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9mobile Engages Subscribers for Feedback

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9mobile subscribers

By Ahmed Rahma

Recently, a customer-friendly telecommunication company, 9mobile, engaged some of its subscribers Kano State through a Customer Forum.

The event, which took place on November 22, 2020, gave the company the opportunity to know where it was doing well and the areas it could better.

This was because, at the Customers Forum, the users of the network shared their experiences, asked questions and commended 9mobile for providing superior products, services and customer experiences.

The network team, led by the Chief Commercial Officer, Stjepan Udovicic; Executive Director of Regulatory & Corporate Affairs, Abdulrahman Ado; Director of Customer Care, Ehimare Omoike; Director, Sales, Oluwatosin Olulana among others, fielded questions and provided on-the-spot resolutions to most of the concerns raised by customers.

Chief Commercial Officer, Stjepan Udovicic, explained that the forum was designed to gain feedback from its subscribers in the city to serve them and continuously meet their communication needs.

Udovicic said, “This forum is very important for us. We want to know what you think about the company, the brand, and what you think about our product and services because we are eager to evolve.

“9mobile is transforming; we are planning substantial changes in the company, but to make these changes right, we need to listen to our customers.”

Also commenting, Director, Customer Care, 9mobile, Ehimare Omoike, thanked the customers for turning out in their numbers, explaining that the forum was important for 9mobile ahead of its planning season.

Omoike said, “We thought it would be nice to come here to feel the pulse of our customers, hear from you as we go into our planning season, to look at how best to serve our customers here in Kano.

“The customer forum is an initiative we started where we go to major cities to hear from our customers what the challenges are; what they expect from us as a network.”

The forum also featured raffle draw sessions where recharge cards and mobile phones were given out to lucky winners.

Samson Onwani, one of the attendees, commended 9mobile for recognising and appreciating the value of its customers by holding the forum.

He said, “I am happy that 9mobile recognized its customers.  I am also happy with the flow of the session, particularly the explanations on the different questions raised during the event.”

Onwani, who won a phone, added: “I feel happy because no gift is small. Any gift that comes to you should be appreciated, so I thank 9mobile for this gift.”

Ahmed Rahma is a journalist with great interest in arts and craft. She is also a foodie who loves new ideas. She loves to travel and would love to visit other African countries someday. She is a sucker for historical movies and afrobeat.

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NCC Laments 1,100 Fibre Cable Cut Incidents Weekly

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Fibre Optic Cables

By Adedapo Adesanya

The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has raised alarm over the increasing damage to telecommunications infrastructure nationwide, revealing that Nigeria currently records an average of 1,100 fibre cut incidents weekly.

The Executive Vice-Chairman of the NCC, Dr Aminu Maida, said during a Critical National Information Infrastructure (CNII) and Sustainability Conference in Lagos on Thursday that the commission also recorded 545 cases of access denial and 99 cases of theft on a weekly basis.

The event was organised by the Nigeria Information Technology Reporters Association (NITRA) in collaboration with the Association of Licensed Telecom Operators of Nigeria (ALTON) themed Critical National ICT Infrastructure and Industry Sustainability, Way Forward.

Mr Maida, who was represented by Mr Edoyemi Ogoh, Director, Technical Standards and Network Integrity Department, NCC, said that these incidents threatened service delivery, operational stability, and national security.

“These are not just numbers. They reflect a national emergency. Every fibre cut, every theft, and every case of sabotage contributes to dropped calls, failed transactions, interrupted emergency services and economic losses.

He added that the damages had become a major barrier to sustaining the country’s digital economy, which relied heavily on resilient telecom infrastructure.

“We are ensuring Nigerians understand that damage to telecom infrastructure affects not just big companies, but ordinary people who depend on mobile services, ATMs, hospitals and security alerts,” Mr Maida said.

He added that collaboration with the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) was key to aligning telecom infrastructure protection with the nation’s broader security architecture.

The NCC boss further identified access denial to base station sites as a growing challenge, noting that in many cases, operators were prevented from conducting essential maintenance and operations, thereby prolonging network outages.

He noted that the situation was further compounded by Right-of-Way (RoW) bottlenecks, complex and delayed permit processes, and the rising cost of operations due to heavy reliance on diesel-powered generators, stating, “The security situation in parts of the country also poses a real barrier to safe and timely maintenance of telecom sites.”

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Truecaller’s Monthly Active Users in Africa, Middle East Hit 100 million

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By Aduragbemi Omiyale

A significant milestone has been reached by the leading global platform for verifying contacts and blocking unwanted communications, Truecaller, as its monthly active users in the Middle East and Africa (MEA) region have surpassed 100 million.

