Airtel Nigeria Telesonic Limited, the fiber service division of Airtel Nigeria, has secured three pivotal telecom licenses from the Nigeria Communication Commission (NCC), approximately seven months post its inception.
The telecommunications giant has been awarded a National Long Distance (NLD) license, an Internet Service Provider (ISP) license, and a Sales & Installation Major license. The NLD license, which is valid for two decades, will be operational from July 1, 2024, until June 30, 2044. The ISP and Sales & Installation Major licenses will each have a validity period of five years, effective from July 1, 2024, to June 30, 2029.
With the NLD license, Telesonic is empowered to provide long-distance telecommunication services across Nigeria, facilitating the establishment and maintenance of infrastructure required for connecting calls and data throughout various regions within the country. However, it’s important to note that this license does not authorize the provision of international long-distance services or direct internet access to end-users. In the previous year, Bayobab, an MTN Group digital infrastructure subsidiary, was also a recipient of this license.
The ISP license will position Telesonic as a competitor in the internet service market, allowing it to offer internet services alongside existing providers such as Spectranet and FibreOne. This license grants the company the authority to build and operate an independent network dedicated to delivering internet services.
In a related development, as of July 2024, it was reported that 12 Nigerian ISPs did not renew their licenses, leading to a decrease in the total number of active ISPs in the country from 252 in May 2024 to 242. This reduction underscores the dynamic nature of the Nigerian ISP market and the significance of the new licenses obtained by Airtel Nigeria Telesonic Limited.
Furthermore, the Sales & Installation Major licence allows the telco to engage in the sale, installation, and maintenance of telecommunications equipment.
Per Technology Times;
The principal activity of the company is to carry on business as manufacturers, importers, exporters, distributors and sellers of all types of fibre optic systems and networks, including cables and equipment used in telecommunication network, multi-channel video communication, data network and all other forms of communication and electronic, medical or industrial applications.
When Airtel Africa announced the launch of Telesonic in February,2024, Airtel Africa CEO, Segun Ogunsanya stated that the project would provide “cutting-edge fibre-optic solutions” to address Africa’s digital needs across various sectors.
