Telecom
Stakeholders Delve Deeper into Telecoms Infrastructure Deployment Challenges Seek End to Govt Lip-Service
The quest for a reliable telecommunications infrastructure for the players in West Africa’s industry to deliver essential services and products in an interdependent ecosystem was the focus of discussion at the maiden edition of the West Africa telecoms Infrastructure Summit and Exhibition (WATISE).
L-R: Soye West (Head of Operations Lagos and Ibadan) Huawei, Onyinyechi Ntuka (Specialist, Database Applications) Commercial IHS Nigeria, Michael Chukwuka Oduh (Associate Director, Field Control & Network Services) Technical Quality Management IHS Nigeria and Kayode A. Olaniyan (Senior Manager, Public Policy & External Relations) Corporate Services IHS Nigeria at WATISE 2023 Maiden Edition.
The event, which has as its theme: ‘The Future of Infrastructure, Connectivity And Services: A New Interdependent Ecosystem of Partners’ was hosted by TechnologyMirror, an ICT and Telecoms news website with support from the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) and IHS Towers Nigeria.
In the lead presentation with the topic: ‘Telecoms Infrastructure Challenges: The Pains of Inter-Related Players of the Ecosystem and the Consumers’ Ques’t, Engr Spencer Itive, a telecoms engineer and Chief Executive Officer of RS Engineering Global Limited, harped on the need for Government in the region to pay close attention to the protection of telecoms infrastructure for the region’s digital economy quest to be achieved.
According to him, Government had been paying lip services to the declaration of telecom infrastructure as critical national stressing that the lack of commitment from the Government has led to a consistent attack on telecoms infrastructure across the country.
“We are yet to see the commitment of the government in protecting telecom infrastructure and this is why every community sees the deployment as a favour to the telecom operators,” he said.
Itive said a complex tapestry of partnerships now weaves together telecom companies, technology giants, governments, and a thriving ecosystem of startups noting that these partnerships would redefine the boundaries of what is possible in telecommunications.
On the future of infrastructure connectivity, he said all stakeholders in the telecoms sector had to understand that no single entity could meet the multifaceted demands of the digital age in isolation.
Speaking in the second presentation, with the topic: ‘Infrastructure Gap: Leveraging Connectivity and Technology to Transform Enterprise and Social-Economic Life in West Africa’, Rachael Orumor, Chief Executive Officer, Sens Orbit Nigeria said that over 20 million businesses across Africa use technology to interact with their clients and potential customers.
Orumor who is based in the Republic Benin, said that the factors that are driving digital transformation in West Africa is the increasing investment in infrastructure, growing awareness of the benefits of technology and a supportive regulatory environment.
While delivering her paper virtually, she noted that there was limited access to education, especially for people in rural areas, who do not have access to high-speed internet or reliable mobile service stressing the need for more attention for telecoms infrastructure in the region’s rural areas.
According to her, to leverage connectivity and technology to transform enterprise and socioeconomic life in West Africa, infrastructure investments must ensure the proper functioning of existing infrastructure while expanding telecommunications reach.
She said that lack reliable telecoms infrastructure reduces economic opportunities noting that many businesses now rely on online tools and platforms to operate, and workers who do not have access to these tools may be at a disadvantage.
During the panel discussion, Mr Mike Ofili, Chief Executive Officer of Coloplus, a tower infrastructure company, said that returns on investment in infrastructure could only be achieved in major cities where there were relative stability and a ready market.
He said the concentration of most telecoms infrastructure in major cities, was because of vandalism, insecurity, and high right-of-way (RoW) charges experienced across the country.
Ofili however, noted that RoW charges were also high in the major cities, especially, Lagos, but operators were able to sustain infrastructure deployment with higher returns from the state.
Speaking on the issues that prompted operators to slow down their expansion into rural areas, Ofili said most telcos had to pay so much to lay fibre cables.
“I can tell you that 90 per cent of the data centres in Nigeria are in Lagos and I don’t know how you want to achieve 70 per cent broadband penetration in Nigeria with almost all the data centres in Lagos.
“It is very difficult to lay fibre cable across many communities in Nigeria, you cannot cross any community without paying different people”, he said.
” You cannot build towers without going through different communities of people demanding all kinds of things,” Ofili said.
Lebara Nigeria has become a member of the Global System for Mobile Communications Association (GSMA) as it expands operations in the West African country.
The membership places Lebara Nigeria within a global network of more than 1,000 mobile operators, device manufacturers, technology companies and digital service providers.
Through the GSMA, the company will have access to industry research, technical standards, policy engagement and industry initiatives.
