The Chief Executive Officer of ntel, Soji Maurice-Diya
has says the once-dormant Nigerian telecoms brand will officially re-enter the
nation’s telecommunication market in the first quarter of 2026, under a renewed strategy that will position it as a “digital-first, infrastructure-light MVNO focused on innovation, inclusion, and sustainability
He stated during the latest edition of the Technology Times Thought Leadership Series, a platform that convenes decision-makers shaping Nigeria’s digital
transformation to share insights, foresight, and lessons from the frontlines of technology and policy innovation.
Maurice-Diya, who leads NatCom Development & Investment Limited (trading as ntel), said the company’s re-entry marks “the beginning of a new chapter not just for ntel, but for Nigeria’s telecoms industry as a whole ”
He explained that the relaunch will embody a leaner, smarter, and innovation-driven
approach that leverages digital platforms, partnerships, and policy opportunities to serve underserved and value-conscious segments of the market.
“We are not returning to be another operator chasing millions of subscribers,”
Maurice-Diya said. “We are coming back to serve a new generation of Nigerians who value innovation, efficiency, and authenticity in their digital experience. Our comeback will be defined by focus, speed, and value creation ”
A Market at an Inflection Point
Reflecting on the state of Nigeria’s telecommunications industry, the ntel CEO described it as “a mature and dynamic market now standing at the cusp of a new transformation phase.”
According to him, the past two decades of liberalisation have built an industry that is robust, competitive, and pivotal to the Nigerian economy. Yet, he cautioned that
sustaining this progress will require a deliberate focus on innovation over expansion.
“ Nigeria’s telecoms sector has matured beyond its initial growth model,”
Maurice-Diya observed.
“The next wave will not come from connectivity alone—it will come from what we build on top of connectivity. It’s time to innovate, not just interconnect ”
He added that with over 200 million active lines and growing broadband penetration, the real opportunity lies in value-added digital services, intelligent networks, and inclusive access models that bring connectivity into every sphere of Nigerian life—from agriculture to
education, fintech, and entertainment.
Policy, Regulation, and the Innovation Imperative
Maurice-Diya praised the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) and other policy institutions for sustaining investor confidence and maintaining industry stability through consistent regulation.
However, he urged regulators to evolve from a control-oriented
mindset to one that nurtures innovation and agility.
“ Policy should not be about control—it should be about enabling possibilities,” he said. “We must allow innovation to happen first, and then regulate with hindsight
and understanding.
That is how nations leapfrog into leadership in digital economies ”
He noted that telecoms policy must now intersect with financial inclusion, renewable
energy, and data governance, arguing that Nigeria’s policy framework must recognise the cross-sectoral nature of the digital economy.
“Telecoms is no longer a siloed industry. It underpins everything—commerce,
healthcare, education, and governance. Regulation must reflect that interdependence,” he added.
Maurice-Diya also called for more predictable spectrum management policies, flexible infrastructure-sharing frameworks, and incentives for smaller operators and virtual
networks to thrive in niche segments without the burden of legacy infrastructure costs.
Broadband, Inclusion, and the Rural Opportunity
Nigeria’s broadband penetration continues to expand, but unevenly. While urban centres enjoy multiple layers of connectivity, rural and underserved regions still lag behind.
Maurice-Diya identified this as both a challenge and an opportunity for innovation-driven operators like ntel.
“We must power digital inclusion with sustainability, not subsidy,” he asserted. “The rural opportunity is immense—but to unlock it, we need smarter, more localised
models of broadband delivery ”
He advocated for public-private partnerships, renewable-powered rural towers, and
incentive frameworks that make it commercially viable for operators to expand beyond profitable urban clusters.
Maurice-Diya also applauded the government’s ongoing National Broadband Alliance and backbone fibre expansion initiatives, describing them as foundational to a more inclusive digital economy.
“Access is the foundation of opportunity. When you connect people, you empower them to participate, create, and compete,” he said.
Local Content and Indigenous Capacity
On the question of indigenous participation, the ntel CEO emphasised that local content should go beyond ownership structures to focus on capacity, competence, and creativity.
“ Local content is not just about being Nigerian—it’s about being capable,” he said. “We must build the human capital that can design, manage, and monetise the
digital infrastructure of the future ”
Maurice-Diya cited Nigeria’s 3MTT (Three Million Technical Talent) programme as a
transformative step in building the skills pipeline required for the future of work and the digital economy. He urged the private sector to partner more actively in talent development, internships, and innovation labs.
