- The fibre service unit of Airtel Nigeria, Airtel Nigeria Telesonic Limited, has been granted three telecom licences by the Nigeria Communication Commision (NCC) nearly seven months after its launch.
- The network operator was granted a National Long Distance licence, an Internet Service Provider licence, and a Sales & Installation Major licence.
- The National Long Distance license, valid for 20 years, will be in effect from July 1, 2024, to June 30, 2044. Meanwhile, the Internet Service Provider and Sales & Installation Major licences each have a 5-year validity, spanning from July 1, 2024, to June 30, 2029.
The NLDO licence will enable Telesonic to offer long-distance telecommunication services within Nigeria allowing the company to establish and maintain the necessary infrastructure for connecting calls and data across different parts of the country.
However, the licence does not permit the holder to offer international long-distance services or function as an Internet access provider directly to end-users.In 2023, Bayobab, a digital infrastructure subsidiary of MTN Group, also received this license.
The Internet Service Provider licence will enable the company to offer internet services to customers competing with other providers including Spectranet and FibreOne. It permits holders to establish and operate their own independent network for delivering these services.
In July, 2024, 12 Nigerian Internet service providers reportedly failed to renew their licence, reducing the number of active ISPs in the country from 252 in May 2024 to 242.
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.
