Revealed in The State of Nigeria’s Creative Economy 2026 report released by NECLive on Monday, the findings are based on responses from 377 professionals working across advertising, film, music, fashion, photography, gaming, publishing, public relations, digital content creation, visual arts and other creative sectors.

Participants were asked to rank seven common challenges affecting their work. Power outages and poor internet connectivity came out on top, recording an average score of 2.98 and ranking ahead of funding delays, equipment shortages, regulatory bottlenecks and intellectual property concerns.

“The single most impactful intervention for Nigeria’s creative sector is reliable electricity and broadband. Until that foundation exists, every other creative economy programme builds on sand,” the report stated.

The findings reveal that while the creative industry in Nigeria attracts global attention, many businesses still find it difficult to access basic infrastructure needed to operate efficiently.

Beyond unreliable electricity and internet access, respondents identified poor team coordination, limited access to dependable equipment, funding delays for materials and travel, visa and export restrictions, regulatory hurdles and piracy as other factors slowing growth.

The report also found that managing projects has become very expensive for creative businesses.

Unexpected costs during production ranked as the biggest reason projects exceed their budgets. Equipment breakdowns and repair costs followed closely, with many respondents saying both contribute to delays and higher operating expenses.

Administrative work is also taking time away from creative output. According to the report, many professionals spend a significant part of their working hours handling paperwork and other non-creative tasks, while chasing payments from clients emerged as another major drain on productivity.

Collaboration within the industry is also proving difficult. More than half of those surveyed said unclear project briefs usually create avoidable problems during production.

Payment disputes were also identified as a major source of tension between clients and creative professionals.

Although respondents noted several day-to-day operational challenges, they said improving access to finance and expanding distribution opportunities are essential for the industry’s long-term growth.

Nigeria’s creative economy currently employs an estimated 4.2 million people, according to the Federal Ministry of Art, Culture, Tourism and the Creative Economy. The Federal Government expects the sector to contribute $100 billion to the economy by 2030.

The report, however, said reaching that target will be difficult unless long-standing infrastructure problems are addressed.

Around 90 million Nigerians still lack access to electricity, representing roughly 40 to 42% of the population. As a result, many creative businesses rely on petrol and diesel generators or invest in solar power systems, adding significantly to their operating costs.

Power supply is unstable despite ongoing reforms. Nigeria recorded two national grid collapses in January after experiencing 12 grid collapses in 2024. Additional system failures were also reported in 2025 because of persistent weaknesses in the national grid and gas supply constraints affecting electricity generation.

Although the Electricity Act 2023 gives states greater authority to generate, transmit and distribute electricity, the report indicates that many businesses in the creative sector have yet to see any meaningful improvement in power supply.

The post Nigeria’s Creative Industry Held Back by Power, Internet, NECLive Report Finds appeared first on Tech | Business | Economy.

This is one of the biggest changes in its history as it separates its broadband and technology operations from its media and entertainment assets.

The tax-free spin-off, which is expected to be completed within the next year, will see NBCUniversal and Sky become an independent company, while Comcast continues as a standalone technology and connectivity business. 

Existing Comcast shareholders will own shares in both companies after the separation.

The media company will include Universal’s film and television studios, NBC, Telemundo, streaming platform Peacock, Sky, Bravo and Universal’s theme parks. 

Comcast, meanwhile, will focus on broadband, wireless services, business connectivity and its technology platforms.

The company said the decision reflects changes in the communications and entertainment industries, arguing that each business will be better placed to pursue its own growth plans and respond to changing market conditions.

Brian Roberts, chairman and co-chief executive officer of Comcast, will remain involved in both businesses after the separation. 

Mike Cavanagh will become CEO of the new NBCUniversal, while former Comcast Chief Financial Officer Michael Angelakis will return as Comcast’s CEO after the transaction is completed. He will first rejoin the company as a strategic adviser.

Announcing the decision, Roberts said: “This is a very exciting day for our company. The transaction we are announcing will unlock a more entrepreneurial management approach and open up a multitude of new opportunities for each business. I very much look forward to helping guide our collective growth for this next chapter.”

