Olufemi Adeyemi


Airtel Nigeria Telesonic Limited, the fibre service division of Airtel Nigeria, has received three telecommunications licenses.

As per the recent market updates issued by the Nigerian Communications Commission on Friday, the operator has been granted a National Long Distance license, an Internet Service Provider license, and a Sales & Installation Major license.

The National Long Distance license is effective for a duration of 20 years, spanning from July 1, 2024, to June 30, 2044.

In contrast, the Internet Service Provider and Sales & Installation Major licenses are valid for five years, from July 1, 2024, to June 30, 2029, as reported by Technology Times.

The Internet Service Provider license will allow the company to provide internet services to customers, competing with other providers such as Spectranet and FibreOne. This license grants holders the authority to create and manage their own independent network for the delivery of these services.

In addition, the Sales & Installation Major license permits the telecommunications company to participate in the sale, installation, and upkeep of telecommunications equipment.

"The primary focus of the company is to operate as manufacturers, importers, exporters, distributors, and retailers of various types of fiber optic systems and networks. This includes cables and equipment utilized in telecommunication networks, multi-channel video communication, data networks, and all other communication forms, as well as applications in electronic, medical, or industrial fields."

In February 2024, Airtel Africa unveiled the launch of Telesonic, with CEO Segun Ogunsanya emphasizing that the initiative aims to deliver "state-of-the-art fibre-optic solutions" to meet the digital demands of various sectors across Africa.

In July 2024, it was reported that 12 Nigerian internet service providers did not renew their licenses, resulting in a decrease in the number of active ISPs in the country from 252 in May 2024 to 242.