Association of Licensed Telecommunications Operators of Nigeria (ALTON) has called for stronger collaboration among government, regulators, operators and other stakeholders to accelerate efforts at bridging Nigeria’s digital divide and strengthening the country’s digital economy.
Engr. Gbenga Adebayo, Chairman of ALTON, made the call while presenting a keynote paper at the Nigeria Information Technology Reporters Association (NITRA) Innovative and Scientific Conference 2026 in Lagos.
The conference had the theme: “Bridging Nigeria’s Digital Divide with Scientific Innovation.”
Adebayo described Nigeria’s telecommunications industry as one of Africa’s greatest success stories in economic liberalisation and digital transformation, noting that the sector had evolved from fewer than 500,000 connected telephone lines before GSM liberalisation in 2001 to more than 200 million active subscriptions today.
According to him, telecommunications has become the backbone of Nigeria’s digital economy, supporting banking, education, healthcare, agriculture, commerce, governance, security and entertainment.
He said sustained private sector investment over the last 25 years had expanded broadband infrastructure, improved service delivery and accelerated financial inclusion and digital innovation across the country.
“Telecommunications is no longer simply an industry; it is the foundation upon which Nigeria’s digital future is being built.
“Every investment in resilient telecommunications infrastructure is an investment in economic growth, innovation, national security and inclusive development,” he said.
Adebayo said operators had invested billions of dollars in mobile networks, fibre optic infrastructure, international connectivity, cloud platforms, data centres, renewable energy systems and emerging technologies such as Fifth Generation (5G), Artificial Intelligence (AI), Internet of Things (IoT) and Fibre-to-the-Home (FTTH).
He noted that the industry had passed through several phases, beginning with nationwide GSM rollout that democratised voice communications, followed by mobile internet through GPRS, EDGE and 3G technologies, before progressing to 4G, fibre broadband and 5G deployment.
According to him, continuous investment in network expansion has significantly improved connectivity in rural and underserved communities, thereby expanding access to education, healthcare, digital financial services and economic opportunities.
The ALTON chairman, however, said significant challenges continued to threaten future investments in telecommunications infrastructure.
He identified multiple taxation, inconsistent Right-of-Way policies across states, infrastructure vandalism, rising energy costs, foreign exchange volatility, insecurity and affordability constraints as major obstacles confronting operators.
Adebayo said damage to fibre optic infrastructure and telecommunications base stations had far-reaching consequences beyond communications, disrupting banking operations, healthcare delivery, education services, security systems and electronic commerce.
He commended President Bola Tinubu’s administration for recognising digital infrastructure as a strategic national asset and implementing policies aimed at strengthening investor confidence in the sector.
He also praised the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), under the leadership of its Executive Vice Chairman, Dr. Aminu Maida, for adopting what he described as a transparent, consultative and evidence-based regulatory approach.
According to him, recent regulatory interventions, including the review of retail tariff frameworks after years of rising operational costs and the resolution of the long-standing Unstructured Supplementary Service Data (USSD) debt dispute between banks and telecom operators, had helped improve industry stability.
Adebayo equally welcomed the implementation of the Critical National Information Infrastructure (CNII) framework, saying the initiative recognised telecommunications infrastructure as strategic national assets deserving stronger protection.
“The success of the CNII framework will depend on effective collaboration among security agencies, governments at all levels, operators and host communities,” he said.
He stressed that improving Quality of Service (QoS) required more than regulatory sanctions, noting that network performance was influenced by external factors such as unreliable electricity supply, fibre cuts arising from road construction, vandalism, Right-of-Way delays, insecurity and multiple taxation.
He urged operators to ensure their facilities complied with minimum security standards prescribed by the NCC while calling on citizens to protect telecommunications infrastructure.
“If you see anyone tampering with telecommunications infrastructure, report it. If you see something, say something,” he said.
Adebayo also dismissed reports suggesting that the NCC’s ongoing Mobile Termination Rate (MTR) cost study was aimed at increasing retail telecommunications tariffs.
He explained that the exercise was intended to establish fair and cost-reflective wholesale interconnection charges between operators and had no connection with consumer retail tariffs.
“There is currently no industry proposal before the NCC seeking a review of retail tariffs arising from this exercise.
“Our focus remains on improving customer experience, expanding coverage, strengthening network resilience and delivering greater value to subscribers,” he said.
Earlier, the Chairman of NITRA, Mr. Chike Onwuegbuchi, said Nigeria’s digital divide extended beyond infrastructure to issues of affordability, digital literacy and equal access to digital opportunities.
He said bridging the divide would require affordable internet access, digital devices, digital literacy and equal opportunities for citizens to benefit from online education, healthcare, financial services, employment and government services.
According to him, studies by the Nigerian Economic Summit Group estimate that full digital inclusion could add about 88 billion dollars to Nigeria’s Gross Domestic Product by 2030.
Onwuegbuchi said the conference was organised to provide a platform for regulators, operators, technology companies, financial technology firms, cybersecurity experts and infrastructure providers to examine practical strategies for strengthening scientific innovation and expanding digital inclusion across Nigeria.
