Hate them or love them, the agents are here to stay
Every morning, Raheem, a banking agent, a.k.a POS agent at Mile 12, one of Nigeria’s largest markets, must get cash for his two stalls. He can withdraw some money over the counter, but since early 2024, most commercial banks have capped daily withdrawals at ₦100,000. He can’t rely on customer deposits because those are inconsistent, and getting money from other agents is expensive. “The banks do not give out more than ₦100,000 cash now if you have a savings account, so we meet supermarkets, wholesalers, and filling stations for cash. It is a mutual agreement; they need to lodge cash, and we need cash for our business, so I don’t charge them,” a POS agent in Ketu, Lagos, told TechCabal. No, the CBN isn’t after the money in your dormant account Banking agents began buying cash from these businesses in February 2023, when the Central Bank’s hasty currency change created a massive cash squeeze. They paid ₦5,000 for every ₦100,000 to fuel stations and other cash-heavy businesses and transferred the cost to customers who were paying between ₦500 and ₦700 for a ₦5,000 withdrawal. A court ruling in March 2023 compelled the CBN to modify timelines for the currency change, solving the cash crisis. While that stopped agents from buying cash, they still source money from these businesses in exchange for waiving deposits. It’s a win-win situation that works but creates an unintended consequence: a cash shortage at commercial banks. A central bank policy capping weekly over-the-counter withdrawals at ₦500,000 also contributes to the cash shortage. The regulator has tried to wean Nigerians off their cash dependence and has cut cash disbursements to bank branches. The resulting cash scarcity at the banks drives businesses to the agents, who rarely run out of cash. Bank branches, which rely on cash deposits from the central bank and customers, have had to cap over-the-counter withdrawals as cash-heavy businesses take their deposits to agents instead of banking halls, further driving Nigerians to POS agents. “Even though the central bank has a ₦500,000 limit, we cannot give out more than ₦100,000 for each customer. Sometimes we open with only ₦600,000 or ₦1,000,000, and we have to make sure people get cash when they come to the banks, so we ration it,” a banker told TechCabal. They added that the central bank delivered cash to their Ojodu branch only twice the previous week. With withdrawal limits at bank branches and ATMs, customers now visit bank branches for customer care issues, as foot traffic at branches has “dipped,” a banker at Wema Bank told TechCabal. “We have reduced the stress of going to the banks,” said Raheem. There are 120 POS terminals for every ATM in Nigeria, as there are less than 23,000 ATMs in the country and 2.7 million active POS terminals. When he secures cash for his stalls, Raheem, like most agents, provides Cash-In Cash-Out services for many traders, charging ₦100 on withdrawals under ₦5,000 with fees of up to ₦5,000 depending on the transaction size. Agents say they include the cost of rent, local government taxes, data, transport and the risk of holding cash in those fees. Daily profits vary and can be as low as ₦1,000. At least five agents in Mile 12 told TechCabal they earn enough to sustain their families daily. Some agents can make as much as ₦25,000 daily, more than a third of Nigeria’s newly approved monthly minimum wage. Nigeria has approximately 1.5 million banking agents; low entry barriers and subsidised POS terminals help drive agency banking’s popularity. Their ubiquity has also helped drive the growth of digital payments in Nigeria, as the value of cash transactions dropped by 36% from 2019 to 2023. A profitable union: How banking agents helped OPay and Moniepoint distribute 17 million cards OPay and Moniepoint issue 17 million Verve cards as Nigerian fintechs switch from Visa and Mastercard
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Kwasu Post UTME 2024 application process and requirements
Kwara State University (KWASU), Malete, invites all UTME and Direct Entry candidates to participate in the Kwasu Post UTME 2024 for the 2024/2025 academic session. Eligible candidates for the Kwasu Post UTME 2024 Candidates who selected Kwara State University as their first choice in the 2024 UTME. Candidates willing to choose KWASU as their first choice should change their institution to KWASU on the JAMB portal before the screening. Eligibility criteria includeG Minimum of five (5) O’level credits in relevant subjects obtained in no more than two sittings, except for MBBS which requires one sitting. Candidates awaiting O’level results may apply but must submit their results before the admission exercise concludes. Registration and screening fees All applicants must pay a non-refundable fee of Two Thousand Naira (N2,000) only. Steps for registration and screening To participate in the Kwasu Post UTME 2024, follow these steps: 1. Visit KWASU admission Portal and select “Click here to apply”. Then click on the drop-down menu (three bottom icon on the top right). 