TheNewsGuru

Tag: 9Mobile

  • From 9Mobile to T2; telecoms sector still underwhelming in service delivery – By Okoh Aihe

    From 9Mobile to T2; telecoms sector still underwhelming in service delivery – By Okoh Aihe

    When the article, Don’t let 9Mobile die, was published in February 2022, the service provider had nearly 13m lines. It was struggling for life and had so many people wishing it well. It had commitments it could hardly meet and some of us thought it was better for relevant stakeholders to work for its survival than let it go under because of implications that could be far-reaching.

    We wrote at the time, “From all indications, 9MOBILE needs understanding and support from all the various stakeholders, so that it can muster enough gusto and courage, once more, to begin to meet its obligations to its creditors, suppliers and services providers. The regulator should pay more attention to the corporate governance activities of the mobile operators in order to keep abreast with their financial health. Or know when some tricks are being played.”

    Has this come to pass? Has the sun returned to the spot where 9Mobile has hibernated for a long time?

    Last week, the organisation announced a name change to T2. An interesting name really, which resonates. Obafemi Banigbe, Chief Executive Officer (CEO), was quoted to have said at the occasion, that, “this is not just a logo change, it’s a total evolution of who we are, why we exist,  and how we deliver value.”

    9Mobile has had quite a story, a little chequered, I should add. Coming into Nigeria in 2007 on the platform of Emerging Markets Telecommunication Services Limited (EMTS), with serious financial infusion from the UAE (Mubadala to be specific), the company traded as Etisalat, 9Mobile in 2017, and now T2. The market may only be hoping that this should not be the tale of the rolling stone that gathers no moss.

    It was understandable when the chairman EMTS, Thomas Etu, told the gathering that, “Today marks a new beginning for the 9Mobile business. The march has been tedious. The journey has been exhausting.”

    Etu said it was his belief in the nation that prompted him to invest in the company that has had a share of business misfortune. He must be a bold man, and the nation needs more of his type.

    The story of the service provider can frighten anybody but Etu. From its prime days of over 22m lines, the fortunes of 9Mobile, now T2, have plummeted to 3.2m lines, according to January 2025 figures from the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC). It may actually be less. But has 9Mobile reincarnated in T2 to defeat all the demons that once troubled its existence?

    I wouldn’t know whether the excitement from the NCC provides any answer. A source at the Commission could only sketch the picture of greater things coming the way of the newly rebranded company.

    “EMTS has met the regulatory requirements to do what they are doing now. They have made the necessary payments and have gotten the regulatory approvals needed,” the source told this writer excitedly.

    I am not that excited at all. In that February 2022 article, we wrote:

    “In spite of the excitement I see around me, the future I see of the telecommunications industry doesn’t present a sustained hope. Except there is a turn, some analysis might be needed at some point to warn those who build imaginary bridges of hope in the skies.”

    The story of 9Mobile might be stirring in T2 but the larger industry remains in trouble, plagued by sundry challenges that shouldn’t be associated with an industry that is 24 years old.

    Just this Tuesday morning (yesterday), a friend woke me up, screaming on the phone, what is happening to the telecommunications industry and why should the regulator allow a service provider to run a mega million promo when the quality of service is very bad?

    The anger is understandable. Even in my humble abode at the nation’s capital, sometimes I have to move from room to room searching for network signals. This may translate into a hyperbole but it demands that the regulator has to be more aggressive in forcing operators into bulding out facilities that can improve quality of service instead of continuing emphasis on subscription uptake.

    While emphasis here is on telecommunications, it can be nauseating to contemplate some of the things  happening around. A fellow builds a couple of bridges with government money and the person becomes a hero. A politician does not meet the job descriptions (JDs) he or she assigned to self but must still feel entitled to parcel out the air we breathe. So, we have walked into a situation where progress is measured with the standard of those who believe they are doing things the right way, even as hunger devastate a majority of the people.

