The USPF, originally domiciled under the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), was established to finance telecom infrastructure and bridge the digital divide in rural and unserved areas.

The Federal Government inaugurated the new board on March 27, 2026. In a letter dated May 9, 2026, SERAP urged the President to direct Bosun Tijani, the minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, alongside Yomi Arowosafe, USPF secretary to explain the whereabouts of the funds and submit to investigation by anti-corruption agencies.

But beyond SERAP’s petition lies a troubling timeline: the Auditor-General’s report had already been in the public domain for months before the latest public outcry, yet there has been no known presidential directive, public response, or announced investigation into the allegations.

According to details highlighted by SERAP from the Auditor-General’s report, the alleged infractions include failure by the USPF to remit over ₦13.8 billion in operating surplus between 2016 and 2019, questionable payments for international trainings during the COVID-19 lockdown, contracts worth over ₦2.8 billion allegedly awarded without approvals, and irregular consultancy and connectivity project payments.

The report also alleged that the USPF maintained an undisclosed domiciliary account and failed to grant the Auditor-General access to some financial records.

For stakeholders in Nigeria’s digital economy, the allegations cut deeper than financial misconduct.

Analysts warn that any diversion of USPF resources directly threatens national efforts toward broadband expansion, digital inclusion, rural connectivity, e-learning, telemedicine, and access to online economic opportunities.

SERAP argued that the consequences are especially severe for underserved communities that depend on public interventions for internet access and communications infrastructure.

The organisation said failure to act could worsen inequality and further exclude millions of Nigerians from participation in the digital economy.

The development comes at a time when the Federal Government continues to promote ambitious digital transformation policies and broadband penetration targets under the Ministry of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy.

Observers say the prolonged silence surrounding the allegations risks undermining public confidence in government-led digital inclusion programmes, especially as telecom consumers continue to grapple with poor connectivity and infrastructure gaps in many rural areas.

SERAP has now given the Federal Government seven days to act or face possible legal action aimed at compelling investigation and recovery of the funds.

The company said the trial focused on locations with no terrestrial signal. In those areas, Starlink Mobile connected directly to 4G smartphones using its satellite network.

Users were able to send messages, make WhatsApp calls, check maps, and complete transactions on the Airtel app.

Sunil Taldar, chief executive officer of Airtel Africa, said: “We are thrilled to move from announcement to actionable steps with our partners at SpaceX. This testing phase in Kenya is a testament to our commitment to expanding global access.

“By integrating Starlink Mobile’s technology, we are ensuring that our customers remain connected even when they travel beyond our terrestrial network.”

The company now plans to study the results from Kenya before expanding to its other markets. Airtel operates in 14 African countries and serves more than 170 million customers. However, rollout will depend on approvals from regulators in each country.

At the same time, the scope of the service is expected to grow. Airtel and SpaceX are preparing to introduce voice calls and wider data services using the next version of the technology, known as Starlink Mobile V2. That upgrade is designed to deliver broadband directly to standard mobile phones.

Across Africa, other telecom operators are moving in the same direction. MTN Zambia has already tested similar satellite-to-cell services, including data sessions and financial transactions. Nigeria is also expected to see deployments in 2026, with operators positioning for early entry.

So, this is not an isolated test. It is part of a wider push to eliminate mobile dead zones across the continent.

In Kenya, though, regulators are reviewing the development. The Communications Authority has opened a review into the Airtel-Starlink partnership to assess whether satellite signals could interfere with existing 3G, 4G and 5G networks. There are also proposals to raise satellite licence fees sharply, which could increase the cost of deployment.

Beyond Africa, the market itself is growing commendably. Estimates put the satellite phone segment at $3.87 billion in 2025, increasing to $4.49 billion in 2026. The satellite communications market is projected to reach $27.6 billion next year, with long-term growth expected.

The agreement will allow the mobile operator to link base stations to its core network without laying fibre in difficult terrain.

Instead, it will use satellite backhaul to provide speeds of up to 1 Gbps for download and 400 Mbps for upload.

Vodafone announced the partnership at the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona. The company said it will begin connecting sites in Germany and other European countries this year. After that, it will extend the service across Africa through its subsidiary Vodacom.

The first African rollouts are expected in 2026 as Amazon Leo expands its satellite network.

Amazon Leo, formerly known as Project Kuiper, already has more than 200 satellites in orbit. The company recently launched 32 additional satellites in February 2026.

