ALTON Chairman: Telcos Essential for Nigeria’s Digital Economy

Engr. Gbenga Adebayo, the Chairman of the Association of Licensed Telecommunications Operators of Nigeria (ALTON), delivered a keynote address at the Nigeria Information Technology Reporters Association (NITRA) Innovative Conference 2026 in Lagos.

He highlighted that telecommunications operators have invested billions of dollars over the past 25 years to bridge Nigeria’s digital divide, asserting that the telecommunications sector is the backbone of the country’s digital economy. Adebayo noted the industry's evolution from fewer than 500,000 connected telephone lines before GSM liberalisation in 2001 to over 200 million active subscriptions today.

He emphasized that telecommunications has transformed from a luxury service to critical national infrastructure supporting various sectors, including banking, healthcare, education, and agriculture. Despite significant investments in mobile networks and next-generation technologies like 5G, Adebayo warned of challenges such as multiple taxation, vandalism, and rising energy costs that threaten sustained investment in the sector.