“The most valuable spectrum of the future is not measured in MHz—it’s measured in mind power,” he quipped.
The New ntel: Digital-First and Infrastructure-Light
Detailing ntel’s re-entry strategy, Maurice-Diya revealed that the company will operate a mobile virtual network operator (MVNO) model—an “ infrastructure-light,
innovation-heavy” approach that prioritises digital service delivery, speed to market, and customer experience.
“We’ re coming back with a smaller, smarter play,” he explained. “Our strategy
focuses on partnership over ownership, platforms over towers, and experiences over expansion ”
He added that ntel will leverage existing wholesale network agreements and
spectrum-sharing arrangements to deliver innovative data, content, and enterprise solutions without duplicating infrastructure.
“We have learned that success in the modern telecoms landscape is not about how much spectrum you own—it’s about how intelligently you use it,” he said.
According to Maurice-Diya, the company’s focus will be on youth-driven digital inclusion, affordable data, and next-generation digital services that bridge Nigeria’s innovation
divide.
“Our youth are digital natives. They are the most connected, most creative, and
most ambitious generation in our history. ntel will be their platform—to learn, build, and thrive in the new digital economy,” he affirmed.
Telecoms and the Digital Economy Nexus
Maurice-Diya situated ntel’s return within the broader context of Nigeria’s evolving digital economy strategy, which envisions technology as a key driver of national competitiveness.
“Telecoms is the spine of the digital economy. Without robust connectivity, digital transformation cannot scale,” he said. “The task before us is to ensure that this
connectivity becomes universal, affordable, and empowering ”
He called for greater inter-agency alignment between the Ministry of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, NCC, NITDA, and Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to ensure coherent policies that accelerate innovation, investment, and inclusion.
“We must harmonise digital policy to reduce friction, simplify compliance, and
create predictability for investors,” he said. “The digital economy is too important to be fragmented ”
Investment Climate and Long-Term Capital
On attracting investment into the telecoms sector, the ntel CEO advocated for policy reforms and incentives that reward long-term capital deployment, particularly in
broadband and infrastructure financing.
“Telecoms infrastructure is a long-term play, but investors need confidence that
policies will not change midstream,” he said. “ If we want more capital inflows, we must create a policy environment that values consistency, fairness, and foresight ”
He highlighted that Nigeria’s infrastructure funding gap can be reduced through hybrid financing models involving sovereign funds, private equity, and impact investors aligned with national digital goals.
“ Investors go where predictability lives. Nigeria has the market, the talent, and the potential—it now needs policy predictability,” Maurice-Diya added.
Balancing Regulation and Innovation
Maurice-Diya underscored that the future of telecoms depends on how effectively
regulation and innovation can coexist. He urged policymakers to balance consumer
protection with innovation freedom, warning that excessive control could stifle progress.
“We cannot regulate innovation before it happens. We must allow innovators to experiment, learn, and iterate,” he said. “That’s how you create ecosystems, not monopolies ”
He also commended NCC’s recent openness to MVNO licensing, describing it as a
visionary step that recognises the need for flexible business models in a fast-changing market.
“The MVNO framework is the regulator’s acknowledgment that agility is the new infrastructure,” he said. “ It’s a forward-looking policy that will democratise access and drive competition ”
ntel’s Long-Term Legacy
Asked what legacy he hopes ntel will leave behind, Maurice-Diya responded with optimism and purpose.
“Our goal is to become a symbol of renewal in Nigeria’s telecoms journey,” he said. “We want ntel to be remembered as the brand that came back to redefine what it means to be connected in Africa’s largest digital market ”
He added that ntel’s legacy will not be measured by subscriber numbers but by the impact it creates in enabling inclusion, innovation, and opportunity.
“We are building a company that listens more, partners more, and innovates faster. That’s our north star,” he concluded.
A New Dawn for Nigeria’s Telecoms Industry
The ntel CEO’s remarks at the Technology Times Thought Leadership Series reinforced the view that Nigeria’s telecoms sector is entering a new phase—one where growth will
depend less on scale and more on innovation, sustainability, and human capacity.
Industry observers say ntel’s comeback adds renewed excitement to Nigeria’s telecoms landscape, which is witnessing increasing convergence between connectivity, digital
services, and fintech innovation.
With its upcoming relaunch, ntel aims to position itself not as a legacy operator seeking recovery, but as a digital challenger brand focused on “doing fewer things better.”
