The Nigeria Telecoms Forum 2025, held at Four Points by Sheraton, Victoria Island, Lagos, brought together industry leaders, regulators, and stakeholders to discuss the future of Nigeria’s telecom industry.
Techpression, as a media partner, captured key insights from the discussions on infrastructure, investment, regulation, and emerging technologies.
One of the key issues raised was the ongoing challenge of telecom infrastructure vandalism, with one operator reporting a staggering seven fibre cuts per hour across its operations.
These disruptions not only increase operational costs but also hinder the growth of digital services, making it difficult to expand broadband access to underserved areas.
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A growing industry with significant challenges
The event started with a keynote address from Tony Izuagbe Emoekpere, President of the Association of Telecommunications Companies of Nigeria, who explained that despite notable progress in broadband expansion, over 40 million Nigerians still lack access to digital services. The issue of Right of Way (RoW) charges remains a significant obstacle, with some states supporting broadband rollout while others impose heavy costs.
Additionally, Emoekpere highlighted how foreign direct investment (FDI) in Nigeria’s telecom sector has dropped significantly, with an 87 percent decline in Q3 2024.
Infrastructure expansion and Broadband penetration
The first-panel session, which Techpression’s Ibukun Bankole anchored, involved prominent figures like Tunji Alabi, Oluwakemi Young-Esumeh, Reuben Oshomah, and Bruce Ayonote. They discussed Broadband penetration, collaboration, infrastructure sharing and regulatory challenges.
Broadband remains the backbone of digital growth, but misconceptions persist. Many Nigerians equate basic connectivity with broadband, whereas true broadband requires minimum speed levels. The forum highlighted the need to distinguish between these terms and ensure policies focus on delivering accurate broadband services. While 5G services have been launched, adoption remains low due to the high cost of 5G-compatible devices. With 5G phones in the hundreds of thousands of naira, many middle-class Nigerians are priced out of the market, limiting widespread adoption.
Collaboration and infrastructure sharing
Industry experts emphasised the need for shared infrastructure to reduce duplication of fibre deployments. Instead of multiple companies digging the same routes for fibre installations, a shared network approach would reduce costs, prevent unnecessary disruptions, and improve efficiency. States like Ekiti, Edo, and Kaduna have successfully waived or reduced Right of Way charges, leading to over 300 percent growth in fibre deployment. Encouraging similar policies nationwide would significantly accelerate broadband penetration.
Investment and regulatory challenges
Regulation, economic policies, and market conditions heavily influence Nigeria’s telecom sector investment. Industry leaders stressed that capital flows to attractive environments, and if regulations are too rigid or unpredictable, investors will look elsewhere. Declining FDI due to policy uncertainties has become a pressing issue. Tariff regulations restricting price adjustments for telecom services further complicate investment strategies. The high cost of capital continues to burden telecom operators who rely on imported equipment.
Furthermore, limited local manufacturing of telecom hardware presents additional hurdles. The industry advocates for tax breaks on imported telecom equipment and Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs) to address these issues and enhance investment. It has compared the U.K. and the U.S., where governments subsidise 5G rollouts and support infrastructure projects.
Emerging technologies and innovation
Nigeria has a reputation for technological innovation, but industry leaders noted that more investment is needed in AI, cloud computing, IoT, and satellite internet. The rapid rise of Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellites, cloud-based services, and AI-driven telecom solutions is reshaping the global telecom landscape.
However, concerns exist that AI training data lack African representation, leading to biases in AI-generated content. Industry players stressed the importance of developing local datasets to ensure AI solutions reflect Nigerian realities. Leveraging these emerging technologies will be crucial for Nigeria’s digital transformation and maintaining a competitive edge in the global telecom space.
Call for greater collaboration
A key message from the forum was the need for industry-wide collaboration. Nigeria’s telecom sector is fragmented, with many small players operating independently. Experts highlighted the necessity for more partnerships to drive broadband expansion. Strengthening industry associations can help advocate for better policies and ensure regulatory frameworks support rather than hinder progress. Encouraging shared infrastructure models would cut costs and improve efficiency, making it easier for all players to expand their networks and enhance digital inclusion.
The Nigeria Telecoms Forum 2025 highlighted the critical role of the telecom sector in Nigeria’s economic growth. While challenges remain—from regulatory hurdles to infrastructure issues—the discussions at the forum provided a clear roadmap for the industry’s future. Techpression was proud to be a media partner for this event, bringing firsthand insights from industry leaders. As Nigeria moves towards a more connected future, collaboration, investment, and regulatory support will be key drivers of digital transformation. The integration of emerging technologies, AI, 5G, and cloud computing will define the next chapter of Nigeria’s telecom evolution, ensuring sustainable growth and increased connectivity nationwide.