Speaking about the leadership changes, he added: “Mike Cavanagh will lead the new NBCUniversal media and entertainment company as CEO. Mike is one of the finest executives I’ve ever worked with and a trusted partner. His vision is for a unique, independent, focused company that will be home to some of the industry’s most valuable brands and assets across theme parks, film, television, streaming, sports and news.”

Roberts also welcomed Angelakis back to the company, saying, “I am also incredibly pleased to welcome back Michael Angelakis as Comcast CEO. As our widely admired former CFO, Michael’s deep knowledge of the business and passion for technology – combined with the leadership of Steve Croney, Jason Armstrong and the entire Comcast management team – will serve us well as we continue to take bold actions in today’s competitive environment.”

Cavanagh said both companies would begin operating independently from a position of strength.

“Both companies begin this next chapter from positions of strength. Comcast will continue to build on its leadership in connectivity, while NBCUniversal, together with Sky, will have the scale, brands, content and financial resources to compete as a premier global media and entertainment company,” he said.

He added, “I’m personally thrilled to continue leading NBCUniversal into the future. With our iconic brands and theme parks, leading franchises and incredible creative talent, we are well-positioned for long-term value creation.”

Angelakis said he was looking forward to returning to the company.

“I have had the privilege of working alongside Comcast’s talented leadership team for many years, and am excited to return to partner with Brian, Steve, Jason and the entire organisation. Comcast’s exceptional assets, entrepreneurial roots, deep customer relationships and strong track record of innovation and technological leadership provide a powerful foundation for the future.”

The separation reverses years of consolidation that brought content production and distribution under one company. Comcast first acquired a controlling stake in NBCUniversal from General Electric in 2011 before taking full ownership two years later.

The move also follows growing pressure on traditional media companies as cable television subscriptions continue to decline and streaming services reshape the industry. At the same time, Comcast’s broadband business has faced increasing competition from wireless internet providers and expanding fibre networks.

Industry analysts believe the split could also make NBCUniversal more attractive for future mergers or acquisitions, although no potential deal has been announced.

Comcast said the transaction remains subject to regulatory approvals, board approval, financing arrangements and other customary conditions. The company also plans to retain up to a 19.9% stake in NBCUniversal for up to one year after the spin-off before gradually selling that holding in a tax-efficient manner.

The post Comcast to Split Into Two Public Companies as NBCUniversal Becomes Independent appeared first on Tech | Business | Economy.

Driven by a directive from the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) following a clean billing audit, the goal is to show users exactly how background app activities, automatic updates, and video streaming drain their balances as data consumption across the country skyrockets.

Operators have already started sending customers daily reports showing how much data they used the previous day.

An official at one of the telecom companies in Nigeria said the data depletion issue has become a major concern across the industry.

“An average subscriber believes their service provider steals their data once their data is exhausted before time or depletes faster than they expected, which is not true.

“Over the years, we have tried to enlighten the subscribers on factors that could lead to their data being depleted fast, which include smartphone functionality, among others.

“And now, we are looking at tools that could show the subscribers not just what they have used, but also how they have used it to further promote transparency,” the source said.

He added that operators are also stepping up public awareness campaigns to help subscribers understand why data may finish faster than expected.

The renewed drive for transparency comes as data usage across Nigeria gets more expensive.

Nigerians consumed more than four billion gigabytes of data in the first quarter of 2026, driven by heavy use of video streaming platforms, social media, fintech services and remote work tools.

That growth has also increased pressure on telecom infrastructure, with networks in many parts of the country now struggling during peak hours, leaving subscribers with slower internet speeds and unstable connections.

Many users often interpret those issues as abnormal data depletion.

Telecom operators are also dealing with worsening infrastructure problems. Industry data showed there were 19,384 fibre cuts in 2025, while another 5,934 incidents were recorded in the first quarter of 2026 alone.

At the same time, only about 25% of planned 4G expansion projects for 2026 have been completed, leaving networks overstretched as internet demand grows.

In December 2024, the NCC said it carried out a billing audit across major mobile networks after repeated complaints from subscribers. According to the regulator, the audit did not uncover any major issue linked to unfair data deductions.

