The number of active Internet Service Providers (ISPs) in Nigeria has declined from 252 in May to 242 in July, as operators whose licenses expired failed to renew them.
According to the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), 12 ISPs relinquished their licenses in June, even as two new firms, Sulfman Consulting Ltd. and NGCOM Lastmile Solution Ltd., were issued ISP licenses on July 1.
The former NCC Executive Vice Chairman, Prof Umar Danbatta, cited anti-competition practices, inadequate spectrum, high bandwidth prices, and lack of good corporate governance as major challenges facing ISPs.
VDT Communications CEO, David Omoniyi, appealed for government intervention, noting that ISPs are dying due to the dominance of Mobile Network Operators (MNOs) like MTN, Airtel, Globacom, and 9mobile. He called for targeted regulation to promote smaller ISPs and prevent monopolistic practices by larger players.
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