As part of activities lined up for the MTN Media Innovation Programme (MIP) Weekend, MTN’s Chief Corporate Services and Sustainability Officer, Tobe Okigbo, held an engaging and insightful session with MIP alumni, offering deeper perspectives into Nigeria’s evolving telecommunications landscape and the future of connectivity.
The interactive conversation, tagged “15 Minutes Scoop with Tobe Okigbo,” explored several pressing issues around data consumption, telecom infrastructure, digital access, and the future of broadband connectivity in Nigeria.
Speaking during the session, Okigbo explained that the rapid increase in data consumption among users is closely tied to the way people now live and interact digitally. According to him, faster internet speeds, video streaming platforms, cloud-based services, artificial intelligence tools, and smart applications have significantly increased data usage across networks.
He also noted that many mobile applications consume data in the background through auto-updates, syncing, notifications, and autoplay functions, often without users fully realising it.
“The better the digital experience becomes, the more data it naturally requires,” he explained.
The session also shed light on the realities of operating telecom networks in Nigeria, highlighting the enormous infrastructure and operational demands required to maintain uninterrupted connectivity across the country.
Okigbo explained that behind every phone call, video stream, upload, or online transaction is a complex support system involving generators, solar installations, battery systems, and multiple layers of security infrastructure working round the clock to keep the network operational.
He stressed that many of these realities remain largely invisible to end users, despite their critical role in sustaining reliable communication services.
Another major theme during the discussion was the growing need for digital awareness and consumer education as data consumption continues to rise.
According to Okigbo, while access to connectivity remains important, users also need to better understand how their online behaviour impacts data usage, particularly activities such as HD streaming, large file sharing, cloud syncing, and constant background app refreshes.
He added that initiatives such as the Nigerian Communications Commission’s data usage notifications are becoming increasingly important in promoting transparency and helping consumers make informed decisions about their usage patterns.
Looking toward the future, Okigbo emphasised that mobile networks alone would not be sufficient to support the next phase of digital transformation. He pointed to the growing importance of fibre infrastructure in powering future technologies such as AI systems, smart homes, connected devices, and high-capacity streaming services.
According to him, the long-term vision is to create a future where fibre connectivity becomes more accessible, giving consumers broader and more reliable connectivity options.
The conversation also touched on the issue of digital inclusion and affordability. Okigbo noted that access to connectivity today goes beyond network coverage alone and increasingly depends on whether individuals can afford the devices required to participate in the digital economy.
He stressed that addressing this challenge would require stronger collaboration among telecom operators, policymakers, technology partners, and other stakeholders across the ecosystem.
At the heart of the session was the broader vision behind the MTN Media Innovation Programme, which seeks to foster deeper understanding of the telecommunications industry among media professionals.
According to MTN, the initiative is designed to encourage more informed conversations around technology and connectivity, enabling journalists and media practitioners to ask more critical questions, gain better industry insights, and tell more accurate and balanced stories about the sector.