The Executive Vice Chairman of the NCC, Dr Aminu Maida, said the exercise was completed in the third quarter of 2024 using independent auditors.

“We had a hypothesis that it isn’t true that there is a data depletion issue in the industry. It could be perception.

“So the first thing we did was that we immediately conducted a billing audit on the systems of the major MNOs, using reputable auditors. That exercise was completed in Q3 of this year (2024) and surprisingly, we didn’t find any major issues,” he said.

The NCC has repeatedly warned that several smartphone features and apps consume data without users actively using them. According to the commission, background app activity, cloud syncing, automatic updates and location services are some of the biggest causes of unexpected data usage.

The regulator advised subscribers to monitor their usage regularly, turn off background data access for selected apps and disable automatic updates where necessary.

It also recommended using Wi-Fi whenever possible and installing ad blockers to reduce unwanted data consumption from online advertisements.

Meanwhile, Nigeria is reviewing its 26-year-old telecom policy as the government looks to address growing pressure on the sector.

Proposed reforms include stronger consumer protection rules, new tariff structures, wider 5G deployment and tougher measures to protect telecom infrastructure from vandalism and fibre cuts.

Authorities say the reforms are aimed at improving digital access, strengthening cybersecurity and encouraging long-term investment in the country’s telecom industry, ultimately reducing data depletion across Nigeria.

The post Nigerian Telcos to Launch Data Calculators to Curb Depletion Complaints appeared first on Tech | Business | Economy.

The meeting, held in Wednesday, brought together senior executives from both organisations to discuss the future of Nigeria’s telecommunications industry, infrastructure development, service quality, and emerging opportunities within the country’s rapidly evolving digital economy.

The Executive Management and Staff of ntel include Afolabi Oladunjoye, Ikechi Jim Nnah, George Ifeonyemetalu, Chinedu Anochirionye, Ariyike Akinbobola LL.B, Nasirudeen Babalola, who were received by the hairman of the NCC, in a meeting centered on innovation, industry growth, and the future of connectivity in Nigeria.

Also present were the Executive Commissioner, Technical Services, Engr. Abraham Oshadami; the Board Secretary, GT Mohammed; alongside members of the Commission’s management and staff.

Discussions during the engagement focused on strengthening industry collaboration, expanding broadband access, improving connectivity infrastructure, and driving innovation capable of supporting Nigeria’s digital transformation ambitions.

Speaking during the meeting, Olorunnimbe emphasised the importance of sustained investment, service quality, and innovation in delivering value to Nigerian consumers.

He encouraged ntel to continue positioning itself as a strong Nigerian player within the highly competitive telecommunications sector.

“The opportunity ahead is significant for operators committed to quality, innovation, and long-term value creation,” he said, reiterating the Commission’s commitment to supporting operators while strengthening the broader telecommunications ecosystem.

The NCC chairman also acknowledged ntel’s ongoing investments and new initiatives aimed at expanding broadband connectivity and enhancing digital access across the country.

For ntel, the visit provided an opportunity to deepen engagement with the regulator while reaffirming its commitment to delivering transformative digital infrastructure and innovative connectivity solutions for businesses, institutions, Internet Service Providers (ISPs), and communities across Nigeria.

The company said discussions also highlighted the growing demand for reliable broadband services and the importance of introducing innovative products capable of expanding digital inclusion and supporting economic growth.

The engagement comes shortly after ntel announced the deployment of NOVA (Tarana), its next-generation Fixed Wireless Access (FWA) initiative designed to improve access to high-speed wireless connectivity nationwide.

According to the company, the project is expected to strengthen ntel’s role as a digital infrastructure provider by enabling partner ISPs, enterprises, and organisations to deliver broadband services using its network infrastructure.

Both parties expressed optimism about continued collaboration toward building a more connected and digitally empowered Nigeria.

The post ntel Meets NCC Chairman Days After NOVA Fixed Wireless Access Launch appeared first on Tech | Business | Economy.

At the same time, the country recorded over 182 million active mobile subscriptions and about 53% broadband penetration as of early 2026.