It also secured approval from the US Federal Communications Commission to deploy 4,500 more satellites, bringing its planned constellation to 7,700.

That scale places Amazon in direct competition with SpaceX’s Starlink, which has over 9,000 satellites in orbit and around 9 million subscribers worldwide.

Rural masts usually sit far from fibre routes and running cables across forests, mountains or flood-prone areas is expensive and slow. Satellite links can be installed faster and at lower cost. They also provide backup if fibre lines are cut or damaged by flooding.

Margherita Della Valle, Vodafone group chief executive, said: “Vodafone is looking to space to connect more mobile base stations to our core network, and strengthen resilience even in the most challenging environments. Amazon Leo’s new satellite constellation supports our ambition to give all Vodafone customers reliable and high-speed connectivity, wherever they are.”

Panos Panay, senior vice president of Amazon Devices & Services, said: “Connectivity shouldn’t depend on where you live. With Amazon Leo, we’re helping bring fast, reliable broadband to places traditional infrastructure can’t easily reach, from rural communities to critical emergency networks.

“Partnering with Vodafone and Vodacom is an important step toward connecting millions more people across Europe and Africa and expanding access to the digital services that power modern life.”

Shameel Joosub, chief executive of Vodacom Group, said: “At Vodacom, we are working every day to bring more people in Africa online and in reach of vital digital services. Partnering with Amazon Leo enables us to swiftly deploy mobile connectivity in isolated areas, allowing us to efficiently expand our reach to more customers throughout the African continent.”

Vodafone says the partnership with Amazon Leo will also support the expansion of advanced 5G services in Europe. In Africa, Vodacom links the project to its Vision 2030 targets.

The group aims to reach 260 million customers, grow its financial services business and raise smartphone penetration to 75% by 2030.

Separately, Vodafone is working with AST SpaceMobile on direct satellite-to-smartphone services. The company has not yet announced a launch date for that offering.

The permit allows Kuiper to deploy its network as part of a global constellation of up to 3,236 low-Earth orbit (LEO) satellites, as Nigeria opens its market to serious new competition in satellite broadband.

The approval gives Amazon legal ground to invest in infrastructure, enterprise partnerships, and consumer services. It also strengthens competition with Starlink, which currently holds a first-mover advantage in Nigeria with over 66,000 subscribers. 

The NCC described the decision as aligning with global best practices and part of Nigeria’s strategy to modernise its connectivity landscape.

Kuiper’s Nigerian operations will include three service categories: Fixed Satellite Service (FSS) for homes, businesses, and government offices; Mobile Satellite Service (MSS) for portable and emergency communications; and Earth Stations at Sea (ESAS) for moving platforms like aircraft, ships, and vehicles. 

“We don’t have any information to share beyond what is publicly available at this time, but we’ll sure be in touch if we announce anything,” an Amazon spokesperson said in a recent email.

The network will operate in the Ka-band, a high-frequency range capable of handling far more data than older C- or Ku-band satellites. 

This translates into faster speeds, lower latency, and multi-gigabit traffic for users, though tropical weather can disrupt signals, a challenge mitigated by Kuiper’s adaptive routing across satellites. 

Nigeria represents a huge opportunity for Kuiper. With over 23 million residents in underserved areas and mobile broadband penetration around 50%, satellite internet could provide homes, businesses, and remote industrial sites with connectivity that fibre and mobile networks cannot efficiently reach. 

Enterprises could use Kuiper for telecom backhaul, oil and gas operations, ports, and logistics corridors.

The entry of Kuiper sets up a confrontation with Starlink. Amazon’s strengths in logistics, cloud integration, and pricing power could differentiate Kuiper, especially when combined with Amazon Web Services for enterprise and government clients. 

This could change the Nigerian LEO broadband market, pushing competitors to improve coverage, reliability, and pricing.

Amazon has pledged $10 billion globally to build the Kuiper network. By late 2025, the project had launched its first test satellites and signed a strategic partnership with Vanu Inc. to extend rural connectivity in Southern Africa. 

Nigeria’s approval places the country among the first major African markets officially welcoming Kuiper, pointing to growth in the continent’s satellite broadband sector.

This competition promises faster internet, broader coverage, and more resilient connectivity for consumers and businesses in Nigeria.

Even with 88% of the population being covered by terrestrial networks, millions are stranded in the digital dark. Airtel Africa, in partnership with SpaceX, says that changes next year.

