Telecom

Telecom: Great Expectations in 2009

Published

17 years ago

January 19, 2009

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Telecommunications sector remains the pivot of an information society, where businesses and services are delivered via Information and Communications Technology.
The year 2008 was a mix given for telecommunications sector of the economy; it witnessed a lot of activities for growth as well as challenges.
There where issues of poor quality of services by Global System for Mobile communications (GSM), new entrances and missing of Nigeria Communications Satellite (NigComSat-1). Also within this period, Nigeria overtook South Africa by becoming the country with the largest number of connected lines in Africa within the first quarter of 2008. Within the year, telecommunication penetration reached up to 85 percent in Nigeria. By the end of October 2008, Nigeria had attained about 59 million lines, (57.6 million of which are digital mobile lines), and the teledensity figures soared from the 0.4 lines per 100 inhabitants recorded in 1999, to 42 lines per 100 inhabitants by the end of October 2008, according to NCC.
For the regulator the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) the year 2008 is top, being a year with highest number of active telephone lines, almost 60 million as at December. The regulators spent majority part of the year addressing quality of service issue by the network operators. Issuing several warnings to GSM operators as well as sanctioned some of them to pay compensation to their subscribers for providing below standard services.
The Commission blamed poor quality of service delivery by operators on network congestion explaining that some of the operator does not have enough capacity to connect the number of subscriber they admit to their network. This led to ban on some of them from carrying out promotions geared towards attract new subscriber to their network.
However, operators lay claim to erratic power supply and vandalization of their equipment as being responsible for their inability to deliver quality of service. Operators experienced highest incident of theft of power generating set as the three major operators in the GSM space was losing an average of four generating sets every week; there were also an increased record of cut on transmission cable by both vandals and government contractors working on roads.
However, many observers believed that the regulator was too soft for the operators as they failed to enforce strict measures that will bring a lasting solution to the problem within the period.
Operators in review
This space also saw in 2008 the rollout of service by the fourth operators Etisalat in some major cities. It would be recalled that Etisalat acquired 60 percent of Mubadala license in the country. Etisalat came at the time GSM service was bedeviled with quality of service issue, which observers said will be an advantage if they able to deliver a better service quality than its counterparts.
For Globacom, the year 2008 is prosperous, the company has move from a local operator to secured operating licenses in two West African Countries- Republic of Benin and Ghana. The company also celebrated 20 million subscriber base on its Nigerian network as it marked 5 years anniversary, although the Glo network needs serious expansion to accommodate the growing number of new subscribers. The telecommunications giant has last year completed and launched over 80 per cent of its fibre optic ring across the country and is planning to complete its submarine cable project this year.