These statistics are rarely spotlighted in discussions about Nigeria’s tech sector, though they point to the main driver in the field.

While attention is placed on startups, funding rounds and new apps, influence is consolidating around the companies that run the networks.

These include MTN Group and Airtel Africa, not simply as telecom operators, but as companies expanding into digital platforms.

The scale advantage nobody can replicate

Start with distribution. Nigeria has more than 182 million active mobile lines, with stable monthly growth. In January 2026 alone, over 2.5 million new subscriptions were added.

Market share is heavily concentrated, with MTN and Airtel together accounting for close to 86% of mobile connections in the country.

This is not a fragmented market, a small number of operators control access at scale, limiting how far smaller competitors can reach.

That control affects how people come online, how data is used, and how digital services reach users.

Startups build applications, but telcos are in control of the networks on which those applications depend.

From connectivity to control

For years, telecom companies relied on voice calls and SMS for revenue, but that model has changed.

Data now drives earnings, alongside enterprise services and digital offerings.

The transition is measurable and revenue is moving towards:

• mobile data
• business connectivity
• digital service layers

At the same time, telecom operators are expanding into:

• financial services
• developer platforms
• enterprise solutions
• identity and verification systems

This is a change in structure, not just product expansion.

Once a company controls connectivity, expanding into adjacent services becomes a natural progression.

MTN’s reset

Recent changes at MTN Group align with the new direction. A few days ago, the company announced the appointment of five new independent non-executive directors, alongside the planned retirement of long-serving board members. The changes take effect from March 31 and are tied to its Ambition 2030 strategy.

This is part of a governance adjustment. As operations expand across markets and services, oversight structures are being strengthened to match that scale and complexity.

Board composition influences strategic direction, capital allocation and risk management. Changes at that level usually show where a company is heading.

In this case, the direction points beyond traditional telecom operations.

Airtel is focusing on a different future

Airtel Africa is taking a different approach. The company is testing satellite-to-mobile connectivity, working with low-earth orbit systems to extend coverage.

Nigeria still faces infrastructure challenges, including uneven fibre deployment and high rollout costs in rural areas.

Satellite connectivity provides a way around these limits. Coverage is no longer tied entirely to physical infrastructure such as towers and fibre routes.

If scaled, this approach could change how network expansion is done, particularly in underserved areas.

The fintech convergence is inevitable

Telecom operators already have:

• large, verified user bases
• frequent customer interaction through airtime and data
• wide physical and digital distribution

These factors support expansion into:

• payments
• wallets
• remittance services
• credit products

This brings them into direct competition with fintech firms, with the difference lying in the starting point.

Startups build products and then acquire users. Telcos already have users and are building services around them.

The result of this overlap is still unfolding, but the direction is too simple not to understand.

Data flows, and telcos sit at the centre

Nigeria’s digital activity is growing really fast. Monthly data consumption has crossed 1.3 million terabytes, driven by streaming, social media and financial services.

All of that traffic runs through telecom networks.

Operators influence:

• connection speed
• pricing
• reliability

These factors affect how digital services perform and how widely they are adopted.

This places telecom companies in a foremost position within the digital economy.

There is Growth, but access is still uneven

Infrastructure investment is increasing even as the network keeps expanding, with more sites, wider fibre coverage and gradual 5G rollout. MTN alone invested over $1 billion in 2025, targeting wider broadband access.

However, there is still a huge gap.

Broadband penetration is just above 53%, and access is uneven across regions. Again, we can’t leave out the high expenses that limit many users.

Expansion is ongoing, but inclusion is not yet complete.

Regulation will follow power

With telecom companies expanding their role, regulatory attention is increasing.

Issues under focus include:

• data protection
• competition
• infrastructure security

Telecom networks now support financial systems, communication and economic activity at scale.

As their influence grows, so does the need for oversight.

The endgame is already visible

As it stands, telcos across Africa, in a bid to become tech platforms, are expanding into multiple layers of the digital economy.

Their roles are expanding to include:

• financial services
• cloud distribution
• identity systems
• infrastructure platforms

This places them in a position to support and influence a wide range of digital services.