Speaking at a press conference held on Thursday, December 18, 2025, Dinesh Balsingh, CEO of Airtel Nigeria, expanded on the earlier announcement  that Airtel Africa would deploy Starlink Direct-to-Cell satellite connectivity across its 14 markets. 

“This provides satellite connectivity across all our 14 markets of Airtel Africa, serving about 174 million customers. Airtel Nigeria will launch this service in 2026, providing data for select applications, text messaging, and USSD services,” Balsingh said.

This is a calculated strike at the incessant gaps in Nigeria’s digital sector. Fibre vandalism, inaccessible terrain, and low-density rural populations have long made network expansion expensive and slow. “Some areas are deserts, mountains, or simply too remote for fibre. Satellite connectivity ensures reliable access wherever you go, irrespective of geography,” Balsingh further noted.

Starlink’s first-generation and next-generation satellites will bring high-speed mobile broadband, ensuring smartphone users can access WhatsApp, mobile money, and essential apps even where no terrestrial network exists. 

Airtel Nigeria becomes the first operator in the country to offer this service, powered by 650 satellites for seamless coverage.

Who Benefits?

The press conference also addressed the question of who benefits? Balsingh explained, “It will be a combination of both. While deep rural areas have lower smartphone penetration, there is still a significant population. Connectivity will serve local communities and travellers alike,” he said. Farmers, traders, and seasonal workers can remain connected when moving between towns and remote villages.

Technological advances now make this leap feasible. A decade ago, satellite internet was expensive and impractical for mobile use. Today, falling device prices and SpaceX innovations bring it within reach. 

“Technology moves forward. Today, around 50–55% of our customers use smartphones, up from single digits a decade ago. SpaceX’s innovations make satellite mobile connectivity realistic and scalable,” Balsingh noted.

Airtel Africa is doubling down on investments alongside Starlink. Over the past six months, 700 new sites were rolled out, 99% 4G-ready, while preparations for 5G deployment continue. Home broadband solutions, including Smart Connect outdoor units, will complement mobile coverage, bringing fibre-like connectivity into homes in urban and semi-urban areas.

Beyond coverage, resilience is an indispensable goal. When fibre is cut or vandalised, satellite connectivity acts as a reliable fallback. “This is a big boon for rural markets. We have to ensure the service is well deployed and people don’t feel a difference as they switch seamlessly between these technologies.”

For Airtel Africa, Balsingh stressed that the Starlink partnership isn’t just about technology, but digital inclusion, financial accessibility, and economic empowerment. “We remain committed to our leadership in connectivity innovations that empower individuals, capitalise economic opportunities, and unlock sustainable development.”

Airtel says the Starlink Direct-to-Cell service launch in Nigeria is slated for 2026, pending regulatory approvals, and promises to ensure no community is left disconnected.

The collaboration, announced on Wednesday, will see Starlink’s low-Earth orbit (LEO) satellites integrated into Vodacom’s network to provide faster, more reliable internet access for remote communities and businesses. 

The agreement also authorises Vodacom to resell Starlink’s equipment and services across its African markets, opening new possibilities for small businesses, schools, and health centres in areas where traditional infrastructure is expensive or impractical.

Vodacom, majority-owned by Britain’s Vodafone, said the partnership is an important step in its Vision 2030 strategy, which seeks to grow its customer base from 223 million to 260 million and expand financial services users to 120 million within five years. 

In adding satellite connectivity to its mix of 4G, 5G, fibre, and microwave services, the company is moving closer to universal coverage across the continent.

Chief Executive Officer Shameel Joosub described the partnership as essential to achieving inclusive connectivity across Africa. “We are delighted to collaborate with Starlink, a move that accelerates our mission to connect every African to the internet. Low Earth orbit satellite technology will help bridge the digital divide where traditional infrastructure is not feasible, and this partnership will unlock new possibilities for the unconnected,” he said.

For Starlink, which is already operational in 25 African countries including Nigeria, Kenya, and Zambia, the agreement supports its expansion through an established telecom operator with deep local reach. 

Chad Gibbs, vice president of Starlink Operations at SpaceX, noted the partnership’s value: “Starlink is already serving people, businesses, and organisations in 25 African countries. By collaborating with Vodacom, Starlink can deliver reliable, high-speed connectivity to even more customers, transforming lives and communities across the continent.”