2. Click the “Undergraduate” link on the top menu. 3. Enter your JAMB Registration Number and click “Continue”. 4. Complete the basic information page. Ensure to provide a valid personal phone number and email address, then click “Next”. 5. On the payment review page, click “Make Payment” to proceed to the payment page. 6. Provide your ATM card (MasterCard or Visa) details and submit. 7. Enter the OTP code sent to your phone and click “Continue” to complete your payment. 8. After successful payment, return to the portal, enter your JAMB registration number and Surname as the password. 9. Click “Login to dashboard” and complete your registration. 10. Print the completed registration form and payment receipt. Payment Issues In case of payment issues: Re-query your payment attempts if debited but payment failed due to network issues. Enter your JAMB registration number and phone number, then use the re-query interface to resolve unsuccessful payment attempts. Deadline and other final vital information on the Kwasu Post UTME 2024 Please note that the deadline for registration for the Kwasu Post UTME 2024 : Sunday, August 25th, 2024. Final admission depends on meeting the minimum scores required by KWASU and the availability of spaces within the NUC approved admission quota. Falsification of documents or citizenship certificates will lead to disqualification and prosecution. For further enquiries, updates, and additional instructions, visit [KWASU Website](http://www.kwasu.edu.ng) or contact: – Email: admission.officer@kwasu.edu.ng – Phone: 08136965076, 09067939787, 08155498780 (available for WhatsApp and text messages)
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Nigerian schools conducting only online screening in 2024
Several Nigerian schools have adopted online screening methods for their admissions in recent years and 2024 may not be any different for them. admissions. This process enables prospective students to undergo screening without physically attending the institution. Below is a comprehensive list of major Nigerian universities, polytechnics and the likes that offer only online screening processes. Nigerian schools conducting online screening 2024 1. Ambrose Alli University (AAU) 2. Edo State University (EDSU) 3. Osun State University (UNIOSUN) 4. Federal Polytechnic, Ado-Ekiti (FPA) 5. Ladoke Akintola University orlf Technology (LAUTECH) 6. Federal University of Technology, Owerri (FUTO) 7. Yaba College of Technology (YABATECH) 8. Moshood Abiola Polytechnic (MAPOLY) 9. Federal Polytechnic, Ilaro (FPI) 10. Lagos State University (LASU) 11. Lagos State University of Science and Technology (LASUSTECH) 12. Lagos State University of Education (LASUED) 13. Nnamdi Azikiwe University (UNIZIK) 14. Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University (COOU) 15. Ekiti State University (EKSU) 16. Kwara State University (KWASU)* 17. Adekunle Ajasin University (AAUA) 18. Federal University of Petroleum Resources (FUPRE) 19. University of Jos (UNIJOS) 20. Federal University, Lafia (FULAFIA) 21. Tai Solarin University of Education (TASUED) 22. Gombe State University (GSU) 23. Bayero University Kano (BUK) . 24. University of Abuja (UNIABUJA) 25. Federal University, Dutse (FUD) 26. Federal University, Oye-Ekiti (FUOYE) 27. Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University (ATBU) 28. Federal University of Technology, Minna (FUTMINNA) 29. Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria (ABU ZARIA) 30. Ondo State University of Science and Technology (OSUSTECH) 31. Ebonyi State University (EBSU) 32. Cross River University of Technology (CRUTECH) 33. Modibbo Adama University of Technology (MAUTECH). 34. Federal University, Kashere (FUKASHERE) 35. Taraba State University (TASU). 36. Yobe State University (YSU) 37. Nasarawa State University (NSUK) 38. Usmanu Danfodiyo University Sokoto (UDUSOK) 39. Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike (MOUAU) 40. Federal University, Gashua (FUGASHUA) 41. Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (FUNAAB) 42. Umaru Musa Yar’adua University (UMYU) 43. Kaduna State University (KASU) 44. Akwa Ibom State University (AKSU) 45. Unicross (Formerly Cross River University of Technology) Final thoughts The adoption of online admission system means these universities will likely use a combination of points derived from O’level in addition to the points calculated from UTME scores conversion. Schools who conduct Post UTME are likely not to use such system, instead they primarily use their Post UTME exams as determinants for admission. Nevertheless, the online system means all candidates have equal opportunity to participate regardless of geographical barriers. Also, it minimises expenses associated with travelling and accommodation for physical screenings, such that candidates only need to visit the institution when they can confirm their admission.