    Just anything can happen and the people accept it as fated and continue to suffer. The other day the Association of Licensed Telecommunications Operators of Nigeria (ALTON) raised serious concerns about service disruptions becasue of disruptions to the supply logistics of diesel to cell sites across the country.

    “We have received credible reports that members of the Nigerian Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) and the Natural Oil and Gas Suppliers Association of Nigeria (NOGASA), on Tuesday, blocked access to diesel loading depots in Kaduna, Lagos, and Koko (Delta State), preventing the distribution of diesel to thousands of telecommunications sites operated by one of our key members, IHS Towers,” ALTON informed in a statement.

    Just like that. Because the diesel suppliers couldn’t be patient enough for an ordinary trade dispute to be resolved, they had to put the entire telecommunications sector in jeopardy so that both service providers and their subscribers could have a measure of their importance. This is insane!

    We normalise too many bad behaviours and it doesn’t stand well for the country. In almost every sector, including even the supply of social amenities, failure is normalised and excuses are in abundant supply. Since there is a regulator that we can readily point to in the telecommunication industry, bad behaviour and failure shouldn’t be normalised, while excuses should be forbidden.

    The telecommunications sector is in bad shape except the regulator is the only one not seeing it. The user experience presently doesn’t tell a good story. I am suggesting therefore, that a moratorium be placed on all kinds of promos in the industry while the regulator should bend over backwards to nurture 9Mobile, now T2, back to life. It is in our collective interest for the industry to do well.

  • Nigerian telecom 9mobile rebrands as T2

    Nigerian telecom 9mobile rebrands as T2

    Nigeria’s fourth-largest telecoms operator, 9mobile, has unveiled a new brand identity, T2, as part of efforts to revive its market presence and digital focus.

    The Chief Executive Officer, Obafemi Banigbe, made this known during the unveiling of the new brand name on Friday in Lagos.

    Banigbe said the T2 identity marked a new chapter in 9mobile’s journey, centred on bold innovation, digital transformation, and a customer-first approach.

    “This is not just a brand unveiling. It marks the beginning of a whole new chapter in our company’s history.

    “We are no longer who we were. We are evolving into something greater, more ambitious, and aligned with the future,” Banigbe said.

    He said the company was reimagining itself not just as a telecom provider, but as a digital lifestyle enabler for Nigerians across various sectors.

    According to him, the transformation will make 9mobile a cloud-native, data-driven, API-ready operator, able to deliver smarter, personalised services faster.

    “Becoming digital is not just a cliché. It means empowering customers with tools and platforms that improve their lives,” Banigbe explained.

    He said it also meant giving users control and convenience at their fingertips, driven by technology and innovation.

    Banigbe noted that the T2 brand represents agility, resilience, and boldness — traits required for success in today’s competitive landscape.

    He acknowledged the company’s past challenges and said its comeback was built on valuable lessons and determination to rise again.

    “We are not ashamed of our scars. Every setback prepared us for this resurgence. We have returned sharper and more focused,” he said.

    Banigbe thanked customers, shareholders, regulators, and partners for their continued support through tough times.

    He reaffirmed 9mobile’s commitment to delivering value, relevance, and innovation to all stakeholders.

    “We are not playing catch-up. We are playing to win,” he declared.

  • 9mobile reacts to shutdown rumours

    9mobile reacts to shutdown rumours

    9mobile, a telecommunications company has categorically refuted false and misleading rumours suggesting an alleged shutdown of its operations in Nigeria.

    The management of 9mobile made the disclosure in a statement on Friday in Lagos.

    9mobile said that the claims were entirely baseless and aimed at causing unnecessary panic among its valued subscribers.

    “We understand that some customers have recently faced challenges, particularly with Mobile Number Portability (MNP), a service that enables seamless network switching.

    “We want to clarify that 9mobile has never restricted customers from porting to other networks,” it said.

    The telco said it remained fully compliant with industry regulations, and was committed to delivering fair, transparent and customer-centric services.

