Nigeria’s plan to shake up its telecom industry with dozens of new operators is facing a reality check. According to TechCabal, although the Nigerian Communications Commission licensed 46 Mobile Virtual Network Operators to challenge MTN, Airtel, Glo and 9mobile, only a handful have made meaningful progress.
The biggest hurdle? Money, infrastructure and customer trust. MVNOs lease network capacity from existing operators rather than owning towers, but experts say building billing systems, customer support platforms and distribution networks still costs billions of naira.
Industry leaders told TechCabal that many entrants underestimated the investment required, while consumers remain reluctant to switch providers. With MTN and Airtel controlling over 86 per cent of subscribers, breaking into the market remains a tough task for new challengers.
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