NCC Approves Three Licences for Airtel Subsidiary to Boost Data Services
Oyewole Oluwatofunmi
Posted By Town Crier News Nigeria
Published By Fitness Network Communications
The National Communications Commission (NCC) has granted three licences to Airtel Nigeria Telesonic Limited, a subsidiary of Airtel Africa, to expand its fibre network and enhance infrastructure.
The licences, which include National Long Distance, Internet Service Provider, and Sales & Installation Major, will enable Airtel to establish and manage networks that facilitate long-distance communications within Nigeria, covering voice, data, and video services.
The National Long Distance licence, valid for 20 years, will be in effect from July 1, 2024, to June 30, 2044. The Internet Service Provider and Sales & Installation Major licences will be valid for five years, starting on July 1, 2024, and ending on June 30, 2029.
Airtel Nigeria Telesonic Limited, launched in February, aims to transform the continent’s data market. The company plans to establish and manage networks for long-distance communications, covering voice, data, and video services.
The NCC stated that the companies listed have fully paid their licence fees and received their licence documents for their respective telecommunications operations prior to the reclassification of licences into class and individual categories.
Airtel Africa’s Chief Executive Officer, Segun Ogunsanya, emphasized that Africa is experiencing a digital revolution, with a significant rise in demand for data centres across various sectors, especially among the continent’s expanding youth population. He noted that Airtel’s objective is to bridge the digital divide and foster opportunities for innovation and economic growth through reliable and scalable infrastructure.
Currently, Nigeria has approximately 35,000 kilometres of fibre optic cables, with plans to extend this by an additional 90,000 kilometres to improve connectivity and promote digital inclusion. This initiative is part of a larger strategy to connect all 774 local government areas and significantly boost broadband penetration, with a target of reaching 70 per cent by 2025, according to the Ministry of Communications and Digital Economy.