    The telco explained that a temporary technical issue had impacted Mobile Number Portability (MNP) services, but the problem had largely been resolved.

    It noted that some minor delays might still occur due to ongoing system optimisations, but the telco was actively working to ensure users a smoother experience.

    “As a proudly Nigerian brand, we embody the resilient spirit of our people and remain steadfast in our commitment to overcoming challenges.

    “We acknowledge the temporary service disruptions some customers may have experienced in different locations.

    “However, we assure you that these disruptions are part of a broader transformation effort aimed at modernising our infrastructure and improving overall service quality,” 9mobile said.

    It said its ongoing investments in network upgrades and service expansion would soon yield significant improvements, ensuring reliable connectivity for individuals, businesses, and communities.

    According to the company, in spite of the challenges it was experiencing, 9mobile is making significant progress and remains optimistic about the future.

    “We remain dedicated to providing exceptional service and keeping our subscribers connected to limitless opportunities,” it said.

  • 9mobile loses 6,079 subscribers in 2 months

    9mobile loses 6,079 subscribers in 2 months

    Nigeria’s fourth mobile network operator, 9mobile, has continued to experience a decline in its subscriber base, with 6079 customers porting out of its network in two months.

    This porting loss for 9mobile occurred in the months of November and December 2024.

    The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) made this known in its Incoming and Outgoing Porting Activities of Mobile Networks Operators Report on its website.

    According to the NCC’s report, out of a total of 2998 subscribers which moved from one network to another in December 2024, 2188 subscribers left 9mobile to other networks in the period.

    The report stated that in November 2024, out of 4726 subscribers that switched from one network to another, 9mobile lost 3891 subscribers to other networks.

    “This brought the total number of subscribers lost by 9mobile in two months to 6079.

    “Other operators recorded insignificant outgoing porting numbers compared to 9mobile.

    “In December 2024, MTN lost 236 customers, Airtel recorded 269 outgoing porting, Globacom recorded 305, while 9mobile lost 2188.

    “In terms of incoming porting in the same period (December 2024), MTN gained the most customers from other operators, with 1856 subscribers joining its network.

    “Airtel recorded 835 incoming porting, while Globacom gained 290 customers.

    “In contrast, 9mobile recorded a mere 17 incoming porting in December 2024,” the report stated.

    It noted that in November 2024, 4726 subscribers ported from one network to another.

    The NCC report also showed that for outgoing porting activities for November 2024, 9mobile was the biggest loser, as 3891 subscribers ported out of the network.

    According to it, other operators lost only a few subscribers, MTN parted with 166 customers, Airtel recorded 362 outgoing porting activities while Globacom lost 307 subscribers.

    For incoming porting activities in November 2024, the report showed that MTN gained the most, adding 3019 subscribers to its network, Airtel recorded 1266 incoming porting, and Globacom gained 414 customers.

    It noted that in contrast to the others, 9mobile gained just 27 subscribers.

    The report indicated that there were more incoming and outgoing porting activities in November 2024 than December 2024

    A total of 2998 activities were recorded in December, while November had 4726 porting activities, it said.

    The report also revealed a decrease of 1728 in mobile number portability activities in December 2024, when compared to November 2024.

    “On market share, the Nigerian telecommunications sector witnessed a significant shift in market dynamics, with 9mobile’s market share declining to as low as 1.9 per cent in December 2024, according to recent data released by the NCC.

    “This decline is a far cry from 9mobile’s erstwhile dominance, when it boasted 23.4 million subscribers and a 15.7 per cent market share in 2015.

    “The company’s stagnant subscriber base, which has remained unchanged at 3.2 million for two consecutive months, further accentuated this decline.

    “In contrast, the country’s other major telecommunications operators have experienced notable growth,” the NCC report stated.

    It said that MTN Nigeria had solidified its position, increasing its market share to 51 per cent with 84.6 million subscribers in December, up from 81.2 million in November.

