Science & Tech
THE Association of Licensed Telecommunications Operators of Nigeria (ALTON) has chronicled the remarkable transformation of Nigeria’s telecommunications industry over the past 25 years, describing it as the backbone of the country’s digital economy.
ALTON Chairman, Engr. Gbenga Adebayo, made the submission in a paper prepared for presentation at the Nigeria Information Technology Reporters Association (NITRA) Innovative Conference 2026, themed “Bridging Nigeria’s Digital Divide with Scientific Innovation.”
According to him, Nigeria’s telecom sector has grown from fewer than 500,000 telephone lines before the liberalisation of the industry in 2001 to more than 200 million active subscriptions today.
He said the transformation had reshaped communication, banking, education, healthcare, agriculture, governance, commerce and entertainment, making telecommunications critical national infrastructure.
Adebayo noted that operators had invested billions of dollars in mobile networks, fibre-optic infrastructure, data centres, cloud platforms, renewable energy systems and emerging technologies, including Fifth Generation (5G) networks.
He explained that the sector evolved through successive phases, beginning with nationwide GSM deployment, followed by mobile internet services using GPRS, EDGE and 3G technologies, before expanding into 4G, fibre-to-the-home and 5G broadband infrastructure.
The ALTON chairman said operators had also extended connectivity to rural and underserved communities through infrastructure sharing, renewable energy solutions and partnerships with government.
He noted that the industry’s investments had accelerated financial inclusion, digital entrepreneurship and access to education, healthcare and other essential services.
Adebayo identified ALTON’s advocacy on infrastructure protection, Right-of-Way reforms, multiple taxation, quality of service and consumer protection as key factors supporting industry growth.
Despite the progress, he warned that multiple taxation, inconsistent Right-of-Way policies, vandalism, rising energy costs, foreign exchange volatility and affordability challenges continued to threaten future investments.
According to him, frequent fibre cuts and destruction of telecommunications infrastructure disrupt banking, healthcare, education, security and other sectors dependent on digital connectivity.
Looking ahead, Adebayo said emerging technologies such as Artificial Intelligence (AI), the Internet of Things (IoT), cloud computing, satellite broadband and 5G offered significant opportunities to deepen digital inclusion.
He stressed that achieving universal connectivity would require sustained investment, robust infrastructure, digital literacy and stronger collaboration among government, regulators and the private sector.
The ALTON chairman commended President Bola Tinubu’s administration for recognising digital infrastructure as central to economic growth and national development.
He also praised the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), led by Dr. Aminu Maida, for adopting a transparent and consultative regulatory approach that balanced consumer protection with industry sustainability.
Adebayo highlighted the recent resolution of the long-standing Unstructured Supplementary Service Data (USSD) debt dispute between telecom operators and banks as a major milestone.
He also welcomed the implementation of the Critical National Information Infrastructure (CNII) framework, saying it recognised telecommunications infrastructure as strategic national assets deserving stronger protection.
The ALTON chairman urged closer collaboration among regulators, including the NCC and the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC), to address issues arising from the convergence of telecommunications and digital financial services.
He argued that improving quality of service required more than sanctions against operators.
According to him, poor electricity supply, fibre cuts during road construction, vandalism, insecurity and delays in obtaining Right-of-Way approvals significantly affect network performance.
He called for a “whole-of-society” approach involving government, security agencies, utility providers, construction firms, host communities and operators to safeguard telecommunications infrastructure.
Adebayo also urged citizens to report acts of vandalism against telecom facilities, describing network protection as a shared national responsibility.
On recent media reports suggesting another increase in telecom tariffs, the ALTON chairman clarified that the NCC’s ongoing Mobile Termination Rate (MTR) cost study was strictly a wholesale interconnection pricing review.
He said the exercise was not intended to trigger another retail tariff increase, adding that there was currently no industry proposal before the NCC seeking higher consumer tariffs.
Instead, he said the commission had challenged operators to improve customer experience, expand coverage and strengthen network resilience.
Adebayo reaffirmed ALTON’s commitment to working with government, regulators and stakeholders to build a resilient, innovative and globally competitive telecommunications industry.
He expressed optimism that, with sustained collaboration and investment, Nigeria would bridge its digital divide and emerge as one of the world’s leading digital economies.
Tags: ALTON Digital transformation