Nigerian has one of the largest telecommunications markets with millions of subscribers across the nation. It is true that the Nigerian telecom sector faced a lot of challenges during the past few years, but the industry is still growing and it is becoming more competitive every day.
Before 2014, Nigeria had a stable currency, and rise in oil prices made the nation to be attracted to both local and foreign investors. However, in 2016 there was a fall in oil prices which affected most network operators and hindered their progress in their plans for expansion.
MTN
When MTN was launched in 2001, it was among the first telecommunication networks in Nigeria to exist, and a subsidiary of MTN Group. And from then till now, MTN has invested over $1.8 billion for provision of reliable and fast internet service to their customers across the nation.
MTN currently provides data and telecoms services to over 200 cities in Nigeria, and serves over 10,000 villages across the whole country.
GLO
Just two years after MTN was launched in 2001, GLO followed having been established in 2003 and owned by the second richest man in Nigeria, Mike Adenuga.
GLO is currently the second most popular telecommunications company in Nigeria with over 34 million subscribers across the nation. It was the first Nigerian owned ISP to broaden their customer base across Ghana, Benin, and other African countries where they are able to cover. Moreover, GLO-1 is a high capacity submarine fiber-optic cable built by GLO Company.
9Mobile
9Mobile was launched in 2017 after the departure of Etisalat. Due to the inability of Etisalat to pay $1.2 billion loan which they incurred during the time they came new, they decided to leave the Nigerian market and 9Mobile was launched.
The name 9Mobile was carved from the evolution of their predecessors over the past 9 years and 0809ja origin. The number 9 stands for resilience and continuity, and it reflects the network’s advanced viewpoint. The green color stands for vibrancy, life and dynamism.
Airtel
Airtel is a Nigerian telecommunications company that operates in 17 countries across Africa. Airtel runs a GSM network in all countries and provides 2G, 3G or 4G according to the country’s operation mode.
Swift Networks
Swift Networks has grown larger and has become one of the major telecom and internet service providers in the country since it was launched in 2002. Swift holds an exclusive wireless spectrum license from the Nigerian Communications Commission, offering reliable and cost-effective services.
Some of the services that Swift offers include: broadband internet services, collocation services, surveillance solution, video conference, web and email hosting, and Virtual Private Networking Services.
Spectranet
Spectranet’s service is available in four major cities across the nation. These four major cities include Abuja, Lagos, Ibadan and Port Harcourt. Spectranet was the first internet service provider in the country to provide 4G LTE service. The Nigerian Communications Company licensed Spectranet in 2009 as a telecommunications company.
Spectranet provides smart and affordable 24/7 high speed internet services to its subscribers.
MainOne
MainOne is a leading provider of innovative telecom services and network solutions for businesses in West Africa. It was established in 2010 and has since made a name for highly reliable services to become the preferred provider of entire internet services to key telecom operators, ISPs, government agencies, large enterprises, and educational institutions in West African MainOne, also known as Main One or Main One Cable, introduces a world-class data capturing and outsourcing Services Company termed “Eclat Telecoms Nigeria Limited”.
MainOne has a well-built reputation and has maintained a competitive boundary in this field having worked as pioneer staff when Verification Exercise was first introduced to FCMB Plc in 2010. MainOne is presently one of the vendors to FCMB, covering the entire South East region including Enugu, Anambra, Abia, Imo, and Ebonyi, with thirty-six branches, and part of South-South region that comprises Cross River, Akwa -Ibom, Edo and Delta. Stanbic IBTC Bank Plc and Ecobank of Nigeria Plc have recently selected MainOne to perform Customer Address Verification and Know Your Customer (KYC) exercise for the bank in the whole South-East and South-South regions of Nigeria.
Other internet services provider include some of the under-listed;
Telnet Nigeria Limited, Taylor Communication Solutions, Starcomms Limited, Rainbownet Limited, Intercellular and some others.
