Today’s telecom news includes announcements on Aircel, Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), MTN Nigeria, Airtel Nigeria, Globacom, 9mobile, MTN Zambia, Starlink, among others.
Big Blow to Telecom Lenders: Supreme Court Ruling on Aircel May Disrupt IBC Recoveries
A ruling by the Supreme Court of India in the insolvency case of Aircel could significantly affect recoveries for lenders under the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (IBC). The court held that telecom spectrum is a sovereign natural resource and cannot be treated as a tradable private asset during insolvency proceedings. As a result, lenders may not be able to rely on the transfer or sale of spectrum to recover dues from bankrupt telecom companies. The decision could impact insolvency resolutions across the telecom sector, where spectrum has often been viewed as a key asset for creditor recoveries.
Cyber Alert in 4 Hours: Nigeria Enforces Strict Reporting Rule for Telecom Operators
Nigeria’s telecom regulator, the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), has introduced a new Cyber Resilience Framework for the Nigerian Communications Sector requiring telecom operators to report major cybersecurity incidents within four hours of detection. The rule applies to licensed providers across the telecom ecosystem, including operators such as MTN Nigeria, Airtel Nigeria, Globacom and 9mobile. The framework aims to strengthen cyber resilience as telecom networks increasingly support critical digital services, financial transactions and government operations. Operators must submit detailed incident reports through a standardized template and coordinate with the NCC’s Computer Security Incident Response Team to improve threat monitoring and response across the sector.
Satellite Meets Smartphone: MTN Zambia Makes Africa’s First Starlink Direct-to-Cell Test
MTN Zambia has become the first mobile operator in Africa to test Starlink’s Direct-to-Cell (D2C) satellite service, marking a significant milestone in expanding connectivity to remote areas. The trial, conducted with Starlink, enabled a standard LTE smartphone to connect directly to low-Earth-orbit satellites without requiring additional hardware or traditional cell towers. During the test, the network completed the country’s first satellite-based data session and a mobile fintech transaction using MTN’s licensed spectrum and Starlink’s satellite constellation.
SHAFANA FAZAL
