Swift Telephone Network Limited (STN), a Nigerian telecommunications company, has secured a Unified Access Service Licence (UASL) from the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), paving the way for its entry into the mobile telecommunications market and potential competition with established operators such as MTN Nigeria and Airtel Nigeria.
STN disclosed the development in a statement made available on Thursday.
The UASL authorises STN to provide a broad range of telecommunications services, including voice, data, fixed and mobile services, placing the company among operators with regulatory approval to compete across multiple segments of Nigeria’s telecom market.
According to the NCC’s database of licensed operators, STN’s UASL takes effect on October 1, 2026, and is renewable after 10 years.
The new licence marks a major step in STN’s evolution from a telephone call service operating under an umbrella structure to an independent Nigerian telecommunications company.
STN Chief Executive Officer, Oluwole Adetuyi, described the licence as a significant milestone in the company’s development.
“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 had navigated changing economic conditions, regulatory developments and market challenges while building the capacity required to operate as a full-service telecommunications provider.
STN said its plans include investments in telecommunications infrastructure and connectivity as it seeks to contribute to efforts to bridge Nigeria’s digital divide.
The company also plans to invest in training and skills development for Nigerian engineers, technicians and digital professionals.
It said it would prioritise partnerships with Nigerian service providers, contractors and vendors while working with international technology partners to strengthen local technical capabilities.
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STN also expects its expansion to generate employment and business opportunities for entrepreneurs 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 be central to the company’s operations.
STN Director of Legal and Regulatory Services, Yetunde Okafor, said the company would unveil strategic partnerships, infrastructure deployment plans and initiatives for engaging investors and other stakeholders in the coming weeks.
She said the initiatives would form part of preparations for the commencement of 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,” Okafor said.
STN’s entry comes amid a highly concentrated Nigerian telecommunications market, where MTN Nigeria and Airtel Nigeria account for the majority of active mobile subscriptions.
Latest NCC industry statistics cited in the statement show that MTN had 100.86 million active subscribers in July 2026, representing 51.76 per cent of the market.
Airtel followed with 66.76 million subscribers and a 34.26 per cent market share.
Globacom had 23.63 million subscribers, representing 12.13 per cent, while 9mobile, now operating as T2, had 3.61 million subscribers and a 1.85 per cent share.
STN’s entry therefore introduces another operator with the regulatory scope to compete in voice, data, fixed and mobile telecommunications.
However, the extent of its impact on the market will depend on factors including infrastructure deployment, spectrum arrangements, network investment, pricing and its ability to attract and retain subscribers.
With its UASL taking effect from October 1, 2026, STN is now positioned to begin the next stage of its expansion as Nigeria’s telecom industry prepares for another potential shift in competition.