    It added that Airtel also demonstrated resilience, expanding its subscriber base to 56.6 million in December, up from 55.4 million in the preceding month.

    It showed that Globacom, which faced a decline in subscribers earlier in 2024 due to a regulatory audit, had shown signs of recovery, growing its subscriber base from 19.6 million to 20.1 million by the end of year 2024.

  • Between MTN and 9Mobile, not yet the case of big fish swallows small fish – By Okoh Aihe

    Between MTN and 9Mobile, not yet the case of big fish swallows small fish – By Okoh Aihe

    One of the most profound headlines for me in those days came from a Nigerian magazine whose name I can’t recall. Big Fish Swallow Small Fish was the title of the  story. I think it was in the 80s, I am not so sure any more, but it remains etched in my memory till the end of time. I am sure that story was about the practice of big organisations just swallowing small ones in corporate takeovers without even a wince.

    Since then there have been so many swallows. Especially under democratic dispensation, individuals have swallowed up whole states. Some more audacious undertakers have even tried to swallow the nation but the process appears more convoluted and complicated, unfortunately for them.

    As  I received quite a number of calls in the past few weeks, with a number of callers asking concernedly whether frontline mobile operator MTN was buying 9Mobile, that headline came all over again with a rhythm as haunting, if not a threnody. Is MTN, the dominant operator in the country’s mobile ecosystem swallowing up the struggling 9Mobile, the Big fish swallowing small fish?

    From findings within the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), this writer can state without equivocation that there is no arrangement for MTN to buy 9Mobile although there are spectrum trading discussions between the two organisations which has not even been brought to the attention of the regulator, according to my sources.

    There are Guidelines for Spectrum Trading published on the NCC website, www.ncc.gov.ng, but there are no provisions therein for one organisation to swallow up the other. The Guidelines are strictly for Spectrum Trading, spelling out conditions that will make such a transaction possible.

    The Spectrum Trading 2022 provides a Secondary Market for operators to sell unused spectrum and thus be able to put such spectrum to effective and efficient use in providing needed services for the telecommunications industry. This, the NCC projects, will help in good service roll out, coverage and affordability.

    The scope covered under Spectrum Trading includes: Spectrum Transfer, Spectrum Leasing and Spectrum Sharing.

    However, the Guidelines demand that “both the Buyer and the Seller must be in good regulatory and financial standing with the Commission for a minimum of two (2) prior to the time of trading.” All such transactions must carry the imprimatur of the NCC who bears the onerous responsibility of ensuring that all spectra must be put to effective and maximum use across the nation.

    Under the Guideliness as already stated there are no provisions for a complete sale and takeover of a telecoms operator especially at the level of MTN and 9Mobile.

    Unfortunately for 9Mobile, every whisper and assumption has almost assumed the shape of reality. The company has been in troubled waters financially even before the Etisalat Group of the United Arab Emirate (UAE) left Nigeria in 2017, leading to a corporate scramble in which about 16 organisations, among them, MTN, Airtel, Ntel, Virgin Mobile from the United Kingdom, Vodacom from South Africa, Bua Group, Morning Side Capital Partners, Obot Etiebet and Co, Teleology, Smile Telecoms Holding, and Hamilton and George International Limited were jostling to acquire the ailing organisation.

    Fortunately, Teleology won with a bid of $301m over Smile Telecoms which had put in an offer of $300. The problem only became more convoluted and complicated. Even before the final announcement and approval by the NCC, there was already a split in Teleology whose top officials were fighting over a game that had not been properly harvested.

    The cumulative impact of what is happening at 9Mobile is devastating. An NCC source told this writer that the regulator did a health check on 9Moblie; “what we got wasn’t too good but redeemable if management is put right.”

    In the process of fighting for survival, 9Mobile, we gathered, was involved in a lot of financial engineering. The operator is indebted to Keystone Bank, AfriExim Bank unable to pay interconnect fees to other operators and also unable to pay annual operating level (AOL) to the regulator. The workers are leaving in droves and its subscriber base has plunged from over 22m to as low as between 6m and 7m, although the NCC still records 13.58m, a figure which even the workers of the Commission are questioning.