Lebara Nigeria said the move reflects its participation in the wider telecommunications ecosystem as it develops its operations in Nigeria’s mobile market.
Nigeria’s telecommunications sector plays a central role in the country’s digital economy, with more than 170 million active mobile subscriptions supporting services such as digital payments, e-commerce, education and healthcare.
Industry analysts say participation in international bodies such as the GSMA supports knowledge sharing and the adoption of industry standards.
Lebara Nigeria said GSMA membership will support its engagement with industry developments and policy discussions in the telecommunications sector.
The company said it remains focused on operating in Nigeria’s mobile telecommunications market as demand for connectivity continues to grow.
GSM Association is the advocacy and lobbying organization for the mobile communications industry, representing more than 1,000 mobile operators as full members and a further 400 companies in the broader mobile ecosystem as associate members.
Management of Vitel Wireless, mobile virtual network operator (MVNO), has distanced the company from a fraudulent scheme operating under the name: “Vitel Shares Services.”
In an official statement, the management clarified that Vitel Wireless is not selling shares or running any investment schemes.
They warned that the operators of “Vitel Shares Services” are using unauthorised websites, mobile applications, social media promotions, and bank accounts falsely linked to Vitel Wireless to mislead the public.
The statement reads: “The attention of Vitel Wireless has been drawn to a fraudulent scheme operating under the name ‘Vitel Shares Services.’
“We wish to state clearly that Vitel Wireless has no affiliation with Vitel Shares Services, or any platform claiming to offer Vitel shares, investments, or financial products through unofficial channels.
“We do not solicit investments through agents, social media, websites, apps, or third parties. Any platform claiming to offer Vitel Wireless shares or investments outside our official channels is fraudulent and should be treated as such.
“We urge the general public to remain vigilant and verify all information through official Vitel Wireless communication channels before making any payments or sharing personal data.”
Airtel Nigeria has concluded its second Customer Forum in Abuja, bringing together a large section of customers including high-volume data subscribers, 5G customers, and key stakeholders in another landmark engagement aimed at addressing concerns around data usage, transparency, and customer experience.
The forum themed “Understanding Your Data and Taking Control 2.0.” aimed to strengthen trust in Nigeria’s rapidly evolving telecommunications landscape. The session also featured inputs from representatives of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC).
Delivering the Keynote remarks, Dinesh Balsingh, CEO of Airtel Nigeria, who was represented by Femi Adeniran, Director, Corporate Communications and CSR, emphasised that trust remains the most valuable currency in telecommunications, and Airtel remains committed to strengthening customer confidence through transparency and continuous engagement.
He explained that discussions around data consumption have become increasingly important as digital lifestyles evolve, with smartphones, cloud services, video streaming and emerging artificial intelligence applications significantly influencing data usage patterns.
According to him, Airtel recently introduced the Airtel Data Calculator, an innovative tool designed to help customers estimate their data needs based on online activities such as multimedia streaming, video calls, social media usage, and gaming.
“The purpose of the Airtel Data Calculator is to provide greater visibility, support informed decision-making and place more information directly in the hands of customers. Because transparency should never be viewed as a compliance exercise. Transparency is good business,” he stated.
He further reassured customers that Airtel has no incentive to shortchange subscribers through inaccurate billing, forced spending or unnecessary data depletion, stressing that the company’s growth depends on customer satisfaction, loyalty and trust.
Adeniran also highlighted Airtel’s continued investments in network infrastructure, fibre capacity, digital platforms, artificial intelligence capabilities, customer service systems and workforce development, noting that these investments are aimed at improving service quality and enhancing customer experiences.
Oladokun Oye, Director, Customer Experience, Airtel Nigeria, while welcoming participants to the event, said the forum was created to provide customers with an open platform for education, engagement and problem-solving, noting that the customer remains at the centre of Airtel’s business.
“Data has become central to everyday life, powering work, education, commerce, entertainment, healthcare and countless opportunities. As data usage grows, so too does the desire for greater visibility and understanding.
Today’s conversation is part of an ongoing journey. A journey toward greater transparency. A journey toward deeper understanding. And a journey toward a better customer experience for every Airtel subscriber,” he said.
The forum also featured practical demonstrations on data consumption management, device settings, and usage habits that impact data usage. It also included an interactive session by which Airtel teams provided clarifications and offered feedback to customers.
The Abuja event follows the successful maiden edition held earlier this year in Lagos and aligns with broader industry efforts led by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) to improve consumer awareness, transparency, and confidence within the telecommunications sector.
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