A statement from the organisation disclosed that the figures were 19 per cent more than its active monthly users in August 2024.

It was also stated that numbers are from its users who downloaded the Trucaller app on their Android and iOS devices.

Some of the largest markets in the MEA region for Truecaller are Egypt, Nigeria, South Africa, Kenya, Algeria, Ghana, and Jordan.

Typically, Truecaller is used on 20-45 per cent of connected smartphones in these markets, reflecting its massive adoption for blocking unwanted communications.

Commenting on the this development, the chief executive of Trucaller, Mr Rishit Jhunjhunwala, said, “With the Middle East and Africa experiencing significant growth in smartphone adoption and mobile data adoption, we’re really happy that we’re able to solve communication problems for individuals and businesses in that region.

“MEA, like India and many other markets, are mobile first markets with your mobile number being the primary identifier and Truecaller has always grown organically in such markets.

“We’re continuing to strengthen our organization and our partnerships in the region, because we believe that the MEA is poised for significant growth for many years ahead.”

Trucaller, which has its headquarters in Sweden, was listed on the Nasdaq Stockholm in 2021, and has over 450 million active users, with more than a billion downloads since launch and close to 56 billion unwanted calls identified and blocked in 2024 alone.

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Telcos Warn of Possible Service Disruption Over Diesel Supply Crisis

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Nigerian telcos

By Adedapo Adesanya

The Association of Licensed Telecommunications Operators of Nigeria (ALTON), which acts as the umbrella body for all mobile network operators, tower companies, and telecommunications infrastructure providers in Nigeria, has raised concerns over the ongoing disruptions to the supply of diesel to telecoms cell sites across the country.

In a statement released on Thursday by ALTON and signed by its Chairman, Mr Gbenga Adebayo, the telcos called for uninterrupted access to be granted to the diesel supply locations, and urged all parties involved to embrace constructive dialogue to resolve any matter, without further disruption to essential services.

According to the operators, such disruptions could cause base stations to shut down, thereby leading to poor telecoms service delivery and possible collapse of the entire telecoms sector.

“Telcos are deeply concerned about ongoing disruptions to the supply logistics of diesel to cell sites across the country,” the statement said.

ALTON said members of the Nigerian Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) and the Natural Oil and Gas Suppliers Association of Nigeria (NOGASA), on Tuesday, blocked access to diesel loading depots in Kaduna, Lagos, and Koko (Delta State), preventing the distribution of diesel to thousands of telecommunications sites operated by one of its key members, IHS Towers.

“This action, reportedly stemming from allegations by IHS of diesel misappropriation against two member companies of NOGASA and which is being investigated by the requisite authorities, has resulted in a critical threat to the operation of some of the 16,000 telecommunications sites nationwide, servicing Mobile Network Operators (MNOs).

“These sites not only power mobile and internet services for millions of Nigerians, but also support essential services such as banking transactions, hospital communications, emergency response systems, and national security operations.”

“While ALTON does not necessarily interfere in disputes between its members and third parties, we are gravely concerned about the wider implications of this action on national infrastructure and public safety.

“We recognise and deeply respect the vital role NOGASA and NUPENG have played in sustaining Nigeria’s energy supply chain and supporting national development over the years, and we trust that they will continue to uphold these values by ensuring that their actions do not jeopardize critical national infrastructure or public welfare,” it added.

The body then requested that uninterrupted access be granted to the diesel supply locations, and urged all parties involved to embrace constructive dialogue to resolve the matter, without further disruption to essential services.

They also reminded all stakeholders that telecommunications infrastructure had been officially classified as Critical National Information Infrastructure (CNII) under Nigerian law, insisting that any deliberate disruption or blockade that affects the operation of such infrastructure constitutes a serious threat to national security and economic stability and will attract strict legal consequences.

ALTON also called on the leadership of NUPENG and NOGASA, to intervene by calling their members to order, adding that disputes must be resolved within the framework of lawful contracts and applicable legal processes, without resorting to actions that endanger the operations of an entire industry and the lives and livelihoods that depend on it.

“We also call on relevant authorities, including the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA), the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), and other critical stakeholders, to urgently intervene to forestall a looming nationwide communications blackout.

“ALTON remains fully committed to ensuring quality, reliable, and resilient telecommunications services for all Nigerians. However, disruptions of this nature undermine our members’ ability to maintain and improve service delivery and threaten the integrity of the country’s digital and communications ecosystem,” the statement further said.

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