By Abigail Mbah
Swift Telephone Network Limited (STN) has received a Unified Access Service Licence from the Nigerian Communications Commission, clearing the way for the indigenous company to operate as a full mobile network provider.
The licence took effect on October 1, 2026, and is valid for 10 years, authorizing the company to offer voice, data, fixed and mobile telecommunications services across the country under a single regulatory approval.
STN started in 1998 as a telephone call service and later expanded into landline and other telecom activities before facing setbacks that led to a temporary shutdown in 2010. It has since been rebuilt and applied for the Unified Access Service Licence in February 2022.
Managing Director and CEO Oluwole Adetuyi described the approval as a major step forward. “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,” he said.
Also, STN’s Director of Legal and Regulatory Services, Yetunde Okafor said the company aims to connect people to opportunities and support Nigeria’s digital growth. STN plans to prioritise skills training for local engineers and digital professionals, partnerships with Nigerian vendors, and efforts to expand coverage in underserved areas.
The company said it will announce details of its network rollout, strategic partnerships and commercial plans in the coming weeks. No launch date has been set yet.
Nigeria’s mobile market remains tightly controlled by the biggest operators. According to the latest available NCC figures for July 2026, MTN held 100.86 million active subscriptions, or about 51.8 percent of the market. Airtel followed with 66.76 million subscriptions, roughly 34.3 percent. Together the two account for more than 86 percent of active lines. Globacom had 23.63 million, while T2 (formerly 9mobile) had 3.61 million.
STN becomes the latest entrant in a market that already includes those four operators plus virtual players such as Lebara. Gaining meaningful share will depend on how quickly the company can build infrastructure, secure spectrum, raise capital and offer competitive pricing and service quality.
For now, the licence gives STN the legal foundation to compete. The real test will come when it begins building and launching services.