My people, make we gather here, as NCC don shine new light for our tech matter! Dem don announce say dem go use satellite technology to jam 23.3 million Nigerians wey no dey enjoy mobile coverage well well. Na wah o, wetin we go do without our phones?
This new satellite-to-phone service go allow wey people wey get standard smartphones to connect directly to satellite. No more wahala with terrestrial cell towers. You fit call, text, and send data without issues wey dey normally dey for remote areas. Na real game changer, I must tell you!
In their recent report, NCC highlight say dem don discover 87 clusters wey still dey suffer from poor service. So, as dem gather stakeholders to take brainstorm how to roll this satellite magic, e mean say dem wan make sure say competition and consumer protection dey intact.
As technology dey advance, now na the right time to take advantage of satellite and non-terrestrial networks. Diss one go fit connect people wey dey for yonder locations wey traditional connections no sabi reach. Dem talk say dem go use different strategies based on where people dey and wetin go fit work for dem.
NCC dey keenly look into how to develop regulatory frameworks, spectrum allocation, and network setup for this satellite D2D service. Na this one go help ensure say the service fit support the national connectivity objectives. Na big move, if you ask me!
Plus, no forget say Airtel Africa just land agreement with SpaceX wey go bring Starlink-powered direct-to-cell services come Nigeria. Dis partnership dey ready to cover 14 markets and e dey start this 2026. E mean say Airtel go be the first African operator to offer dis kind service, and dem dey target their 59 million customers wey dey for underserved areas.
As we sabi, almost half of Nigeria’s population dey live for rural areas wey poor mobile coverage dey affect. Dis no be small wahala, as about 23 million Nigerians dey totally unconnected. Na high cost, scattered small villages, and poor electricity supply dey make traditional base stations expensive to set up.
Even with government support, telecom operators still dey run for urban areas for quick return on investment. Some projects dey try bridge the gap, like MTN-Huawei’s RuralCow wey fit return investment in about 3 years. But the coverage still dey limited, so na why satellite direct-to-device services be the light at the end of the tunnel!
This kind moves dey bring hope for many Nigerians wey don dey miss out on connection. With dis new tech, we fit finally see some transformation for our rural areas. Make we dey watch as dis story dey unfold, my people!
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