Telecom
Stakeholders Urge Use of Unlicensed Spectrum for Broadband Penetration
As federal government seeks to achieve a 30 percent broadband penetration target by 2018, stakeholders in Information and communications technology have urged government to consider making available more unlicensed spectrum for the provision of broadband internet especially in the rural areas, in view of the protracted process of realizing National Rural Telephony Project (NRTP).
Engr. Lanre Ajayi, immediate past president, Association of Telecommunications Companies of Nigeria (ATCON) said that spectrum ordinarily, should be unlicensed but because it is limited resources that are valuable made some of it to be licensed.
He said that unlicensed spectrum is used for the benefit of the people and need not to be given commercial value. He cited Wi-Fi which according to him is an unlicensed frequency that smartphones and laptops use for internet connectivity at hotspots.
“Government should make available more frequencies as unlicensed for use in the rural areas in the provision of broadband internet just as United States is doing”, he stated.
This is coming against the backdrop of a recent report by Consumer Electronics Association (CEA) which estimates that growth of devices relying on unlicensed spectrum is extremely strong. CE devices that rely most heavily on unlicensed spectrum, which include Bluetooth and radio frequency identification-enabled devices, have a cumulative annual growth rate of roughly 30 percent from 2011-2016. Consumer demand for products like these is now, in turn, driving the need for even more unlicensed spectrum.
Mohammed Rudman, managing director, Internet Exchange Point of Nigeria, corroborating Ajayi said that though unlicensed spectrum such as Industrial Scientific Medical (ISM) bands operating on 2.4 ghz among others, are mostly used by university community and research centres among others, “it could be deployed in small communities for internet connectivity just as it is in United States of America. Presently, such unlicensed frequency is being used in some towns in Jigawa and Kano states to provide internet connectivity within those towns,” he said.
Chima Onyekwere, chairman, Linkserve a pioneer internet service provider, said that unlicensed spectrum has been proven over time to be stable in service provisioning and also suitable for providing internet connectivity in rural areas, but noted that such spectrum are not designed for profit making which means that for it to be made available for rural broadband internet government needs to subsidize it for the operators.
He added that unlicensed frequencies cannot propagate very far because they are higher which make them suitable for community connectivity.
It would be recalled that federal ministry of Communications Technology had unveiled a Broadband Strategy and Roadmap which is designed to ensure coordinated roll-out of broadband infrastructure.
This results in a predictable environment for infrastructure development by private sector and ultimately increases investment in the ICT sector, and further increasing the GDP contribution of the sector. There is a planned target of 30 percent broadband penetration by 2018.
With the introduction of Travel Saga, a premium, fast-paced gaming experience that is currently live and accessible to customers on its network, Globacom has lifted the bar for mobile entertainment in the country.
Travel Saga is a story-driven, intricately connected role-playing game designed to provide the thrill, complexity, and competitive intensity of some of the most well-known action games in the world.
The game, which has been painstakingly optimized for mobile devices, redefines mobile gaming as a full-fledged digital battlefield by translating a console-grade experience onto data-enabled handsets.
Fundamentally, Travel Saga takes users on quick virtual journeys against recognizable international landscapes. In a dynamic, ever-evolving gaming environment, players are thrown into furious missions, fierce fights, and ever-expanding tales where talent, strategy, and endurance determine who rises through the ranks to become a true war hero.
In addition to the excitement of fighting, users are encouraged to go to various locations, take part in thrilling challenges, and participate in intense competition for in-app rewards like points and victory badges. With each encounter and accomplishment, the immersion increases with each level, maintaining momentum and excitement.
Flexible subscription plans with one-time or auto-renewal choices are available to subscribers for the service, which costs ₦100 per day and ₦250 per week. By dialing *70021#, customers can quickly subscribe and gain instant access to the action.
With Travel Saga, Glo reaffirms its dedication to innovation and high-end digital experiences, making top-notch gaming easily accessible to its customers. The game offers uninterrupted action, adventure, and competition, all smoothly supported by the Glo network.
SHELT, a leading cybersecurity-as-a-service provider, has earned inclusion in the 2025 MSSP 250, the annual ranking of the world’s top 250 Managed Security Service Providers (MSSPs) by MSSP Alert, a CyberRisk Alliance publication.
SHELT
The list evaluates firms on business performance, service breadth, and industry impact, spotlighting those excelling in growth, operational excellence, and advanced managed security amid rising cyber threats. Selection criteria include annual recurring revenue, profitability, workforce expansion, business growth, and the depth of managed security offerings.
SHELT’s recognition underscores its investments in scalable security operations, threat intelligence, and tailored managed services across multiple regions, enabling clients to navigate complex risk landscapes effectively.
“Being recognised in the MSSP 250 is a meaningful milestone for our team,” stated Youssef Abillama, CEO of SHELT. “It validates our focus on building practical, resilient security services that help organisations manage risk and respond effectively to today’s evolving cyber threats.”
The company hailed the honour as testament to its teams’ dedication and expertise worldwide, reaffirming commitment to enhancing capabilities and delivering trusted cybersecurity solutions.
Meta Platforms, owner of Facebook, has appointed Dina Powell McCormick, a former adviser to President Donald Trump, as its new president and vice chairman, bolstering its leadership amid aggressive AI and infrastructure expansion.
Dina Powell McCormick
The announcement, made on Monday, positions Powell McCormick – who recently stepped down from Meta’s board after eight months – to guide overall strategy, including multi-billion-dollar investments in data centres and global partnerships.
A Goldman Sachs veteran with 16 years in senior roles and prior stints as deputy national security adviser under Trump and in the Bush administration, she brings deep finance and international ties to the role.
Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg hailed her as “uniquely qualified” for the company’s next growth phase, while President Trump praised the move on Truth Social as a “fantastic choice”.
The hire signals Meta’s efforts to strengthen White House relations, following recent dinners with Trump and U.S. investment pledges worth hundreds of billions
Paystack Expands Beyond Payments into Banking
DalaHill, BoA Partner on $100,000 ACF Climate Finance Initiative
How to Stay Safe Online During Sales Periods
FG Directs Banks, Fintechs to Remit VAT on Service Fees
Nigeria Targeted with 4,622 Cyber-attacks Per Week in December 2025
Banks quietly move to enforce new ₦50 transfer levy from Jan. 1
FIRS says NIN, CAC Numbers to Serve as Tax IDs from 2026
Nigeria Takes the Lead in the Global WSIS+20 Digital Agenda
Nigeria Police Arrest Okitipi, Nigerian Allegedly Linked to Microsoft 365 Hack
PalmPay Launches N400 Million World Travel Carnival, Rewarding Users with Free Global Trips
General News2 days agoPalmPay, Premier Cool to Reward 10,000 Nigerians with ₦100m in “10k for 10k Campaign”
News3 days agoNigeria, Others Lag Behind as Egypt Tops Africa in AI Readiness
E-Financial2 days agoEcobank Joins Trillion-naira Club for the First Time in 20 Years
E-Business2 days agoKaspersky Warns Telecom Threats from 2025 will Carry into 2026 as New Technology Adds New Risk
E-Business2 days agoNigerian Terra Industries Secures $11.8m for Expansion
E-Financial1 day agoAngst as FG Demands 7.5 Percent VAT on Mobile Bank Transfers, USSD
Telecom2 days agoSHELT Named in Prestigious 2025 MSSP 250 List for Cybersecurity Excellence
News1 day agoMoniepoint Launches Second Cohort of DreamDevs Initiative to Double Down on Africa’s Tech Talent Pipeline