The Nigerian telecommunications industry is scaling up measures to protect its vital infrastructure from increasing vandalism, theft, and sabotage. Telecom operators have established an Industry Working Group to design and synchronise measures to prevent network service disruptions nationwide.
Gbenga Adebayo, head of ALTON, stated that the association includes industry players and security agencies and would modify its approach based on the nature of threats in various regions. From fibre cuts to diesel theft, the aim is to pre-emptively safeguard the infrastructure that keeps the country connected.
“This goes beyond technical challenges—about national connectivity and economic stability,” Adebayo told CNBC Africa.
In the meantime, telecom operators are preparing to move away from the current nationwide tariff regime to region-based pricing. This follows a 50% hike in telecom tariffs earlier this year, which, though controversial, brought short-term stability to the industry.
Regional pricing would reflect the service cost in different states—specifically those where operators face high taxes, levies, and operational expenses. While the full migration to cost-reflective tariffs is underway, regulators are conducting a study to establish the actual cost of service delivery.
The proposed changes could add pricing complexities but provide operators with a better business model to work from, allowing for increased investment in network and user experience upgrades.
Adebayo also mentioned the benefits of sharing infrastructure, citing transactions like the Airtel-MTN alliance. Such collaborations, he continued, reduce capital expenditure, enhance efficiency, and accelerate network deployment—ultimately benefiting consumers and investors.
Despite current challenges, Nigeria’s telecom sector remains optimistic. Nigeria’s telecommunications industry is poised to become even more powerful and innovative, with a greater focus on security, smarter pricing, and enhanced industry cooperation.
