Swift Telephone Network Limited (STN) has secured a Unified Access Service Licence (UASL) from the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), paving the way for the Nigerian telecommunications company to provide mobile and other services currently offered by mobile network operators in the country.
The licence authorises STN to provide a range of telecommunications services, including voice, data, fixed and mobile communications, potentially introducing a new operator into a market where active subscriptions remain concentrated among four established players.
Nigeria’s telecommunications market is currently dominated by MTN Nigeria and Airtel Nigeria, which together accounted for about 86 percent of active mobile subscriptions as of July 2026, according to the latest NCC industry statistics.
MTN had 100.86 million active subscribers, representing 51.76 percent of the market, while Airtel had 66.76 million subscribers and a 34.26 percent market share.
Globacom accounted for 23.63 million active subscriptions, representing 12.13 percent, while T2mobile, formerly known as 9mobile, had 3.61 million subscribers, or 1.85 percent of the market.
Against this backdrop, STN’s entry creates another potential participant in a market where the size of existing operators has made it difficult for new players to establish a meaningful presence.
STN disclosed the licence in a statement, describing it as a major transition in the company’s development from its earlier operations as a telephone call service under an umbrella structure to an independent Nigerian telecommunications company.
Oluwole Adetuyi, chief executive officer of STN, said the UASL would provide the platform for the company’s next phase of expansion.
“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 use the licence to develop telecommunications infrastructure, expand connectivity and contribute to efforts to reduce Nigeria’s digital divide.
Its strategy will also include investment in skills development and training for Nigerian engineers, technicians and digital professionals, while partnerships with local service providers, contractors and vendors will form part of its planned operations.
STN said it would also work with global technology partners to strengthen local technical capabilities and create employment and business opportunities for Nigerian entrepreneurs involved in distribution, retail and support services.
“Our ambition is simple: to help build Nigeria’s digital economy from the ground up,” Adetuyi said.
He added that while the UASL provides the platform for expansion, Nigerian talent, partnerships and innovation would drive the company’s operations.
Yetunde Okafor, director of legal and regulatory services at STN, said the company would announce strategic partnerships, infrastructure rollout plans and programmes for engaging investors and other stakeholders in the coming weeks.
According to Okafor, the initiatives will form part of STN’s preparations to commence commercial operations under the UASL.
“From its origins as a telephone call service, STN has evolved into a UASL licensed operator committed to building resilient, inclusive, and innovative digital infrastructure for Nigeria,” she said.
The company’s planned entry comes as Nigeria continues to expand its digital infrastructure and seek broader access to telecommunications services. However, STN’s ability to establish a meaningful position in the market will depend on the scale and pace of its infrastructure deployment, commercial rollout and ability to attract subscribers in a market where existing operators already serve more than 194 million active subscriptions.