Last year was not such a good time for MTN as it battled with expansion of its network to provide enough capacity to convince NCC to lift the ban on the company from running promos. Although, it achieved this but, it really was a major set back for the company in its bid as a leading telecom solution provider. In spite of all these, MTN managed to launch its 3.5G service commercially and introduced ‘One World network’ a cross border service that allows MTN subscriber to make, receive call as well as recharge their phone in three West African countries, that include Nigeria, Cameroom and Ghana.
Like MTN, Zain was under the ban and sanction by NCC as a result of capacity issues, which prevented the network operator from engaging in a significant activity in the past year. However, a remarkable thing that happened in the network is the re-branding from Celtel to Zain. The re-branding is described as a unification re-branding which saw all the company’s operation in both Africa and Middle East operating as a single brand against what it used to be.
In a similar vein, Reliance Telecommunications (Reltel) having successfully completed its private placement offer, re-branded to Zoom Mobile at the instance of its new equity holders.
Mtel remain sealed within the year despite promises by the federal government and the new management of the Nigerians Telecommunications Limited (Nitel) controlled by Transcorp, to revive the company within 100 days after it took over. Mtel workers engage in many protests of unpaid salaries and allowances, while the subscriber base of the network dropped to less then 10,000 subscribers nationwide.
The year 2008 could be described as Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) year, as operators of this technology witnessed unprecedented growth. Operators such as, Zoom, Multilink and Starcomms recorded significant growth in the number subscribers on their network, as the dual of Multi-Links Telkom and Starcomms hits 2million subscribers each. Industry watchers attributed the growth in subscriber base of CDMA operators to challenge of poor quality service experienced last year by GSM operators, most promotions in the industry was run by CDMA service providers which accounted for the growth.
More so, Visafone which unveiled its brand and services on February 22, 2008 became the first telecoms company in Nigeria to roll out commercial operations in 12 states and over 40 cities from day one. It has since spread its coverage areas to 17 states and over 150 cities and recorded an unprecedented 1 million subscribers in less than 6 months of operations.
The company has also unveiled a new and innovative product that extends its value added services to its subscribers. The product, called the RC Data Pay, allows data users (internet subscribers) on the Visafone network to recharge or pay for internet subscriptions through their handsets, using recharge cards.
Expectations of 2009
The importance of telecommunications in the economic advancement of the country has placed much burden on the service providers in the sector. Virtually, every sector of the economy rely on one service or the other of telecommunications providers, for instance Automated Teller Machine (ATM) that enable bank account holders to make withdrawal through the machine at anytime of the day is powered by telecommunications solution.
Subscribers of telecommunications services and solution expect in this New Year a significant improvement in service availability up to 95 per cent, and quick resolution of downtime as well as improved customer enlightenment.
Mr. Deolu Ogunbanjo, president, National Association of Telecommunications Subscribers of Nigeria (Natcomms) described the out gone year as being characterized by poor quality of service in spite of efforts by Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) to address it. He noted that last year was slightly better compared to 2007 especially during the festive period as greater percentage of short message service was delivered on time.
He explained that communications is a two way thing where both caller and receiver need to hear each order for it to be completed, but decried a situation that is prevalence in the industry especially with Global System for Mobile communications (GSM) operators where one makes call and will not hear response from the receiver and the customer is charged for a problem he knows nothing about even as no service was rendered.
Subscribers according to him, expect in 2009 better quality of from telecommunications operators even as they argued NCC to do more in addressing congestion issue in the sector.
Ogunbanjo also decried a system where NCC kept allocating trenches to operators without them exhausting the number range. He added that each trench consists of 10 million numbers, and with almost 60 million subscribers it is expected that each of the three major GSM operators should have two trenches each. But, regretted that a situation where some operators presently have four number trenches which ordinarily such operator should have about 30 million subscribers, which is not the case.
He commended the new entrant into the GSM space Etisalat, for introducing innovative services such as caller notification when the subscriber phone is switch off, and advised other operators to introduce that service.
Natcomms president, also expressed his association’s readiness to challenge Association of Licensed Telecommunications Operators of Nigeria (Alton) in court if it goes ahead in this New Year to implement indiscriminant hike in tariff based on unfriendly operational environment. He lamented the high cost of intra and inter network text message, which according to him operators have refused to heed the call by both NCC and subscriber to reduce it from N15 for inter network SMS to N5 as is the case in other developing countries.
On the operators stand point, Engr. Gbenga Adebayo, chairman, Association Licensed Telecommunications Operators of Nigeria (Alton), described 2008 as a more challenging year for operators as issues of quality of service impacted on operators.
He explained the impact as a result of energy crisis, damage of operator’s infrastructure, capacity issues and inadequate national data for planning.
According to him, operators did not get any help from government through improvement in power supply, damage of operator’s infrastructure which continued unabated and absence of national data.
He noted that operators dealt with the issue of capacity as they impact of network expansion work embarked upon by operator paid off with stable network experienced during the festive period.
He stressed the need for government to ensure that it live up to its responsibility of providing stable power supply and security of operator’s equipment, as there is no miracle that can be done to improve quality of service if the energy issue is not addressed.
He however, expressed hope that with the current engagement between operators and relevant agencies of government on the best way to address the challenges, quality of service will tremendously improve this year, otherwise there is no guarantee that the stable network being experience will last forever.

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Telecom

Bharti Airtel Crosses 650m Users

Published

6 hours ago

April 3, 2026

Ebere Melum-Nwogbo

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Sunil Mittal led Bharti Airtel has crossed the 650-million customer mark globally, fortifying its position as the world’s second-largest telecom operator by mobile subscriber base, as per a regulatory filing by the telecom operator.

“According to GSMA Intelligence, Bharti Airtel is ranked second globally by mobile customer base, with operations spread across India and Africa,” the filing said.

Commenting on this milestone, Gopal Vittal, executive vice chairman, Bharti Airtel, said: “Achieving the milestone of 650 million customers to be the second largest operator globally is a great responsibility for us to serve our customers better every day,”

He added that the telco strives to raise the bar on innovation, reliability, and experience so that every customer interaction is an opportunity to earn trust and deliver value connection.

