Telecom companies' 25-year expansion attributed to employees' selflessness, says ATCON

Nigeria's telecommunications industry has been shaped over the past 25 years by the tireless efforts of technicians, engineers, and field professionals who have braved challenging conditions to build and maintain the country's mobile networks, according to the Association of Telecommunications Companies of Nigeria.

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Their contributions, often overlooked, have been instrumental in establishing the infrastructure that underpins the country's digital landscape, notes ATCON President Tony Emoekpere, who highlighted the importance of recognizing the workforce behind Nigeria's connectivity in a recent statement.

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Emoekpere's remarks were made in a note titled "25 Years of Telecoms: Remembering the Heroes Behind Nigeria's Connectivity", which coincides with the country's 25-year milestone of GSM-led transformation in the telecommunications industry, marking a significant shift from a fixed-line system to a nationwide digital infrastructure.

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Nigeria's telecoms sector was liberalized in 2001, with the auction of GSM licenses, paving the way for private operators to enter the market and sparking a rapid expansion in mobile connectivity, which has since transformed the country's telecommunications landscape.

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The sector has attracted approximately $75bn in investment since liberalization in 2001, according to the Nigerian Communications Commission, with the resulting infrastructure supporting mobile communications, broadband, data services, and a growing digital economy.

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The ATCON president emphasized that the thousands of workers who install, upgrade, and maintain telecommunications networks have been crucial to the industry's growth, often working in challenging environments and travelling long distances to ensure the country's digital infrastructure remains operational.

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Emoekpere acknowledged the significant security and operational risks faced by field personnel as they respond to network faults, maintain infrastructure, and extend connectivity across the country, highlighting the importance of recognizing their contributions to Nigeria's digital transformation.

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The telecoms industry is now transitioning from its initial GSM rollout to an era defined by smartphones, broadband, fibre networks, cloud services, and 5G connectivity, with the first GSM call on MTN Nigeria's network made in May 2001, marking a pivotal moment in the country's telecommunications history.

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The impact of the workers behind the infrastructure is reflected in the millions of people, businesses, and communities connected to the networks, with Emoekpere expressing his appreciation for their efforts, saying "To those still on the frontline; we see you, we appreciate you, and we thank you".

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He also urged continued recognition of the technicians, engineers, and other field professionals whose work remains critical to keeping Nigeria connected as demand for reliable digital infrastructure grows, emphasizing the importance of their contributions to the country's future digital development.