    Some sources within the Commission admit regulatory failure concerning 9Mobile, saying that they have no idea why former EVC, Prof Umar Danbatta was unusually soft to the organisation, a regulatory failure or misguided help that may have further pushed the operator into the mire.

    The good news however, is that in spite of the travails of 9Mobile there are new investors ready to come into the business, take share control and inject new funds into the organisation and give it a new life. But my source cautioned that the current Board should forsake its present intransigence for a redeeming corporate survival to take place.

    While it is important to state here that 9Mobile may qualify for Spectrum Trading, the organisation is not been sold in whole but is discussing to put parts of their spectrum for sale, not all of them. Selling all of them would mean that 9Mobile will not have capacity to operate any more and will not enjoy the approval of the NCC.

    Without a doubt, the NCC’s position will be informed by the Nigerian Communications Acts 2003 and Spectrum Trading Guidelines 2022. But one of my NCC sources says: “For me, if such a transaction will make MTN own too much spectrum, it is not good. MTN has already bought the 700MHz from the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) and Visafone 800MHz through the back door. It may not make regulatory sense if the NCC sanctions the spectrum trading transaction whenever the matter is tabled before the regulator,” the source noted.

    Meanwhile, 9Mobile needs help very urgently to stay alive as a corporate entity. The regulator has been complicit in extending a helping hand, sometimes too generously. In a flash of such generosity, the NCC on May 8, 2023, in the final days of the Buhari administration, waived over N70bn in  spectrum fee payment by 9Mobile to the Nigerian government. The letter was signed by Danbatta and this writer has since learnt that it was a deal conjured between him and former Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Dr Isa Pantami, and pressed on the government for high level approval.

    That shot in the arm didn’t bring so much life to 9Mobile. More may still have to be done to rescue the organisation from palpable demise. The Spectrum Trading transaction may be one of such opportunities to scratch up cash for sustenance.

    On this I agree with my NCC source. “All we just want as a regulator is for the business to work well and deliver service to customers,” the source stated.

    Nothing could be closer to the truth. The telecommunications industry, like every other industry, is about service, the customer and affordability. The regulator needs to do more to return the industry to its glory days through lithe regulatory services capable of creating the right atmosphere for industry harmony and performance.

  • Don’t let 9MOBILE die – By Okoh Aihe

    Don’t let 9MOBILE die – By Okoh Aihe

    By Okoh Aihe

    There is story that is permanently frozen in my brain. In those terrible days of the Nigerian Civil War, when Prof Chinua Achebe had gathered himself together to break news of Christopher Okigbo’s death at the war front to the family, his three-year-old son, Ike, screamed: “Daddy, don’t let him die!”

    Okigbo knew how to dominate his environment. He was bold, brilliant and had lots of mischief. Those who ever met him yearned for his effervescent presence. In August 1967, he fell in a Civil War that has hardly cured the nation of its madness. And the innocent three-year old cried to the father to save his life, because Okigbo too, was his friend. A friend of the three-year old!

    This story is told in Achebe’s There Was A Country. Both Okigbo and Achebe are gone but they left their marks. Each time I see a life or situation that is threatened, the frozen line comes alive, Don’t let him die.

    The title of this piece, with all humility, owes its origin to the great work of one of the world’s greatest story tellers, Achebe. Slightly adapted and compressed, my appeal is: Don’t let 9MOBILE die.

    9MOBILE runs a tragic story at the moment, nothing edifying about it at all. The justification could be that every business has a downtime. But this is more than a downtime. The organisation is bleeding and there is the need for inclusive search for solutions to keep the business running.

    It is a private business some suggestions would come. But wait till a private business goes down, then you will begin to understand the meaning of a private business that has become a public trust because of its impact on the people.