Beyond consumer access, Vodacom plans to provide bespoke enterprise solutions powered by Starlink’s satellite technology. These include backup internet services, connectivity packages for remote sites, and flexible plans for industries such as mining, oil and gas, agriculture, tourism, and finance, sectors where downtime can mean significant losses.

The deal also strengthens Vodacom’s competitive stance against MTN Group, which has been exploring its own satellite partnerships. 

Vodafone, Vodacom’s parent company, has already aligned with Amazon’s Project Kuiper and AST SpaceMobile, showing a pivot among global telecom operators towards hybrid terrestrial-satellite networks.

This contrast, according to Engr. Gbenga Adebayo, National Chairman of the Association of Licensed Telecom Operators of Nigeria (ALTON), reveals how far the nation has grown in connectivity, and how far it still has to go.

Speaking at Nigeria’s first Rural Connectivity Summit, organised by Business Metrics in Lagos, themed “Rethinking Digital Connectivity to Unlock Rural Economic Potential,” the Chairman of ALTON noted that while Nigeria’s telecom sector has made progress in 24 years, true digital inclusion is still out of reach for many living in rural areas.

“People are concluding transactions, doing e-services, and even talking to their doctors as we speak. This is how far we have gone as a people in 24 years,” Adebayo said, recalling how making an international phone call once required hours of waiting at public call centres in Lagos.

He described the divide between urban and rural areas as “a major departure,” pointing out that in many villages, residents still climb hills or trek to mountaintops just to get mobile network signals. For him, the question at the centre of the rural connectivity challenge is fundamental: “Who should own the local network?”

Adebayo argued that just as communities once came together to build schools, churches, and mosques, they should also be empowered to build and own their local communication infrastructure. “If the communities own those networks, they will protect them. It will be difficult for anyone to vandalise what they built,” he stated.

He criticised the frequent vandalism of telecom sites, describing how solar panels are sometimes stolen and used for leisure activities. “Today, we are seeing cases of people vandalising sites and taking the solar cells to play table tennis in the village square. That will not happen if they own those networks,” he said.

Adebayo urged government and regulators to create incentives for rural operators, including tax waivers, free rights of way, and easier access to land. Pointing to Niger State as an example, he said large-scale solar farms could thrive there if policies encouraged investment. “If you want to deploy hundreds of kilometres of solar farms, go there. The land is free,” he said.

He also proposed that Nigeria’s data centre operators should consider relocating parts of their operations to rural states where land is cheaper and more available. “In the centres where we are concentrated, we are struggling for everything, from power to water. Maybe it’s time we begin to think of taking some of these data centres offsite,” he added.

The ALTON Chairman emphasised that rural connectivity shouldn’t be limited to infrastructure, ensuring new opportunities, security, and restoring dignity are highly important. “Rural connectivity is not just about expanding network coverage, but about expanding opportunities,” Adebayo said. 

“If people have the same value and opportunities in those tier two, three, and four cities, they will have a better quality of life than the daily struggles in the urban centres.”

“Together, we can be rural connected, not just as a policy aspiration, but as a living reality in every part of the country.”

This was revealed during the inaugural Rural Connectivity Summit organised by Business Metrics, in Lagos, where Dr Aminu Maida, executive vice chairman of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), stressed that connectivity is far more than speed, it’s about economic inclusion.

“The accurate measure of connectivity is not in megabits per second, but in the economic value it creates or loses,” said Dr Aminu Maida, whose keynote address was delivered by Tunji Jimoh, Zonal Controller of the NCC Lagos Office.

At the event, themed “Rethinking Digital Connectivity to Unlock Rural Economic Potential,” he described connectivity as “an indispensable part of life,” noting that when it fails, “opportunities stop, and lives can be at risk.”

Dr Maida noted that despite progress, rural Nigeria is digitally invisible, with internet access still at 23% compared to 57% in urban areas. This gap, he explained, cuts off millions from modern education, markets, healthcare, and financial services, a situation he called “unacceptable and unsustainable.”

Research shows that a 10% increase in broadband penetration can drive 1.38% GDP growth in developing economies. However, Nigeria’s broadband penetration as of August 2025 stood at 48.81%, below its potential. 

While coverage has expanded, with 3G and 4G networks reaching 86.34%, usage and household access remain at 39.2% and 40.1% respectively.

Nigeria’s ICT Development Index (IDI) score also exposes this imbalance. At 52.9, the country ranks 137th out of 164 economies, following far behind the global average of 77.6 and Africa’s 56.1.

