IHS Nigeria links infrastructure to digital economy growth

IHS Nigeria has reflected on its contribution to Nigeria’s telecommunications evolution, highlighting the critical role of digital infrastructure in the country’s journey from the introduction of GSM services to the emergence of an increasingly connected digital economy.

The company made the remarks while joining telecommunications industry stakeholders, policymakers, technology leaders and members of the media at the 12th edition of the eWorld Forum, held recently in Lagos.

The forum, themed “The GSM Digital Milestones: 25 Years On,” commemorated 25 years of Nigeria’s GSM revolution and examined the transformation of the country’s telecommunications ecosystem from the early days of mobile telephony to today’s digital economy.

The event also featured the launch of two books, The Pilgrim Trail – Footprints of Mercy and Nigeria’s GSM Revolution at 25 – The Hall of Digital Pioneers, Players, authored by Aaron Ukodie, convener of the eWorld Forum and publisher of eWorld News.

In his goodwill message delivered on behalf of IHS Nigeria, Director, Corporate Communications, Sylva Ifedigbo, described the 25-year GSM milestone as a significant moment in Nigeria’s digital journey.

“Twenty-five years ago, the introduction of GSM technology fundamentally transformed how Nigerians connect, communicate and conduct business. What began as a telecommunications revolution has evolved into a powerful catalyst for economic growth, financial inclusion, innovation and national development,” he said.

Ifedigbo noted that IHS Nigeria’s own journey has remained closely connected to the development of the country’s telecommunications ecosystem.

As part of IHS Towers, one of the world’s largest independent owners, operators and developers of shared communications infrastructure by tower count, IHS Nigeria has spent more than two decades building and managing infrastructure supporting mobile network operators and internet service providers across the country.

“IHS Nigeria is synonymous with Nigeria’s GSM story. We are proud to refer to ourselves as Nigeria’s backbone of digital possibilities,” Ifedigbo said.

He highlighted the company’s infrastructure footprint of approximately 16,000 towers and more than 15,000 route kilometres of fibre deployed across Nigeria.

According to him, the infrastructure supports the delivery of voice and data services, while shared infrastructure and connectivity solutions enable mobile network operators and other service providers to expand their networks.

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The company’s fibre infrastructure has also increased connectivity capacity and supported the delivery of digital services across different parts of the country.

Speaking during a panel session at the forum, Director, Regional Operations, IHS Nigeria, Olaitan Ogunbiyi, reflected on the dramatic changes witnessed in Nigeria’s telecommunications sector since the introduction of GSM services.

Ogunbiyi recalled the early years of mobile telecommunications, when access to mobile lines was limited and mobile phones were still relatively new to Nigerians. He said the licensing of GSM operators in 2001 represented a major turning point, followed by the evolution from 2G to 3G and 4G services and the subsequent expansion of fibre infrastructure and faster connectivity.

“Looking back at where we started in 2001, the transformation has been remarkable. We moved from a time when mobile lines were limited to a few hundred thousand subscribers to an ecosystem that now supports connectivity across virtually every part of our lives,” he said.

He noted that the impact of the telecommunications revolution has extended beyond voice and mobile communication, influencing sectors such as healthcare, transportation, manufacturing and technology.

Ogunbiyi also highlighted the role of colocation and infrastructure sharing in expanding telecommunications networks while reducing the cost and duplication associated with network deployment.

He explained that shared infrastructure enables multiple operators and service providers to leverage existing infrastructure instead of independently building similar networks.

“Because we’ve been able to build infrastructure that significantly lowers the cost of deployment for a lot of the mobile network operators, it has helped to drop the cost of the service to the end user as well,” Ogunbiyi said.

He added that IHS Nigeria’s infrastructure supports multiple mobile network operators and internet service providers, while its fibre network provides additional connectivity infrastructure that can be shared by multiple users.

The forum also provided an opportunity for participants to share personal memories of Nigeria’s early GSM era, including experiences surrounding the acquisition of their first mobile phones and SIM cards.