MTN, Airtel, Globacom, and T2 Mobile reject Senate claims, citing NCC data that 3G, 4G, and 5G cover most of Nigeria

Major Nigerian telecom operators, including MTN Nigeria, Airtel, Globacom, and T2 Mobile, have dismissed the Senate’s recent claims about inadequate telecom infrastructure as misleading.

Also read: ALTON Calls for Urgent National Effort Needed to Protect Telecom Infrastructure Now

Engr Gbenga Adebayo, Chairman of the Association of Licensed Telecom Operators of Nigeria (ALTON), the umbrella body representing the telcos, told Vanguard that any information on network coverage not sourced from the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) is unreliable.

“Upon which survey or statistics is the Senate coming up with its position of inadequate telecom infrastructure? As we speak today, over 70% of the country is covered with 3G and 4G, and 5G has about 11% coverage. The rest is 2G,” Adebayo said.

He added that 2G networks remain sufficient to transmit results electronically and criticised the Senate’s blanket statement as based on “half-truths” about the telecom sector’s investments and capacity.

“We agree that there are perhaps two states, due to insurgency, where our members cannot risk maintaining facilities. But that is a matter for stakeholders to resolve collectively. It is not enough to claim the country is unprepared for electronic transmission,” Adebayo said.

His position aligns with that of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), which in 2022 stated that network challenges would not impede electronic result transmission, as devices could upload results once within areas of network coverage.

Also read: Why Real-Time Transmission of Results from Over 170,000 Polling Units Is an Overreach

The telcos’ statement underscores the ongoing debate over Nigeria’s digital readiness and the role of accurate data in guiding policy decisions affecting nationwide electronic processes.