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New steps to apply for the 2024 UI Post UTME
As we reported recently, The University of Ibadan (UI) has officially announced the commencement of the Post UTME and Direct Entry screening for the 2024/2025 academic session. Prospective candidates aiming to secure admission into UI should follow the steps outlined below to successfully apply for the screening. 1. Eligibility criteria for 2024 UI Post UTME Before beginning the application process, ensure you meet the eligibility requirements: Candidates must have chosen the University of Ibadan as their first choice in the 2024 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) and scored at least 200 in the examinations. For Direct Entry, candidates should have a minimum of five O’level credit passes in relevant subjects and must have applied through JAMB. 2. Create an account Visit the University of Ibadan admission portal. The portal will be open from Monday, 29th July 2024 at 12 pm to Saturday, 31st August 2024. Create a new account by providing a valid email address and creating a password. Make sure to use an active email address as further communication will be sent there. 3. Login and complete registration Log in to your account using the credentials created. Complete the registration form by providing personal details, academic qualifications, and uploading required documents such as O’level results and JAMB result slips. 4. Payment of screening fee Proceed to pay the non-refundable screening fee of 2000 and the portal access fee of 3000. The payment can be made online through the portal using a debit card and bank transfer. Ensure to print out the payment receipt as proof of transaction. 5. Upload documents After successful payment, upload scanned copies of your documents, including: UTME result slip O’level result – Birth certificate Local Government Area Certificate Ensure that the documents are clear and legible to avoid disqualification. 6. Print acknowledgement slip Once the documents are uploaded, print the acknowledgment slip. This slip will serve as proof of your successful registration and should be kept safely as it will be required during the screening process. 7. Prepare for the exam The Post UTME Centre Based Test will commence on Monday, 16th September 2024. Candidates are advised to prepare adequately for the examination. Familiarize yourself with the test format and practice past questions. Final thoughts Regularly check the admission portal and your email for updates on your specific screening date and venue. Ensure to arrive at the venue early on the day of the exam with all required documents and identification. That’s it about the application process for the University of Ibadan’s 2024 Post UTME and Direct Entry screening.
Read MoreNo, the CBN isn’t after the money in your dormant account
Mythbusters: is Nigeria’s Central Bank trying to “steal” the money in your dormant account? When Nigeria’s Central Bank directed banks and other financial institutions on Friday to transfer ownership of dormant accounts and unclaimed balances, the immediate reaction from the public was distrust. On social media, a few prominent handles advised their followers to go to their banks and collect all the money in their dormant accounts before the CBN accessed it. “They want to take all the money. Go and reactivate your accounts now,” one X user wrote. The myth: The government desperately needs money to fund a massive deficit budget and wants the money in your dormant account. After all, it just slapped a windfall tax on banks’ FX gains. It’s a fabulous story, but it’s not true. The facts: The CBN’s recent directive is based on an October 2015 guideline “to curb abuses in the operation of dormant and inactive accounts and set operational standards.” A revised version of the guidelines released this week seeks to identify dormant accounts and unclaimed balances, hold the funds in the Unclaimed Balances Trust Fund (UBTF) Pool Account, and ultimately standardise the process. This policy does three critical things. First, the CBN safeguards the unclaimed funds in the dedicated pool account and maintains records of the beneficiaries. Banks are expected to publish dormant account lists six months before being transferred to the CBN. Second, the CBN can invest the funds in treasury bills and other securities to mop up liquidity. Third, it will reduce the fraud risks associated with dormant accounts. Here’s how to think about it: the CBN manages everything around unclaimed balances, from maintaining records, investing the funds, and, most importantly, establishing standard procedures for reclaiming the funds. Of course, the CBN isn’t doing these out of the goodness of their heart. The goal is to put idle funds to work and channel the profits into strategic public investments like infrastructure and welfare projects. A transparent process for managing unclaimed funds is a win for banks and the CBN. While it will reduce the size of banks’ balance sheets, the CBN takes some burden off the banks. Customers also get refunded the principal and interest–if any–on the invested funds upon request. This is why the policy makes good sense for everyone.
