The Nigerian telecommunications sector is set to welcome another operator following the issuance of a Unified Access Service Licence (UASL) to Swift Telephone Network Limited (STN) by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC).
The licence, which took effect on October 1, 2026, authorises STN to provide a broad range of telecommunications services, including voice, data, fixed and mobile services.
The approval marks a major step in STN’s transition from its earlier operations as a telephone call service into a full-service telecommunications company.
With the UASL, the Nigerian-owned company is authorised to operate across multiple segments of the telecommunications market as it prepares to commence commercial operations.
STN Chief Executive Officer, Oluwole Adetuyi, described the licence as a significant milestone in the company’s development.
“This UASL is not just a licence. It is a new chapter. It represents where we started, what we have endured, how we have evolved, and where we are going. We are building in Nigeria, for Nigeria,” Adetuyi said.
The company said it plans to invest in telecommunications infrastructure, expand connectivity and contribute to efforts aimed at bridging Nigeria’s digital divide.
STN also said it would prioritise the training and development of Nigerian engineers, technicians and digital professionals. It plans to work with local service providers, contractors and vendors, while also establishing partnerships with international technology companies.
According to the company, its expansion plans could create new employment and business opportunities in areas such as distribution, retail and technical support.
“Our ambition is simple: to help build Nigeria’s digital economy from the ground up,” Adetuyi said.
STN’s Director of Legal and Regulatory Services, Yetunde Okafor, said the company would announce details of strategic partnerships, infrastructure rollout plans and investor engagement programmes in the coming weeks.
She said the company had evolved from its beginnings as a telephone call service into an independent telecommunications operator focused on developing resilient and inclusive digital infrastructure.
The entry of STN comes as Nigeria’s telecommunications market remains heavily concentrated among established operators.
According to NCC industry figures for July 2026, MTN Nigeria had 100.86 million active subscribers, representing 51.76 per cent of the market, while Airtel Nigeria had 66.76 million subscribers, representing 34.26 per cent. Globacom had 23.63 million subscribers, while T2, formerly 9mobile, had 3.61 million.
The figures mean MTN and Airtel together accounted for about 86 per cent of active mobile subscriptions at the time.
STN’s UASL therefore gives the company regulatory approval to enter a market where existing operators already have extensive infrastructure, distribution networks and large subscriber bases.
However, the licence itself does not establish the company’s commercial network. STN will still need to finalise its infrastructure, spectrum arrangements, partnerships, distribution strategy and other requirements before full-scale commercial operations.
The company said further announcements on its rollout plans and strategic partnerships would be made as it prepares to launch its services.
STN’s entry adds another player to Nigeria’s expanding telecommunications ecosystem and comes amid wider efforts by the NCC to increase participation and expand access to telecommunications services across the country.