Startups will continue to innovate just as regulators will continue to respond.

But telecom operators will always be indispensable to how digital access is provided and scaled.

So…

Much of the conversation around Nigeria’s tech sector focuses on applications, founders and funding.

That view leaves out the underlying systems that make those services possible.

The more fundamental changes are happening in network expansion, infrastructure investment and corporate strategy.

They are less visible, but they carry long-term weight, and they are steadily changing how the digital economy operates.

The post From SIM Cards to Super Platforms: Why Telcos are Becoming the Most Powerful Tech Companies in Africa appeared first on Tech | Business | Economy.

At the maiden Rural Connectivity Summit organised by Business Metrics in Lagos, the President of the Association of Telecommunications Companies of Nigeria (ATCON), Tony Izuagbe Emoekpere, said: “We need to move away from talk shops into actions.”

Speaking under the theme “Rethinking Digital Connectivity to Unlock Rural Economic Potential,” Emoekpere said the industry must stop recycling discussions and start building practical, context-specific solutions that meet the real needs of rural Nigerians. 

“We are all part of the talk shop industry, so to speak, as advocates, we go around speaking. But what impact are we having? What impact are we making?” he asked.

ATCON president noted that despite the official claim of about 200 million active telecom subscribers, many of those figures are duplicates. “They are not real people,” he stressed, noting the example of modern iPhones that can host up to eight eSIMs without a physical SIM slot. 

“If you are counting that as eight subscribers, can you see the irony in that, in this, our data? Let us connect real people.”

Away from telecom subscribers, the ATCON president also challenged engineers and service providers to rethink their design approach, saying too many solutions are borrowed from other regions without adaptation. “We just borrow technology. We are very lazy. We borrow technology,” he said. 

“You are supposed to go to an OEM and say, ‘This is a problem I want to solve.’ Design the system to suit that problem.”

According to him, many of Nigeria’s rural challenges, from banking exclusion to market access for farmers, could be solved with basic, fit-for-purpose digital tools. “The lowest of the lowest hanging fruit in the rural communities is that they are unbanked,” he said. 

“If you try and adopt the POS system, for example, and make it a rural solution that allows POS to operate in rural communities, you have already brought people into the banking sector.”

He gave another example: farmers in remote villages selling produce at unfairly low prices because they lack access to real-time market data. “If I tell the village that, I can give you real-time prices of what you produce, what has been sold. Pay me 10 Naira for that information, for example, so that when the middle man comes to me and says, ‘I’m paying,’ the guy says, ‘No, I’ve received information that pineapple today in Lagos is 3,000 Naira.’ Even if you are transporting it, I cannot collect less than 500 Naira,” he said.

Emoekpere emphasised that the problem is not the absence of markets in rural Nigeria, but the industry’s failure to understand and serve that market correctly. “That there is no market in the rural community is wrong. The issue is our approach to that market,” he said.

He urged organisers and participants at the summit to ensure concrete outcomes beyond conversations. “At the end of the day, we are looking at action, actionable points and even identifying potential drivers, say, ‘Mr A is going to do this, Mr B is going to do that.’”

Connecting rural Nigeria requires empathy, innovation, and accountability, far beyond technology deployment. “We must connect real people,” he concluded. 

The post Rural Connectivity Summit: ATCON President Queries Nigeria’s Close to 200 million Telecoms Subscriber Count appeared first on Tech | Business | Economy.

The SmartConnect router, offered at an entry cost of ₦25,000, comes with a SIM card, free installation, and a complimentary 30-day unlimited data bundle at speeds up to 50 Mbps. Customers can thereafter subscribe to flexible plans: ₦25,000 monthly for unlimited 50 Mbps or ₦45,000 monthly for unlimited 100 Mbps.

With the ODU design, the router is mounted outdoors to capture stronger and more stable signals, ensuring uninterrupted connectivity even in dense urban and peri-urban areas. The device also includes features such as nationwide usability with access to Airtel’s 5G where available and seamless fallback to 4G LTE; multi-user capability, supporting up to 64 simultaneous device connections; built-in power backup lasting up to five to six hours during electricity outages; as well as parental and usage controls for managing browsing access.