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Exclusive: Wasoko ex-employees discontinue wrongful termination suit
Nine ex-Wasoko employees will no longer pursue a wrongful termination lawsuit against the e-commerce company, one month after a Kenyan court overturned an existing order that ordered Wasoko to keep them on payroll. On June 11, the Employment and Labour Relations court gave the employees 21 days to prepare for a pre-trial hearing, but they failed to meet that deadline. The case will now be dismissed. The ex-employees will not file a fresh suit, citing financial and time concerns. “Most of us do not have jobs, so the cost is a hindrance,” one of the ex-employees told TechCabal. “Legal costs and the likelihood of a loss means we may end up paying Wasoko. The average period for a full suit is three years and more.” Had the case proceeded and the petitioners won, Wasoko could have been obligated to pay the employees the same exit packages. The petitioners argued it wasn’t fair that employees who worked for Wasoko for a longer time received more money than those who had left “stable” jobs to join the company. “We can confirm that we adhered to the judicial process, allowing it to take its course. As of June 11th, the court ruled in our favour and vacated all interim orders that had been issued against the company,” Wasoko told TechCabal. Another ex-employee claimed the court ignored most of their submissions. In their prayers submitted to Judge Nzioka wa Makau in January 2024, the employees argued that the matter was urgent as they faced irreparable harm if the court did not hear their case promptly. They also requested the court to compel Wasoko to address their complaints before replacing their roles. “The judge ignored most of our submissions and relied on one affidavit signed in duress by one of us who wanted to exit the suit,” one petitioner told TechCabal. “The main suit was to be with the same judge, so it was difficult to prosecute the matter well. This would involve costs if we lost.” The employees filed the lawsuit in January after Wasoko announced plans to merge its operations with Egypt’s MaxAB. Initially projected to conclude in April, the merger is still ongoing. The companies plan to rebrand the combined business, but neither party has confirmed a completion date. Wasoko told TechCabal that it cannot share specific details on the date “due to the sensitive nature of the merger.” Have you got your early-bird tickets to the Moonshot Conference? Click this link to grab ’em and check out our fast-growing list of speakers coming to the conference!
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👨🏿🚀TechCabal Daily – Hitting Hope Hard
In partnership with Share this newsletter: Lire en Français اقرأ هذا باللغة العربية TGIF We’re ending the week with some good news as our reporter, Ephraim Modise, received the Best Newcomer Award at the Sanlam Group Awards for Excellence in Financial Journalism. Ephraim’s winning story examines how consumers use buy-now-pay-later services in SA, the challenges facing the industry, and the startups shaking things up. Dig deep into The State of BNPL in South Africa. In today’s edition Hope PSB hit by cyberattack, seeks to recover ₦6.5 billion lost funds Airtel Africa records $31 million profit Ticketmaster acquires Quicket to expand in Africa Funding Tracker The World Wide Web3 Events Cybersecurity Hope PSB hit by cyberattack, seeks to recover ₦6.5 billion lost funds Hope Payment Service Bank, a digital bank in Nigeria, is trying to recover ₦6.5 billion ($4.1 million) stolen in a recent cyberattack. The bank has gone to court to get the money back. On July 15, 2024, hackers broke into Hope PSB’s banking system and made unauthorised transfers to hundreds of bank accounts, including commercial and neobanks. To contain the cyber attack, , the bank temporarily shut down its banking service. “This is the first time we have suffered an attack in five years, as we have a robust risk and compliance framework. Customer deposits are safe, and there was no risk transference,” said a company insider that ask not to be named. At least 50% of all cyberattacks target banks and financial institutions. In the first three months of 2024, Nigerian financial institutions lost ₦3.007 billion ($1.88 million) to fraud in 20,638 cases. Read Moniepoint’s 2024 Informal Economy Report Did you know that only 2.8% of informal businesses are started out of passion? Click here to find out the motivation of businesses in Nigeria’s informal economy. Telecoms Airtel records $31 million profit 2023 was a tough year for Airtel Africa. The telecom company recorded $2 million in profit, a steep decline from the $523 million recorded in the 2022 calendar