
He noted that bridging the connectivity and power gaps in rural areas remains critical for Nigeria’s growth and development.
He highlighted that the demand for digital services and connected communities creates an opportunity for renewable energy to play a crucial role.
Maida further emphasised that the partnership goes beyond infrastructure; it is aimed at driving inclusion, reducing inequalities, and fostering shared prosperity.
“Whether it is powering a base station or enabling a child to access digital learning, this partnership has the potential to transform realities and bring opportunity closer to the people.
“This initiative is about more than infrastructure, it is about driving inclusion, bridging inequalities and creating the conditions for shared prosperity,” he was quoted in the statement.
He also noted that the initiative aligns with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which aims to ensure no community is left behind in Nigeria’s energy and digital transformation.
Aliyu, representing REA, expressed confidence in the transformative potential of the collaboration.
“This partnership will unlock sustainable development opportunities for millions of Nigerians, especially those in areas lacking traditional infrastructure,” he said.
He further emphasised that the collaboration would address both energy and connectivity gaps, benefiting those who are currently underserved.
The newly established NCC-REA Collaboration Committee will work to co-develop and implement integrated solutions that leverage renewable energy to power telecom sites.
The statement noted that the committee will also focus on sharing geospatial data to improve planning, aligning funding frameworks, and tracking the socio-economic impact of the project through clear performance indicators.
MTN Nigeria Communications Plc has announced the execution of a national roaming agreement with Emerging Markets Telecommunications Services Limited (9Mobile), a move that signals a major milestone in Nigeria’s telecommunications landscape.
The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), the industry’s regulatory authority, has approved the three-year deal, which allows 9Mobile subscribers to roam seamlessly on MTN Nigeria’s extensive network infrastructure across the country.
The agreement, effective immediately, will significantly enhance connectivity and user experience for 9Mobile customers, particularly in areas where its network coverage is limited.
By leveraging MTN’s expansive infrastructure, 9Mobile can now offer improved service reach and reliability, without duplicating capital-intensive investments in network deployment.
In a notice to the Nigerian Exchange Limited and the investing public, MTN Nigeria described the arrangement as a strategic collaboration that underscores its leadership in fostering innovation, industry cooperation, and operational efficiency.
The company emphasized that the initiative aligns with the NCC’s broader objective of promoting infrastructure sharing to improve telecommunications services nationwide.
“This agreement represents a significant step in our commitment to driving industry collaboration, improving customer experience, and supporting the NCC’s vision of a fully connected Nigeria,” said Karl Toriola, chief executive officer, MTN Nigeria.
“Delivering the scale required for telecommunications services in Nigeria requires strong collaboration between the private sector, public sector, and long-term investors. This agreement demonstrates what we can achieve when we collaborate, and we are delighted to announce it today after months of groundwork.”The national roaming deal enables subscribers from 9Mobile to access voice and data services through MTN’s network in areas where the former lacks adequate coverage.
This marks the first such large-scale, cross-network roaming arrangement between two major operators in Nigeria, setting a precedent for future cooperative efforts in the telecom industry.
MTN Nigeria highlighted that the agreement contributes to more effective use of telecommunications resources, reduces infrastructure duplication, and accelerates the expansion of mobile broadband access across underserved regions.
It also supports both operators’ sustainability objectives by maximizing existing investments and reducing the environmental impact of deploying overlapping network facilities.
“This strategic collaboration is yet another first in the country by MTN Nigeria and marks a significant milestone for the sustainability of the telecommunications industry,” the company stated.
“By enabling national roaming, MTN Nigeria is contributing to a more effective use of telecommunications resources and accelerating efforts to expand connectivity across the country.”
The agreement is expected to benefit not just subscribers and operators but also regulators and investors who have consistently advocated for policies that promote shared infrastructure and efficient capital utilization in Nigeria’s digital economy.
Uto Ukpanah, company secretary, MTN Nigeria, affirmed the company’s ongoing dedication to initiatives that create shared value.
“MTN remains committed to fostering innovation and partnerships that create sustainable value for all stakeholders while promoting digital and financial inclusion nationwide,” she noted.
With the successful rollout of this agreement, the telecoms industry is expected to see improved service delivery and expanded access to quality mobile services, especially in rural and semi-urban communities. The collaboration sets a benchmark for future inter-operator partnerships and reinforces the importance of regulatory support in advancing national connectivity goals.
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