Telecom
Nokia Networks Aligns Vision with Nigeria National Broadband Plan
Nokia Networks (NNs) at its telecom conference titled, ‘Connect Nigeria: Exploring ICT Potential for Growth’, declared its readiness to enable Nigeria’s broadband strategy become reality.
NNs explored the road for connected Nigeria in line with the government’s ambitious National Broadband Plan (NBP) 2013-2018.
The plan aims to increase broadband penetration from 6% in 2013 to 30% by 2018.
It also aims to cover 80% of the population with 3G and LTE services and offer a minimum download speed of 1.5 Mbps.
About 150 industry experts representing Nokia Networks, operators, government, and IT companies participated in the conference.
According to a recent GSMA report, Nigeria is a fast growing economy and the largest one in Africa, but has low mobile broadband penetration.
However, due to various factors including high access rates of over 50% of the population (those who use a mobile despite not owning one), data consumption growth, a rise in digital entrepreneurship, and a large youthful population, Nigeria presents a growing opportunity for investment and innovation in telecom networks.
At the Conference, Dr. Eugene Juwah, executive vice chairman, Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), “The Nokia Networks conference has brought out excellent insights from various telecom industry players on how to achieve further mobile broadband penetration in Nigeria in line with our ambitious NBP.
“The government is committed to enabling the operators to take the quality and coverage of mobile broadband services to a new level for the benefit of greater socio-economic development. We are confident that Nokia Networks’ commitments and advanced 2G, 3G and 4G mobile broadband technologies will significantly contribute in providing high quality mobile broadband services in our country on a par with leading services around the world.”
Also speaking, Bernard Najm, vice president and head of Middle East and Africa, Nokia Networks, said that Nigeria is a priority country in the Africa region for Nokia Networks.
Najm said, “Mobile broadband infrastructure in Nigeria needs to be strengthened to significantly improve network coverage and speed across the country including mid-size cities and rural areas. To help achieve National Broadband Plan’s objectives and drive the country’s socio-economic development, we are committed to providing operators here with our advanced 2G, 3G and 4G technologies, and global expertise in services to build and run the networks cost efficiently.”
In addition to its office in Abuja, the company opened its second modern office in Lagos in 2014 to enhance its operational agility for delivery of its mobile broadband infrastructure for all operators in the country.
In his contribution, David Gaul, head of Central East & West Africa (CEWA), said that Nokia Networks is the world’s specialist in mobile broadband with more than 200 3G radio customers serving over 1 bn 3G users worldwide.
He added that, the company is a global leader in LTE with 162 LTE customers by the end of 2014 and holds the world record in TDD-FDD carrier aggregation with 4.1Gbps.
“The company’s leadership in LTE has been recognized by Gartner which positioned the company in the ‘Leaders’ quadrant of the analyst’s Magic Quadrant for LTE in Q4, 2014. Nokia Networks’2020 vision predicts consumption of 1GB of personalized data per user per day.
“The company’s advanced, scalable radio technologies coupled with professional services aim to help operators in countries with low Average Revenue Per User (ARPUs) meet the ever growing network demands in a profitable way.
According to him, Nokia has since incorporated Nigeria in its strategy anchored on developing its businesses in order to realize its vision of being a technology leader in a connected world and, in turn, create long-term shareholder value.
He said Nokia works towards a ‘programmable’ world. “Today, most humans in the world are connected. By 2020, we think the number will reach 5 billion. This means we are entering a new phase, connecting things as well as people; this is a rapid shift to what we call the Programmable World. By 2025, we could have 50 billion things connected through devices, modules and sensors. That might even prove to be a conservative estimate.
“But the programmable world is about more than connectivity it is the interaction of sensors, people and ‘things’ and, in this context, a ‘nuclear power station’ could be a ‘thing’. The possibilities are endless and software will be the glue that brings both meaning and value to the Programmable World.
But there are also some challenges and conflicts to address: Explosion of technology choices; Alienating, increasing complexity of tech; Needy tech and Dependence on data and privacy, post Snowden world.
Also, Dr. Sam Nwosu, country director, Nokia Networks said that the Nigeria must address infrastructural challenges and remove other administrative bottlenecks militating against the network operators.
“Through Nokia Networks, Nokia invests in the innovative products and services needed by telecoms operators to manage the increase in wireless data traffic which is more than doubling every year.
“Future investment will focus on further building on our strong position in mobile broadband and related services, and strengthening our leadership position in next-generation network technologies. Our global experts invent the new capabilities our customers need in their networks. We provide the world’s most efficient mobile networks, the intelligence to maximize the value of those networks, and the services to make it all work seamlessly.