year. The telecom is now picking up the pace and its latest financial result paints that picture. Airtel Africa, which operates in 14 African countries, reported $31 million in profit after tax for the year ended June 2024. Airtel Africa’s customer base also grew by 8.6% to 155.4 million. The telecom recorded an increase in its voice, data, and mobile money revenue. Data revenue climbed to $409 million, voice revenue reached $476 million, and mobile money revenue hit $22 million, with strong performances in East Africa and Francophone Africa. Airtel recorded less voice, and data revenue in Nigeria when compared to the previous year. The telecom made $256 million in voice revenue this quarter, a sharp drop from the $528 million it earned in 2023. It also made about $112 million in data revenue for the quarter, a decrease from the $254 million it earned in 2023. While currency devaluation persists, Airtel Africa’s revenue grew 19% in constant currency terms with Nigeria and East Africa leading the way. However, its revenue nosedived by 16% to about $1.15 billion in reported currency terms. The difference between the constant currency and reported currency is primarily due to the devaluation of the Zambian kwacha, the Malawian kwacha, and the Tanzanian shilling, partially offset by the Kenyan shilling appreciation. While the telecom group suffers from the effects of currency devaluation in some of its key markets, the telecom is forging on with its growth plans. “A key priority for us is to look for new opportunities to further grow our business, especially in the enterprise, fibre and data centre businesses across our footprint in Africa,” said CEO Sunil Taldar, on the earnings call. Collect payments anytime anywhere with Fincra Are you dealing with the complexities of collecting payments from your customers? Fincra’s payment gateway makes it easy to accept payments via cards, bank transfers, virtual accounts and mobile money. What’s more? You get to save money on fees when you use Fincra. Get started now. M&As Ticketmaster acquires Quicket to expand in Africa Ticketmaster, an e-ticketing platform, has completed the acquisition of Quicket, a South African event self-service platform for an undisclosed fee. Following the acquisition, Quicket will continue to operate as a standalone business in South Africa. Founded in the United States, Ticketmaster processes around 500 million tickets a year and made an estimated net revenue of $12.3 billion in 2022. Despite the huge numbers, more than 80% of its business comes from the US alone. Though it already operates in 35+ countries globally, it now wants to strengthen its presence in Africa. Quicket offers a full event management platform that allows creators and artists sell tickets, create and manage merchandise sales and donations. More than 3,000 events—especially festivals, social events, and artist tours—are created on Quicket daily. The company raised $6.4 million series A capital in 2017, and has made $6.1 million in revenue so far in 2024. To put into perspective, the South African ticketing market size is estimated to reach $383.8 million by the end of the year. A quick back-of-the-napkin math would estimate Quicket’s revenue by year-end to be $12.2 million; that’s around 3.35% revenue capture of the ticketing market in 2024. Quite an insignificant amount but Ticketmaster won’t mind. Quicket has other perks like its international presence in Nigeria, Uganda, Kenya, Zambia, and Botswana. Ticketmaster wants to onboard creators to its ecosystem by creating a self-service platform for them to manage events. Acquiring Quicket will give Ticketmaster access to African creators and artists, giving it an advantage as it competes for market share against bigger players in South Africa. Shop, Party, and Play with Bumpa and Paystack Join us at the Bumpa Pop-up this Saturday, July 27th for a day of fun, food, and amazing deals Get a free ticket here → TC Insights Funding tracker This week, Egyptian fintech MNT-Halan raised $157.5 million in funding with $40 million coming from the International Finance Corporation (IFC). Other investors include Development Partners International, Lorax Capital
Read MoreThe Future is Female Mentorship Programme announces applications to its fifth edition