“Our mission has always been to democratise access to technology,” said Dinesh Balsingh, Chief Executive Officer, Airtel Nigeria. “With SmartConnect, we are removing the barriers of cost and complexity. Every household, and every small business deserves to be connected without compromise.”

Ismail Adeshina, Marketing Director, Airtel Nigeria, added: “SmartConnect was designed with the Nigerian reality in mind. Families, entrepreneurs, and students need reliability and confidence that their router will keep them online even in the face of power cuts or network fluctuations. This product delivers exactly that.”

The SmartConnect router can be purchased at Airtel showrooms nationwide, through the company’s official e-shop (eshop.airtel.com.ng), via Home Broadband Sales Executives, or through Direct Sales Executives. Subscriptions and bundle renewals can be managed through the Airtel Africa App, the company’s broadband portal (airtel.com.ng/hbb), USSD code *312#, or QR code. Nigeria’s broadband penetration currently stands at around 43% (NCC, 2025), with fixed-line access limited in many regions. Airtel’s SmartConnect 5G ODU router provides a scalable and affordable solution that addresses this gap, aligning with the government’s national broadband and digital economy goals.

The post BROADBAND: Airtel Nigeria Launches SmartConnect 5G ODU Router appeared first on Tech | Business | Economy.

New data from the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) shows that 38 ISPs lost over 18,000 customers between Q3 2024 and Q1 2025, revealing the high cost pressures on households and businesses.

Starlink, the second-largest ISP in Nigeria and widely considered a premium option, suffered a significant drop. Its customer base fell by over 6,000; from 65,564 to 59,509. 

Spectranet, the oldest and largest in the sector, shed 2,189 subscribers, while FibreOne, once the third-biggest ISP by user count, recorded the steepest fall, losing more than 14,000 customers.

These numbers may look small in isolation, but in the bigger market space, they reveal a shrinking space for ISPs. 

While ISPs serve fewer than 300,000 users collectively, Nigeria’s mobile network operators (MNOs), MTN, Airtel, Globacom, and 9mobile, command over 141 million active internet subscriptions. That’s more than 99.8% of the market, and the gap is widening.

Why are users walking away? One clear reason is expenses. In February, the NCC approved a 50% increase in voice and data tariffs across all operators. Starlink soon followed, raising its monthly price from ₦38,000 to ₦57,000 by April. 

In contrast, broadband plans from mobile networks remained relatively affordable, making it a no-brainer for many to switch.

Jide Awe, a technology policy expert and founder of Jidaw.com, links the decline directly to the economic challenges. He told Nairametrics that “The rising costs of data, equipment, and power supply mean many families and small businesses have to cut costs and focus strictly on essentials. Maintaining subscriptions isn’t as much of a priority for many. Starlink, in particular, is more expensive in terms of device and subscription costs.”

Beyond price, MNOs have now muscled into the fibre broadband space, once a core domain for fixed-line ISPs. MTN and Airtel, for instance, are aggressively rolling out Fibre to the Home (FTTH) services, directly competing with traditional ISPs, and with more resources and deeper infrastructure reach.

“I don’t think this is fair to the smaller operators (the ISPs),” said Tony Emoekpere, President of the Association of Telecommunications Companies of Nigeria (ATCON). He also pointed to the tariff hike and the massive disparity in market share as additional issues.

It’s not just competition or cost. Operational realities are difficult for ISPs. Running diesel-powered infrastructure in a country with unstable power supply eats into profits. International bandwidth is so expensive, Right of Way (RoW) fees and multiple taxes in different states further drain resources. Urban areas suffer frequent cable vandalism and theft, slowing down service and customer confidence.

Of the 234 licensed ISPs in Nigeria, only 127 had any active users in Q1 2025. Many operate in survival mode, with no clear path to scale. Meanwhile, mobile networks are doing better, buoyed by reach, convenience, and price flexibility.

So what’s next for ISPs?

Awe believes the current model has run its course. “The ISPs should explore the provision of tailored services for SMEs, real estate, health, and education. With strategic planning, they can further digital transformation within sectors and across industries. In this regard, it is advisable to collaborate with agile, tech-savvy SMEs and startups to drive innovation.”

