The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has just granted a unified access service license to the operator Swift Telephone Network Limited (STN). This authorization, which came into effect on 1 October 2026, allows the company to provide mobile telephony, fixed-line telephony, and data transmission services simultaneously across the entire national territory.
In other words, the unified access service license provides a comprehensive legal framework to operate all technologies without seeking separate authorizations. However, the arrival of this new entrant occurs in a highly concentrated sector.
In July 2026, the country recorded 157,27 million mobile subscriptions, but MTN Nigeria dominated the sector with 100,86 million subscribers, representing 51,76% market share. At the same time, Airtel Nigeria gathered 66,76 million customers, or 34,26% of the sector.
Together, these two leaders control 86,02% of active subscriptions. The remainder of the market is split marginally between Globacom, which has 23,63 million subscribers or 12,13%, and T2, which gathers 3,61 million users or 1,85%.
In this context, the primary obstacle for the young company lies in the heavy investments required. Indeed, 4G coverage represents 54,31% of mobile connections in the country, compared to only 4,74% for 5G.
Consequently, the firm must make complex financial choices between expanding 4G and installing 5G. To succeed, Managing Director Oluwole Adetuyi intends to build robust infrastructure, reduce the digital divide, and rely on local suppliers.
The company plans specifically to establish strategic partnerships to share equipment and target underserved areas. The long-term commercial viability of this operator now depends on its ability to mobilize significant capital, deploy a high-performance network, and attract customers in the face of firmly established competitors.
Anselme Akéko. Published on 05/10/26 17:12.
The Editorial Board