    The story of 9MOBILE which started out in Nigeria as Etisalat once read like a Nollywood story. You can bet former President Olusegun Obasanjo, hailed as OBJ by both lovers and detractors, to have his imprimatur on every good story associated with the renaissance of the telecommunications industry in Nigeria. Years after MTN, Airtel, which also started business as Econet Wireless, and Glo launched mobile services in the country, OBJ, the businessman he was as a leader, was still able to convince some businessmen in the Middle East to invest a mouth-watering sum of $400m in Nigeria. The amount was for a Universal Access Service License (UASL), which also included frequency in the 1800MHz GSM band.

    Coming under the vehicle of Mubadala, a big investment company from the United Arab Emirates, the organisation readily found traction with a Nigerian company, Emerging Markets Telecommunications Services (EMTS), both choosing Emirates Telecommunications Company’s Etisalat to deliver their services. Commercial services commenced in Nigeria in October 2008. It was like marriage made in heaven. Etisalat is big in the Middle East and easily made impact in Nigeria, even having to proudly rub shoulders with Airtel and Glo which came into the market in 2001. MTN was already miles ahead.

    Something happened that was not easily spotted. Whatever Mubadala brought into Etisalat Nigeria as investment was through debt financing; meaning that the money would have to be paid back by the Nigerian operation as loan attracting the agreed interest.

    Before long Etisalat was exposed to a debt of $1.2bn, owed to local banks and lenders. The company was in crisis, leading to the exit of Mubadala. But Mubadala had collected its own money, leaving the Nigerian owners in limps.

    There was a glimmer of hope however. The management was upbeat even in the throes of crisis. When the name change from Etisalat Nigeria to 9MOBILE occurred in July 2017, the organisation had over 20m lines. Not many operators in Africa can boast of that figure. It is pertinent to observe though that there was a sale that created more ghosts for 9MOBILE.

    A question here is, have those ghosts emerged from the shadows to haunt 9MOBILE? As I write this material, not so many industry players see a bright future for the organisation. The company remains in debt, according to industry sources. Plus other encumbrances, it is owing about $140m to Huawei and another N40bn to IHS, its passive infrastructure supplier. IHS is in charge of towers and security for 9MOBILE’s operations across the country.

    The subscriber base has also plummeted, down to 12, 789, 344 lines by the end of last year which translates to a market share of just 6.55 per cent, according to the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC). This is hardly the story that should be expected in a competitive market, like Nigeria.

    From all indications, 9MOBILE needs understanding and support from all the various stakeholders, so that it can muster enough gusto and courage once more to begin to meet its obligations to its creditors, suppliers and services providers. The regulator should pay more attention to the corporate governance activities of the mobile operators in order to keep abreast with their financial health. Or know when some tricks are being played.

    In spite of the excitement I see around me, the future I see of the telecommunications industry doesn’t present a sustained hope. Except there is a turn, some analysis might be needed at some point to warn those who build imaginary bridges of hope in the skies.

    For Tunde Fatunde

    The death of Prof Tunde Fatunde last week crudely reminded me how much one can fight through life and at the end still ask the inevitable question, did I succeed? Fatunde was a fighter and didn’t know how to retreat from any battle irrespective of the danger. From the early eighties when we joined the University of Benin, Fatunde already picked a position to fight on the side of the people with the various tools at his disposal, including his plays that were populist. In one of those lines he put in my mouth as Hassan in No More Oil Boom, Fatunde wrote: “Our working people eat from dustbins because people like Alh. Bauchi, Prof Owokunle and others have introduced into the country the social practice of American businessmen and contractors. In the nearest future the workers and farmers of this country will no longer eat from dustbins. Our People say: When there is life there is hope. I want you to note this important fact. Nigeria is not fore sale.”