The Future is Female Mentorship Programme (FIF), organised by media communications company, Allison, has announced applications for the fifth edition of its flagship program. Applications to the FIF mentorship programme closes on July 31, 2024. Launched at the peak of COVID in 2020, FIF has trained over 100 African female tech founders in media, public relations, and communications. This year, it is supported by partners, Google For Startups Accelerator: Women Founders Africa Programme, Salesforce Ventures Impact Fund, and startups database company, F6S. Claudine Moore, Allison’s Africa managing director and FIF founder, expressed her excitement as the programme reached this milestone. “I am delighted to celebrate The Future is Female Mentorship Programme’s fifth anniversary and its incredible journey supporting African female tech founders. This milestone shows our dedication to empowering underserved African women in tech.” Female founders and all-female founding teams raised only 2.3% of the total funding in Africa last year. While discussions to improve female participation in tech entrepreneurship have been ongoing, the reality remains challenging. There’s hope this will change as more women join the tech startup scene and venture capitalists (VCs) actively create opportunities to invest in their businesses. However, a critical issue persists: the lack of storytelling skills among founders. For female founders, media, communications, and public relations training are crucial to pitching their startup’s brand stories to potential investors to secure funding and scaling their businesses. It is equally as important for founders, as the public face of their companies, to have the skills needed to make media appearances and handle media crises when they arise. This is where programmes like FIF make a significant impact. FIF is growing in popularity among African female tech founders. Applications have more than doubled, seeing a 253% increase from 2020 when it started. Last year, it received almost 500 applications, with 20 female founders emerging as finalists in the programme. Like the previous editions, the selected mentees on the fifth edition will participate in four private masterclasses. Claudine Moore will lead the first masterclass, joined by AfricaCommsWeek co-founders, Annie Mutumba and Eniola Harrison. TechCabal will host the second and third masterclass sessions. While Salesforce Ventures Impact Fund will teach about venture capital funding in the final masterclass. Female tech founders in Africa that show traction operating early-stage startups focusing on health, education, finance, agriculture, and sustainability are encouraged to apply. Salesforce Ventures Impact Fund has historically invested in female-led startups across its portfolio and was eager to support the program for the second consecutive year. Ahead of the launch, Lauryn Poyser, an investor at Salesforce Ventures Impact Fund said, “Salesforce Ventures Impact Fund remains committed to fostering a more inclusive venture capital ecosystem and supporting underrepresented founders.”
Read MoreHope PSB hit by ₦6.5 billion cyberattack, seeks legal recourse for recovery
Hope PSB has begun recovering ₦6.5 billion fraudulently obtained from its banking platform in a cyber attack. Hope Payment Service Bank, the self-described “premier digital-first bank in Nigeria,” has begun a legal process to recover ₦6.5 billion fraudulently obtained from its banking platform by unknown persons. “On about July 15, 2024, there was unauthorised access to the Plaintiff’s banking platform, following which huge sums of money were transferred fraudulently from the plaintiff’s banking platform to certain beneficiaries’ accounts,” said an excerpt from a motion the company filed at a high court in Lagos and seen by TechCabal. The fraudulently obtained sum was transferred to hundreds of accounts in commercial banks and neobanks. One bank executive said a few of the banks involved had begun to recover some of the money but declined to share exact figures. Hope PSB declined to comment on any part of this story. ₦714 million glitch: fintech giant OPay gets court order to restrict customer accounts While Hope PSB reported the matter to the police on July 18, it did not disclose the mechanism of the fraud. However, one person with direct knowledge of the matter told TechCabal the fintech was the target of a cyberattack but did not provide specifics. The company responded to the cyberattack by shutting down its banking infrastructure. “It is better to have a downtime than to lose money,” that person said. “This is the first time we have suffered an attack in five years, as we have a robust risk and compliance framework. Customer deposits are safe, and there was no risk transference,” a person close to the company told TechCabal. As digital payments grow exponentially in Nigeria, bad actors target banks and fintech companies. While these companies invest in security, bad actors are becoming increasingly sophisticated. Financial institutions lost ₦3.007 billion to fraud in the first quarter of 2024 across 20,638 reported incidents, according to data from the NIBSS fraud industry report.