Currently, Airtel India serves around 368 million mobile customers, meanwhile over 179 million users have been plugged into its subsidiary Airtel Africa spread across 14 countries.

Its mobile money platform, Airtel Money reached more than 52 million customers.

Additionally, the telco serves around 13 million homes with high-speed internet services and over 15 million through its Digital TV offering.

With operations spanning 15 countries and network coverage reaching over two billion people, analysts say that the latest milestone is a testimony to the natural curve of evolving from a telecom operator into a broader digital services provider.

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Telecom

NCC Insists Telcos Must Compensate Subscribers for Poor Quality of Service

Published

1 day ago

April 2, 2026

Chike Onwuegbuchi

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Dr. Aminu Maida, executive vice chairman, Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), has insisted that telecommunications operators must compensate subscriber for poor quality of service after a facility tour of major telecommunications operators in Lagos yesterday.

NCC Insists Telcos Must Compensate Subscribers for Poor Quality of Service

The team comprises of Chief Idris Olorunnimbe the Chairman of the Governing Board of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), EVC, Engr. Gbenga Adebayo, chairman, Association of Licensed Telecommunications Operators of Nigeria (ALTON) and other stakeholders visited MTN Nigeria, Globacom and Airtel Nigeria.

Earlier this week, the commission directed Mobile Network Operators (MNOs) to provide compensation to subscribers whose network quality of service experience is below specified targets within certain locations.

In a statement signed by Nnenna Ukoha, head, Public Affairs Department, NCC, the commission noted that its position is that subscribers should not be made to bear the full burden of service disruptions where operators fail to meet prescribed standards of service delivery.

Speaking after the facility tour the EVC, said: “We are in a situation where Nigerians are yearning for better service, but better service requires infrastructure. We are not where we want to be or where we need to be, but from what I’ve seen today, I am reassured that the operators are continuing to invest. I urge Nigerians to be a little bit patient while these investments are made, so that we can address the infrastructure deficit that is required to improve service for Nigerians.

“I wasn’t expecting that a tour like this would change that directive. We looked at it and we said the fairest thing to do was for subscribers to be compensated. This is not to say that the operators have not tried. Service has improved. The data shows that our demand is also increasing at a rate faster than the infrastructure is being built. So Nigerians have to be a little bit patient. From what I’ve seen today and all the work that has been done, I’m confident that gap will be close shortly”.

Chief Idris Olorunnimbe, chairman of the Governing Board of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), added: “From what we have seen, and what has been done. We have been told in detail what is to come. And I mean, just like the EVC said, all we need is a bit more patience, better service, deeper penetration is assured based on everything that we’ve seen, and everything we have heard.

“It’s also important to commend our operators. The infrastructure that we’ve seen is comparable with any infrastructure from any telecom operator anywhere in the world, and Nigeria is not behind, and based on what we’ve also seen in terms of their plans for expansion, Nigeria will always be able to compete with any other country in the world.

” More so, drop calls are not deliberate. They are caused by a few things. One of it is fiber cut and attacks or vandalization of towers and other infrastructure. But now, it has reduced. We have seen they’ve shown us data today that shows a significant reduction. It will continue to reduce. As the critical national infrastructure program deepens and we’re also about to introduce an accountability framework of “when fiber is damaged, you must fix it”. That way we think that people will be more responsible with their constructions that breach telecom infrastructure. Then we can keep those incidents to the barest minimum, drop calls would also reduce.

“However, when calls drop, the networks also lose so it’s not in their interest for your calls to drop or for you to experience frustration when you use the service, because the more reliable it is, the longer you spend on it, the longer you spend on it, the more money they’re able to make. So, they are also doing their best in terms of ensuring that these incidents are reduced to the barest minimum”.

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Telecom

NITDA Urges Joint Action to Drive Nigeria’s Digital Innovation

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1 day ago

April 2, 2026

Chike Onwuegbuchi

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Kashifu Inuwa, the Director General of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), has underscored the importance of collaboration between government institutions and emerging startups as a catalyst for Nigeria’s digital transformation and national development.

Speaking at the Nigerian Satellite Week 2026 in Abuja, themed “Harnessing Space Technology for an Extraordinary Nigeria,” Inuwa urged stakeholders to embrace partnerships as a pathway to innovation and impact.

