The Association of Telecommunication Companies of Nigeria (ATCON) has projected a shift in the country’s telecom industry from a phase of consolidation in 2025 to expansion in 2026.
The President of ATCON, Mr Tony Emoekpere, gave the outlook on Tuesday in Lagos, saying the industry was entering 2026 with renewed confidence driven by the combined efforts of operators, regulators and government to deepen digital inclusion.
Reflecting on developments in 2025, Emoekpere described the year as one marked by stabilisation and cautious capital discipline.
According to him, despite economic headwinds such as rising energy costs, foreign exchange volatility, equipment import pressures and persistent Right-of-Way (RoW) challenges, the telecom sector remained resilient.
He said operators, tower companies and internet service providers focused on network densification in high-demand areas, while also transitioning to solar and hybrid energy solutions to reduce dependence on diesel.
Emoekpere noted that broadband penetration in Nigeria crossed the 50 per cent mark in 2025, attributing the growth to increased data consumption as digital payments, streaming platforms and cloud services became integral to daily life.
He commended the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) for sustaining investor confidence through transparent industry reporting, enforcement of quality-of-service standards and efficient spectrum management.
On the policy front, Emoekpere said the Federal Ministry of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy had advanced key initiatives, including the proposed 90,000-kilometre open-access national fibre backbone.
He also highlighted Project 774, aimed at expanding rural connectivity through the Universal Service Provision Fund, as well as the 3 Million Technical Talent (3MTT) programme focused on scaling digital skills in areas such as artificial intelligence, cybersecurity and software development.
“If 2025 was about endurance, 2026 must be about execution, speed and scale, driven by growing digital demand from fintech services and AI-related workloads,” he said.
According to him, telecom operators plan to intensify investments in data centres and last-mile broadband infrastructure, including fibre-to-the-home (FTTH) and fixed wireless access (FWA).
Emoekpere identified the enforcement of critical national infrastructure status for telecom assets as a key factor for success in 2026, stressing the need for coordinated action to protect fibre routes and telecom towers.
He also called for the harmonisation of Right-of-Way charges and a reduction in multiple taxation across states.
The ATCON president said the association would continue to champion industry-led infrastructure expansion, advocate for open-access networks and fair wholesale pricing, while amplifying the voice of indigenous operators.
He expressed optimism that with regulatory stability and effective policy execution aligned with market realities, 2026 would usher in accelerated growth for Nigeria’s digital economy.