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Hit by steep operating costs, Nigerian internet service providers gasp for air
As of April 2023, Nigeria had 258 internet service providers (ISPs) and the industry’s regulator, the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), was looking to issue more licences to new operators to drive 70% internet penetration by 2025. One year later, the number of operators is shrinking; 12 companies have failed to renew their five-year licences on expiry in June, and more are likely to leave the market when their licence expires, as per four telecom experts. Among the 242 ISPs left in Nigeria, only 106 are operational, according to NCC data for the first quarter. These 106 active ISPs serve a total of 262,206 subscribers, less than 3% of the total internet market. The largest ISP, Spectranet, has over 43% of the total industry subscribers with 113,869 subscribers. TechCabal found that 22 ISPs have licences that will expire this year. A company like InterWeb Satcom Limited, founded by Nigerian senator Monday Okpebholo, is no longer active online; its licence will expire at the end of July “The smallholders are all likely to just fizzle out one by one. The mid-sized may try merger if there is a regulatory environment change to offer protection from the MNO‘s onslaught on predatory pricing. This may encourage investors to promote mergers and infuse more capital. Else, they may soon start to die off the way of the smallholders,” Biodun Omoniyi, CEO of VDT Communications, told TechCabal. ISPs which act as bridges between homes, businesses, institutions, and the internet, provide the infrastructure necessary for users to access websites, communicate, and consume media and entertainment, are grappling with multiple challenges including energy costs which shot up more than 250% in the past year. The energy cost affected facilities and colocation costs which grew to 200%, according to Omoniyi. The capital expenditure (equipment spending) of local ISPs went up more than 200% in the past year due to foreign exchange increases. The companies are also battling with increased staff costs as a result of a growing wave of workers relocating abroad and creating gaps that take ISP companies a longer time and more money to fill, according to Temitope Osunrinde, a telecom expert and vice president at Tizeti, an internet provider. Other challenges include inflation and a declining market value due to increased competition. The ISP market is divided into three broad segments, including the mobile network operators (MNOs) and multinationals; the mid-tier broadband companies that offer fixed broadband comprising wireless and fibre optics operators; and the small-holder operators. “ISPs need an ISP licence. If they have the equipment they are selling and installing, they also need a Sales and Installation licence,” an NCC spokesperson said. An ISP licence costs ₦500,000. The four MNOs MTN Nigeria, Airtel, Globacom, and 9mobile lead the internet market in Nigeria. However, because of their UASL licence which allows them to operate voice and other services, the MNOs are often not described as ISPs because they are mobile-dependent. “ISP”, the term, is loosely used for mid-tier fixed broadband companies and smaller operators whose internet service licence only permits them to provide internet services. The companies include Spectranet, FiberOne, Tizeti, MainOne, iPNX, VDT Communications, Starlink, and many others. Internet Service Providers earn income from the purchase of large and redundant internet connections. They resell these as smaller connections to consumers and businesses. ISPs usually have a fixed price for providing a certain speed and bandwidth amount. They can also offer multiple pricing tiers depending on how fast a connection you want and how much bandwidth you want to use over a month. The problem with this revenue model is the competitive advantage it gives the MNOs who make money off the ISPs from the sale of redundant internet connections as well as the income they make from selling the internet directly to consumers. Competition from telcos and new players like Starlink and the West Indian Ocean Cable Company (WIOCC) appear to have sealed the fate of many local internet providers. “The entry of major players like Starlink, WIOCC, Glo, and MTN introduces intense competition. These companies have significant resources, broader networks, and the ability to offer competitive pricing due to economies of scale,” Manish Kochhar, former head of fibre networks at Globacom, told TechCabal. Starlink, which began operations in 2023 in Nigeria, did not waste time to become the fourth-largest operator in the ISP market before the end of that year. It climbed to third-largest ISP with 23,897 subscribers in May 2024. Starlink could claim more market share by collaborating with telcos, Kochhar said. MTN Nigeria and Globacom have also been involved in the ISP market with the deployment of Fibre To The Home (FTTN both serving 7,641 and 2681 subscribers respectively. Biodun Omoniyi recommends protection of the mid-tier and smaller operators from “predatory” pricing. “Strict nationalisation of service pricing to consumers is another dynamic cost-reflective pricing that allows operators to adjust in weeks and not years, which would also help,” Omoniyi said.
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