“Take a good step, and you can make a difference,” he said, emphasizing the need to translate ideas into tangible outcomes through collective effort.

The NITDA boss, represented by the Director of Stakeholder Management and Partnerships, Aristotle Onumo, during his presentation on “Enhancing collaboration between government agencies and emerging start-ups”, outlined four guiding principles for driving transformation: enabling the ecosystem rather than controlling it; prioritising networks over institutions; developing talent while supporting innovation and adopting practical solutions; and focusing on platforms rather than isolated projects.

To illustrate the power of digital innovation, Inuwa shared the story of a rural farmer whose productivity challenges ranging from unstable rents to failed loans were overcome through access to digital tools and networks. He explained that such incremental interventions can scale into broader economic gains, ultimately contributing to national infrastructure like satellite systems.

“This is the power of space technology, and it shows why events like this are so important,” he noted.

Highlighting the evolving role of space technology, Inuwa observed that startups are increasingly driving innovation across telecommunications, navigation, security, and cloud services. Once dominated by global superpowers, the sector is now emerging as a key economic driver, with Nigeria’s “Sunrise Packet” projected to contribute over $1.5 billion to the economy by 2030.

“Innovation without adoption is wasted,” he added, stressing the critical role of government in enabling start-ups to scale through supportive policies, infrastructure, and incentives.

According to him, developmental regulation should focus on creating markets, orchestrating ecosystems, and delivering public value rather than stifling innovation. He pointed to several initiatives supporting the growth of Nigeria’s innovation ecosystem, including the Digital Start-Up Act, Idea Hatch, and the National Digital Leadership Programme, all designed to empower young innovators and connect them to global opportunities.

He further highlighted platforms such as GITEX Africa, GITEX Nigeria, and Digital Nigeria, which provide visibility for start-ups and attract investment, partnerships, and mentorship.

Inuwa concluded with a strong call for collaboration among government, start-ups, non-governmental organisations, and investors, describing Nigeria’s youth as the country’s greatest asset.

“If we are going to create a digital Nigeria, we must collaborate,” he said.

Also speaking at the event, the Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Tijani, described Nigeria’s satellite infrastructure as central to the nation’s digital future.

“Nigeria is the only West African country with its own satellite. NigComSat provides critical connectivity and resilience, benefiting not just Nigeria but the entire region,” he said.

Tijani disclosed that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has approved the acquisition of NigComSat-2A and NigComSat-2B, a move expected to significantly enhance the country’s space capabilities.

He stressed, however, that infrastructure alone is not sufficient.

“What truly matters is how we leverage this technology to improve agriculture, education, security, and business operations,” he said.

The Minister also highlighted key government investments, including a ₦12 billion digital economy research cluster fund under Project Bridge, which will support academics and researchers nationwide. He added that Nigeria is expanding its digital backbone through 90,000 kilometres of fibre optic cables, nearly 4,000 telecom towers in underserved communities, and new satellite deployments to strengthen regional connectivity across countries such as Cameroon, Niger, Chad, Burkina Faso, and the Republic of Benin.

“The talent, ideas, and energy are all here in Nigeria. It is up to us to turn them into real outcomes for our people and the economy,” Tijani added.

The Nigerian Satellite Week continues to provide a strategic platform for collaboration among government, start-ups, academia, and the private sector, fostering innovation and reinforcing Nigeria’s leadership in Africa’s digital and space economy.

Welcoming participants, the Managing Director of Nigerian Communications Satellite Limited (NIGCOMSAT), Jane Nkechi Egerton-Ideyen, said Nigeria’s space programme is entering a new phase marked by deliberate and focused growth.

She pointed to strengthened institutional capacity, expanding partnerships, and clear economic gains, noting that the agency’s revenue grew from less than $650 million in 2023 to over $2 billion in 2025. She attributed this surge to key reforms, new commercial deals, and increasing demand for satellite broadband services across the African continent.

Egerton-Ideyen also disclosed that Nigeria has launched seven space assets in just over two decades, adding that the country is shifting its focus from prestige-driven initiatives to practical outcomes—enhancing connectivity, improving livelihoods, and promoting inclusive development.

She further revealed that more than 500 young Nigerians received training in satellite technology within the past year, while over 50 startups have benefited from NIGCOMSAT’s accelerator programme.

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