To tackle these challenges, Dr Maida outlined NCC’s ongoing initiatives through the Universal Service Provision Fund (USPF). The Fund has financed over 2,500 educational projects and delivered 100,000 computers to schools nationwide.

One unique project is the Emerging Technology Centre at Ogun State Institute of Technology, where more than 9,000 students now have access to digital tools for innovation.

Beyond education, the USPF’s e-Health Project connects rural clinics to larger hospitals for remote consultations, while the e-Accessibility Project provides persons with disabilities with assistive technology. 

To ensure sustainability, the NCC has also launched the Impact Alliance, a partnership network involving private sector players, civil society, and international bodies, to co-invest in inclusive connectivity.

In response to the sabotage of telecom infrastructure, Dr Maida highlighted the Critical National Information Infrastructure (CNII) Order, signed by the President in June 2024, empowering law enforcement to protect telecom assets. 

“Our advocacy has led to 11 states offering zero charges for right-of-way permits,” he said, adding that 70 others have aligned with the national benchmark of ₦145 per linear metre.

The Commission has also been working with mobile network operators, global partners like GSMA and the World Bank, and the Office of the National Security Adviser to safeguard telecom assets and promote affordable broadband deployment.

“We stand at a strategic crossroads. The global digital race is accelerating, and we must act decisively to ensure our youth are creators, not consumers, of digital value,” Dr Maida said.

He urged governors to support right-of-way reforms, operators to speed up rural rollouts, and communities to protect telecom infrastructure. “These assets are their bridge between backwardness and global relevance,” he stated.

With over 45% of Nigeria’s population still living in rural areas, the NCC wants digital inclusion to go beyond policies, it is a national strategy for growth.

The collaboration resulted in a two-day workshop hosted in Abuja from June 3-4, 2025, to explore policy framework for enabling community networks towards bridging the digital divide and accelerating socio-economic development in Nigeria’s underserved and unserved communities.

The forum brought together regulators, community leaders, technical experts and potential foreign investors, among others, to examine policy and regulatory barriers, explore innovative funding mechanisms, ensure sustainable renewable solutions and strengthen collaboration with stakeholders.

Addressing participants at the workshop, Dr. Aminu Maida, the executive vice chairman of NCC, said the workshop is important to bridging the digital divide in Nigeria and foster inclusive social economic development.

“This workshop is an opportunity for all of us to harness the expertise, insights, and experiences of diverse stakeholders present here which includes the regulators, community leaders, technical experts and potential foreign providers to address the critical challenges such as affordable devices, access, licensing, spectrum allocation, infrastructure development, sustainability and institutional monitoring,” said Maida, who was represented at the event by Abraham Oshadami, executive commissioner, Technical Services, NCC.

Maida said the workshop demonstrates the Commission’s commitment to advancing digital inclusion, particularly in underserved and unserved areas.

“At NCC, we recognise the transformative potential of community center networks in achieving this important goal,” he said.

The EVC said NCC was committed to “this journey and views this workshop as a catalyst for meaningful change,” stating that the expertise, perspectives and commitments will shape the future where every Nigerian, regardless of his or her status, will have meaningful access to opportunities from digital connectivity.

In her remarks, Co-manager of the Association for Progressive Communications’ Local Network (LocNet) initiative, Kathleen Diga, noted that the collaboration was to tackle identified hindrances to digital inclusion.

“This is a space where we can be open and exchange ideas of possibilities, opportunities that will remain in realising values of a diversified ecosystem.”

Diga said,

“I believe this workshop presents a moment in time that we can explore the bottom-up approach in local communities, small social enterprises, corporative among others, which have the ability to fill some of the digital gaps that remain unfilled,” she said, adding emphasising the need to recognise that community centre connectivity exists and they are grow throughout the global south, which, she said, are a “strategic response to digital exclusion.”

According to a statement signed by Mrs. Nnenna Ukoha, acting head, Public Affairs at NCC, the workshop featured presentations from the NCC, the Association for Progressive Communications and other institutional stakeholders such as the Rural Electrification Agency (REA) and the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) all geared towards exploring a joint policy framework to address rural digital divide.

The Association for Progressive Communications is a 35-year-old international network member-based organisation encouraging digital inclusion in the unserved communities, particularly with communities in the global south and the workshop, through its LocNet initiative aimed at crafting an enabling inclusive regulatory framework for community networks in Nigeria.