He also advises them to adopt bundled service models and reduce operating costs by investing in solar energy and local alternatives. Improving customer service, reliability, and delivering niche solutions could also help claw back market relevance.

But beyond business tweaks, many operators say the rules of the game need to change. NCC and policymakers need to create a level playing field that doesn’t leave fixed ISPs to fend for themselves against the Goliaths of the telecom industry.

Without regulatory support and an updated broadband strategy, Nigeria could end up with fewer ISPs, and even fewer real broadband choices.

The post ISPs Lose 18,000+ Customers as Nigerians Shift to Cheaper Mobile Networks appeared first on Tech | Business | Economy.

Over 2,000 customers exited the service between December 2024 and March 2025.

New figures from the Communications Authority (CA) place Starlink’s total fixed internet subscribers at 17,066 by the end of Q1 2025. That’s a drop of over 11% within a single quarter, pulling the company down from the seventh to the eighth spot among internet service providers (ISPs) in Kenya. 

The timing coincides with a prolonged pause in new sign-ups and an aggressive drive by Safaricom to overtake the fixed broadband market.

The collapse in user growth traces back to Starlink’s decision to halt new connections across major urban and peri-urban counties, including Nairobi, Kiambu, and Machakos. 

The reason is overcapacity; too many users, not enough infrastructure. A Nairobi ground station was eventually switched on in January 2025 to ease the burden, but the damage was already done. Many who had spent over KES 45,000 ($348) on Starlink hardware were left waiting, months on end, for access.

Even now, with the waitlist reopened, growth hasn’t recovered. Some customers appear to have abandoned the service altogether, citing connection delays, lack of support, and the high KES 6,500 ($50) monthly fee for speeds of 180 Mbps. 

Meanwhile, Safaricom swooped in with cheaper 5G plans starting at KES 4,000 ($31) per month for 50 Mbps. More importantly, the company cut its router prices from KES 25,000 to KES 3,000, more than ten times cheaper than Starlink’s hardware.

Safaricom’s moves are working. It added nearly 57,000 fixed broadband subscribers in the first quarter of 2025 alone, increasing its market share to 36.5%. Starlink, by comparison, slipped from 1.1% to 0.9%. Even Dimension Data overtook it in the rankings.

Distribution patterns reveal another dimension of Starlink’s challenges. Supermarket chains like Carrefour have started reducing the stock of Starlink kits. Quickmart has shifted to marketing Safaricom’s 5G routers instead. 

The early excitement generated by Elon Musk’s online endorsements and local tech influencers is waning. Starlink’s dominance in satellite internet, currently holding 97% of Kenya’s satellite market, is beginning to look fragile.

And now, regulatory threats are emerging. The CA has proposed a near tenfold increase in satellite licence fees, from KES 1.6 million to KES 15 million. An additional 0.4% levy on annual gross turnover is also on the table. These changes, framed as efforts to create parity between global and local players, will hit Starlink’s margins hard.

Globally, Starlink added more than 1.5 million users in three months, reaching 5.36 million subscribers as of March 2025. Africa accounted for 336,000 of those, marking a 42% rise. But in Kenya, the direction has turned. 

Even with its wide reach into underserved regions and relatively high speeds, Starlink’s challenges might soon move beyond technical, to financial, political, and strategic. 

The post Starlink Loses 2,000+ Subscribers in Kenya as Safaricom Adds 57,000 appeared first on Tech | Business | Economy.

That’s the price it demands from telecom companies for laying fibre-optic cables. And in this theatre of the absurd, the state has managed to rank fourth in Nigeria for fibre coverage, with over 4,100 kilometres of cables beneath its soil—but at what cost? Ogun State charges the highest right-of-way fee in the country. For context, Gombe charges ₦500 per metre. That’s 18 times less.

We usually say Nigeria is a federation, but never has the fragmentation of policy been more visible than in the digital space. A document compiled by industry stakeholders in March 2024 reveals how states choose to treat broadband infrastructure. From Lagos to Yobe, it’s a roulette of fees, politics, and misplaced priorities.