    With the Uniben auditorium filled every night, those words lit some kind of fire on the campus and sent ripples even beyond. Fatunde’s words troubled the wicked in the land, and even now that he is gone, they will remain haunted by the arrows in the words. Unfortunately wickedness remains an evergreen totem and poverty has become even more epidemic. The good news is that evil has never broken the strong will of a regenerated people. Which is why Fatunde would have left with a wry smile that he did his best to heal a troubled nation. Your efforts are appreciated and may your journey across the divide be good. Go well and furnish Prof Festus Iyayi with happenings in the land.

  • 9mobile reacts to director’s name being on UAE terrorism financiers list

    9mobile reacts to director’s name being on UAE terrorism financiers list

    The authorities of 9mobile say that one Abdurrahaman Ado Musa on the UAE list of terrorism financiers is not a director of the mobile telecommunications company.

    The company, in a statement in Lagos, said ‘Abdulrrahman’ Ado ‘Musa’, named on the UAE list, was not the same as Abdulrahman Ado, its Executive Director of Regulatory and Corporate Affairs.

    It said the resemblance in names was purely coincidental, adding that its director does not bear ‘Musa.’

    “Our Director, Abdulrahman Ado, is a respectable law-abiding Nigerian. He served the country diligently in public service for over three decades before transferring his services to the private sector.

    “He served in various capacities and was pioneer Vice-Chairman of the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission and Executive Commissioner, Licensing and Consumer Affairs, Nigerian Communications Commission.

    “As a law-abiding company that believes in the greatness of Nigeria, and the well-being of all its citizens, 9mobile would never accommodate any undesirable element within its management and staff,” it said.

    9mobile urged the general public to kindly disregard the mistaken identity reported in the media.

    TheNewsGuru.com, TNG recalls that on Tuesday, six Nigerians were designated as terrorism sponsors by the United Arab Emirates.

    The state-owned news agency, WAM, made this known in a report.

    The country said the listed individuals and entities, including their affiliates, are being monitored.

    The Nigerians named are Abdurrahaman Ado Musa, Salihu Yusuf Adamu, Bashir Ali Yusuf, Muhammed Ibrahim Isa, Ibrahim Ali Alhassan and Surajo Abubakar Muhammad.

    “The UAE Cabinet has issued Resolution No 83 of 2021, designating 38 individuals and 15 entities on its approved list of persons and organisations supporting terrorism (Local Terrorist List).

    “The resolution underscores the UAE’s commitment to target and dismantle networks that finance terrorism and its related activities.

    “The resolution demands that regulatory authorities monitor and identify any individuals or entities affiliated with or associated with any financial, commercial or technical relationship and take the necessary measures according to the laws in force in the country in less than 24 hours,” the report read.

  • Nigerians set to enjoy more smartphones without SIM cards

    Nigerians set to enjoy more smartphones without SIM cards

    The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has granted approval for two mobile network operators to carry out a trial on the workability of embedded Subscriber Identification Modules (e-SIM) Service in Nigeria.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports the two mobile network operators granted the approval are MTN Nigeria and 9Mobile.

    The trial, approved to run for a period of one year, will involve testing 5,000 e-SIMs by the two networks, subject to compliance with a number of regulatory conditions, according to an NCC statement signed by Dr Ikechukwu Adinde, Director, Public Affairs.

    “These conditions include full compliance by the MNOs with the Registration of Telecoms Subscribers Regulations 2011; the Mobile Number Portability Regulations and Business Rules 2015; Guidelines on SIM Replacement 2017; and non-degradation of the Quality of Service (QoS) experience by users of e-SIMs,” the statement reads.

    According to the Executive Vice Chairman of NCC, Prof. Umar Garba Danbatta, the primary objective of the e-SIM trial is to assess the technical performance of the e-SIM on telecoms service providers’ network towards eventual rollout, if satisfactory.

    TNG reports an e-SIM is a small chip that is embedded on a mobile phone or smart devices, designed for convenience, flexibility and simplicity.

    The e-SIM means that there would not be a physical SIM card on the smartphone, making it easier for subscribers to choose a pre-paid plan provider and switch between network operators.