“At the same time, we encourage the enhancement of infrastructural development in the country to augment telecom operators’ investments,” he said.
Nokia invests in technologies important in a world where billions of devices are connected.
It’s focused on three businesses: network infrastructure software, hardware and services, which offered through Nokia Networks; location intelligence, which it provides through HERE; and advanced technology development and licensing, which it pursues through Nokia Technologies.
Meanwhile, Nokia divested its handset business to Microsoft in early 2014. The new Nokia now focuses on three strong business divisions – Nokia Networks, HERE, and Nokia Technologies.
Nokia Networks (which was formerly known as Nokia Solutions and Networks or NSN) is the largest business (90%) in the new Nokia, with this division contributing to 90% of its overall business in the company.
The need for Nigeria to think outside the box in its need to drive towards global relevance with innovations and scientific developments will be on the front burner at the NITRA Innovative & Scientific Conference scheduled to hold on Thursday July 23, 2026 in Ikeja, Lagos.
NITRA
The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) will lead other delegates to discuss and take far-reaching decisions at the event, which has its theme as “Bridging Nigeria’s Digital Divide With Scientific Innovation”.
Other companies that have indicated interest in partnering with NITRA include mobile communications company, Tecno; Africa’s premier end-to-end AI solutions company, Hyperspace; and telecommunications data infrastructure company, Digital Realty.
Speaking on the proposed event, the Chairman, Nigeria Information Technology Reporters Association (NITRA), Chike Onwuegbuchi noted that the event will seek to create a platform for government and private organisations to deliberate on policies around scientific innovations in Nigeria, challenges, place of indigenous and foreign collaboration, roles of each stakeholder, and grassroots development in that regard, among others.
According to him: “The Federal government, with series of programmes and partnerships, has established the urgent need to create an ecosystem that thrives on scientific innovation, breeding institutions and individuals with a target of placing the country at the fore-front of Next-Gen development.
It is a known fact that digital and scientific innovations are crucial, not only to the survivability of a nation, but also to the sustainability of its growth and development, with significant effect on economic strength, global image, defense and security, government capabilities to function, and public health and safety, communication and digital footprint, among others.
The federal government is actively driving scientific innovation to foster economic diversification and build a $1 trillion economy by 2030. Efforts are heavily focused on commercializing research, establishing massive research funds, and funding strategic infrastructure, particularly in technology, biotechnology, and healthcare. Core government initiatives and policies include the newly instituted National Research and Innovation Development Fund (NRIDF), which aims to mobilize about $500 million annually to support research and the commercialization of scientific outputs; and the Nigeria Genomic City, a multi-ministerial initiative aimed at transforming Nigeria into a leading hub for genomics, precision medicine, and biotechnology. It is designed to protect indigenous data, stimulate artificial intelligence in health, and develop a highly skilled scientific workforce.
According to the General Secretary of NITRA, Mr. Chidiebere Nwankwo, the forum will also be a vehicle to propagating the views of decision makers to the public, thereby furthering the cause of public awareness and information dissemination on the topic.
The focus, he said will be on how Nigeria can sustain digital innovative growth and scientific development in Nigeria
The board of global payments company, PayPal, says a 53 billion dollars takeover offer from financial technology firm, Stripe, and private equity company, Advent International, does not adequately reflect the company’s long-term value.
PayPal
According to reports, the proposed acquisition, valued at 60.50 dollars per share, remains under consideration, with the board yet to formally respond to the offer.
The directors are said to be evaluating not only the financial value of the proposal but also the structure of the financing, the timeline for completing the transaction and the likelihood of obtaining regulatory approvals.
They are also considering the possibility of competing bids emerging.
Although the offer represents a premium of about 28 per cent above PayPal’s recent share price, the board believes the company could deliver greater value to shareholders if its ongoing turnaround strategy succeeds.
Following reports of the bid, PayPal shares gained about two per cent to close at 56.73 dollars.
Sources familiar with the discussions said Stripe and Advent have secured approximately 50 billion dollars in debt financing from JPMorgan and Morgan Stanley, while both firms would jointly contribute 17 billion dollars in equity.
Under the proposal, the two companies would jointly own PayPal instead of dividing its operations.
PayPal, Stripe, Advent International, JPMorgan and Morgan Stanley have all declined to comment on the proposed transaction.
The discussions come as PayPal seeks to strengthen its business after years of increasing competition from rivals including Apple Pay, Google Pay and emerging financial technology firms.
The company, which was valued at about 360 billion dollars in 2021, now has a market capitalisation of approximately 36 billion dollars.