Let’s get specific. Lagos, with its over 7,800km of fibre and reputation as the nation’s digital nucleus, charges ₦6,264 per metre. Osun, with 64km laid, somehow believes ₦6,850 is appropriate. Apparently, having little doesn’t mean charging less.

States like Sokoto, Jigawa, Kano, and Borno charge moderately, from ₦1,000 to ₦3,000 per metre. They seem to have realised what many others haven’t: infrastructure attracts investment, not the other way round.

In 2013, the National Economic Council proposed a standard right-of-way fee of ₦145 per metre to boost national fibre deployment. It sounded like progress. But like many Nigerian policies, it died in infancy—good on paper, ignored in practice. Today, most states charge whatever they please. Why? Because they can. There’s no law to stop them.

“The ₦0 right-of-way fee is based on executive order, but the ₦145 is law,” said Suleiman Isah, commissioner for Communications and Digital Economy in Niger State. “If the investment we attract in the next year or two outweighs what we made from fees, we’ll amend the law permanently.”

What Niger and a few other states are beginning to understand is that digital investment is a long game. Niger went beyond adopting the ₦145 benchmark, it took a step further—zero fee by executive order. And unlike others, they’ve committed to reviewing their law if it proves beneficial. That’s governance with foresight.

Meanwhile in Ogun…

Ogun State clearly didn’t get the memo pertaining the right-of-way fee. Or worse—it read it, laughed, and shredded it. The state charges more than nine times the NEC recommendation. One wonders if the goal is to build digital infrastructure or to bleed telecom operators dry. 

Ironically, despite laying thousands of kilometres of fibre, broadband reach is still abysmally uneven. Only 39% of Nigerians live within five kilometres of fibre networks, according to recent data. The rest? Digitally stranded.

The problem is bigger than just fees. Gbenga Adebayo, President of the Association of Licensed Telecommunications Operators of Nigeria (ALTON), said:

“The era of state governments charging Right-of-Way fees should be over. When states impose these fees, they lose out on the broader benefits of digital infrastructure. Instead of charging right-of-way fees, states should require telecom operators to deliver social impact projects.”

Some states, even after “waiving” fees, sneak in new levies—education taxes, highway fees, building permits. They give with one hand and snatch with the other. What Does Progress Look Like?

Progress isn’t only about kilometres of cable. It’s about who benefits, how far the access spreads, and whether the investment environment makes sense. Delta, Enugu, Ebonyi, and the FCT have embraced the ₦145 model. 

Other states like Anambra and Benue have gone fee-free altogether to stimulate investment beyond the major cities.

In Anambra, fibre isn’t just concentrated in Onitsha and Nnewi anymore. The goal, officials say, is statewide coverage.

“If telcos judged every investment strictly by profit, only commercial zones would get infrastructure,” said Chukwuemeka Fred Akpata, MD of Anambra ICT Agency. “By waiving right-of-way, we’re encouraging deployment in underserved areas.”

Now compare that to Ogun, where the right-of-way fee is mouth-opening. The State charges the highest and still hasn’t cracked equitable access. Maybe it’s time we stopped applauding infrastructure by kilometre count alone.

Numbers Don’t Lie, But They Do Mock

Nigeria’s broadband penetration stood at 45.61% as of January 2025. That’s promising—but it’s not enough. The GSM Association estimates that standardising right-of-way fees to ₦145 per metre across Nigeria could slash broadband rollout expenses by 15%. That’s not chump change. That’s money that could build infrastructure, hire engineers, reach the rural poor.

Instead, we’re stuck in a loop of states milking telecoms dry while claiming to support digital development. Some are waking up to the bigger picture. Others are doubling down on short-term revenue.

If we truly want to become a digital economy, we have to stop pretending that fees are policy. The path to progress isn’t paved with toll booths. It’s built on access, equity, and smart governance. And right now, only a few Nigerian states seem to understand that.

Until there’s a uniform, enforceable policy, Nigeria’s digital growth will remain a postcode lottery, fast in one state, frozen in the next.

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