    The information on the e-SIM is rewritable by operators and the identification information can be updated over time.

    According to the EVC, the e-SIMs is a technology that will eliminate the need for physical SIM card slots on mobile devices in the near future, adding that the trial is in line with the Commission’s forward-looking regulatory approach to ensure Nigeria’s telecoms ecosystem is in tandem with global best practices.

  • NCC grants MTN, 9mobile approval for national roaming service

    NCC grants MTN, 9mobile approval for national roaming service

    The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has granted approval for two mobile network operators (MNOs) to carry out trial on National Roaming Service for a period of three months, beginning from Aug. 1, 2020 and ending on Oct. 31.

    Dr Ikechukwu Adinde, NCC Director, Public Affairs, said this in a statement on Sunday in Abuja.

    Adinde named the two telecoms operators as Mobile Telecommunication Network (MTN) Nigeria and the Emerging Markets Telecommunication Service Limited (EMTS), trading as 9Mobile in Nigeria.

    He said that with the approval the EMTS and MTN were expected to configure their networks to begin test and simulation for customer experience.

    “The trial approval covers a few Local Government Areas (LGAs), designated as the National Roaming geographic area, in Ondo State,” he said.

    Adinde said that Roaming Service will enable a mobile subscriber to automatically make and receive voice calls, send and receive data, or access other services when travelling outside a particular network geographical area by utilising the network coverage of other operators.

    He quoted NCC Executive Vice Chairman, Prof. Umar Danbatta, saying that “the primary objective of the National Roaming Service trial was to encourage network resource sharing among operators.

    “This will lead to operational expenditure (OPEX) optimisation and capital expenditure (CAPEX) efficiencies leading to freeing up of resources to expand mobile network coverage to unserved and underserved communities across the country.

    “This will lead to improved Quality of Service (QoS) delivery to subscribers.

    “The successful implementation of the trial will enable EMTS subscribers to access MTN network service within the National Roaming trial geographical area without the need for an MTN Subscriber Identification Module (SIM) card, ” he said.

  • 9mobile rebounds, increases market share

    Nigeria’s innovative telecoms company, 9mobile is well and truly on the rebound as latest figures by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) show that the operator is regaining its market share.

    April figures released in June showed that the number of voice subscribers on the network has risen to 12,568,088 from 12,123,185, indicating that the telco has added 444,903 new subscribers.

    Previously holding 6.1 per cent in March and 6.5 per cent in February, 9mobile now has 6.6 per cent, to confirm that the repositioning of the brand by the company’s Board and Management has started yielding positive results.

    This is coming as the telco maintained its lead in incoming subscribers’ porting for the fifth straight month, beginning December 2019 when it received 8,613 subscribers from the other operators.

    Incoming (Inward) Porting means the number of numbers ported from another service provider’s network into a service provider’s own network.

    9mobile received 5,516 customers from other operators in January 2020, 5,371 in February, 8,225 in March and 3,829 in April to underscore its determination to reclaim its pride of place, especially in the youth market and mobile money space amongst other critical territories in the telecoms consumer market.

    9mobile’s impressive repositioning efforts got a boost from the Africa Finance Corporation (AFC) which approved a $230 million (two hundred and thirty million US Dollars) loan facility to help it attain its long-term growth plans in 2019.

    It embarked on the expansion of its 4G LTE deployment to more Nigerian cities earlier in February as part of efforts to continue offering superior quality services to its customers. Some of the benefits of the expanded 4G LTE include a low latency rate for high-speed connectivity and planned redundancy to minimize downtime impact.

    The telecoms company also just appointed a substantive CEO, the vastly experienced telecoms expert, Alan Sinfield, who has worked and distinguished himself in emerging markets in the Middle East, Asia, Africa and Europe.

    Sinfield has promised to use his experience and unique value propositions to lead the company in the next exciting phase of its journey. He said he would build on the existing strong foundation to create value that will transform the Nigerian telecoms sector.