Since assuming office as Chief Executive Officer in March 2026, Enrique Lores has embarked on a restructuring programme aimed at improving operational efficiency and restoring growth.
The restructuring includes the creation of three business divisions comprising Checkout, Venmo and Consumer Financial Services, and Payments and Crypto.
The company is also targeting 1.5 billion dollars in cost savings through the deployment of artificial intelligence technologies.
PayPal’s latest financial results indicated signs of recovery, with first-quarter revenue rising seven per cent year-on-year to 8.35 billion dollars, while total payment volume increased by eight per cent to 464 billion dollars.
If approved, the transaction would combine two of the world’s largest digital payments companies.
The combined business would process an estimated 3.7 trillion dollars in annual payment volume, significantly strengthening its position in the global online payments market.
However, analysts expect the proposed acquisition to face intense regulatory scrutiny because of the companies’ combined market share in merchant payment services.
To address possible antitrust concerns, the bidders have reportedly considered options, including separating PayPal’s Braintree business or other assets if required by regulators.
Sources said Stripe and Advent remain interested in pursuing the acquisition despite the board’s reservations, although negotiations are expected to continue.
Market observers are also awaiting PayPal’s earnings report scheduled for July 28 for further indications of the company’s financial recovery and future growth prospects.
Concerns over network reliability and its impact on Nigeria’s growing creator economy took centre stage at MTN Nigeria’s Data on Trial event, where content creator and streamer, Jarvis, challenged telecommunications operators to improve connectivity for digital creators.
Speaking during the event, Jarvis asked whether there were locations in Nigeria where uninterrupted internet connectivity could support real-life (IRL) streaming without network disruptions.
“Are there places where there is no breakage when streaming IRL?” she asked.
Her question highlighted the challenges faced by content creators who depend on stable internet services for live streaming, content uploads and real-time engagement with audiences.
Responding, MTN Nigeria’s Chief Technical Officer, Mr Yahaya Ibrahim, said network performance depends on several factors, including location, network coverage, device capability and the number of users connected to a particular base station.
He noted that operators continue to invest in expanding network capacity to meet the growing demand for data services.
Earlier, MTN’s General Manager, Network Performance and Quality Assurance, Mr Michael Ndukwe, explained the evolution of mobile network technology in Nigeria, from first-generation (1G) services to the current fifth-generation (5G) technology.
According to him, each phase of technological advancement has significantly increased network capacity and enabled new digital services.
Ndukwe cited Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) data showing that Nigerians consumed about 13.2 million terabytes of data in 2025.
He added that data usage reached approximately 4.06 million terabytes in the first quarter of 2026, reflecting the country’s increasing reliance on digital platforms and online services.
According to him, the growth is being driven by wider adoption of 4G and 5G networks, increased smartphone penetration, the proliferation of smart devices and expanding use of social media platforms.
Participants at the event noted that as more Nigerians build businesses and careers around digital content, access to reliable and high-speed internet has become critical to sustaining the country’s digital economy and creator ecosystem.
Dangote Refinery’s Private Placement Reportedly Hits $2.5Bn
FG, UNODC Plan National Strategy against Organized Crime
EFCC Busts NIS Visa Overstay Racket, Uncovers N700m in an Account
CBN to Monitor Every Dollar with FXBT, Forex Tracker
NCC, NDLEA Partner to Fight Piracy and Drug Trafficking
NRC, Ponzi Scheme Collapses Resulting Loss of Billions of Naira
NASENI Moves to Digitize CCB’s 5m Assets Declaration and Operations
Lebara Nigeria Launches Lebara Play, Africa’s First Telecom-Owned Micro-Drama Platform
CANAL+ Partners Samsung to Pre-Load DStv Stream on New Samsung TVs In Nigeria, Other African Countries
Tokenization, Blockchain Technology will Transform Financial Institutions – IMF
News2 days agoEFCC Busts NIS Visa Overstay Racket, Uncovers N700m in an Account
News3 days agoFAAN to Replace Physical ID Check with V-Pass Biometric Verification
News2 days agoNCC, NDLEA Partner to Fight Piracy and Drug Trafficking
News3 days agoCBN Introduces Digital Tracker to Monitor BDC Forex Transactions
Telecom3 days agoAirtel Delivers Free Employability Training to Young Nigerians @ World Youth Skills Day
Telecom3 days agontel Plays Down Calls and Data Services, Moves to BET Agenda
News3 days agoCAC Begins Removing 100,000 Companies from Register Over Regulatory Non-Compliance
General News3 days agoNigeria Facing Rising Cybercrime Losses – Report