Key telecom stakeholders in Nigeria will converge in Lagos on August 26 for the sixth edition of the Telecom Sector Sustainability Forum (TSSF 6.0), with a sharp focus on the evolving role and potential of Mobile Virtual Network Operators (MVNOs) in Nigeria’s digital landscape.

The event, themed “Unlocking Nigeria’s MVNO Potential: Status, Trends, Investment, and Future Prospects,” will be held at CITIHeight Hotel, Ikeja, and is organized by Business Remarks.

According to the organisers, the forum aims to serve as a collaborative platform for dialogue, strategy development, and policy alignment among key players in the telecom ecosystem — from mobile network operators (MNOs) and infrastructure providers to Internet service providers (ISPs), regulators, and investors.

43 MVNO Licenses Issued Under New Structure

The highlight of the forum will be a keynote address by Dr. Aminu Maida, the Executive Vice Chairman of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC). Dr. Maida is expected to outline the Commission’s regulatory vision and commitment to building a sustainable MVNO ecosystem.

To date, the NCC has granted 43 MVNO licenses under a new five-tier licensing framework, aimed at fostering service differentiation, market competition, and broader digital inclusion. The licenses are valid for 10 years and signal a major step in opening up Nigeria’s telecom sector to innovative, service-focused virtual operators.

“A Melting Pot of Ideas”

Bukola Olanrewaju, Managing Editor of Business Remarks and convener of the forum, described the event as “a melting pot of ideas.”

“We are bringing together MNOs, MVNOs, infrastructure providers, associations, and innovators to create actionable solutions that can reshape the telecom landscape,” she said.

The event will feature panel discussions, paper presentations, and interactive sessions, with a focus on how MVNOs can leverage existing infrastructure to penetrate underserved communities, deliver value-added services, and support Nigeria’s digital transformation agenda.

A Strategic Opportunity

As global demand for virtual mobile services grows, Nigeria is seen as a key emerging market for MVNOs — provided that regulatory clarity, infrastructure sharing, and investor confidence continue to improve.

The TSSF has become a vital platform for policy dialogue and public-private collaboration in the telecom space, aimed at driving sustainability, innovation, and long-term sectoral growth.