IHS Nigeria Joins Stakeholders to Mark 25 Years of GSM Revolution at eWorld Forum

 IHS Nigeria Joins Stakeholders to Mark 25 Years of GSM Revolution at eWorld Forum

IHS Nigeria has joined telecommunications industry stakeholders, policymakers and technology leaders to commemorate 25 years of GSM technology and its transformative impact on Nigeria’s digital economy.

The celebration took place at the 12th edition of the eWorld Forum, held on Thursday, September 24, 2026, at the Oriental Hotel, Victoria Island, Lagos.

The forum, themed “The GSM Digital Milestones: 25 Years On,” brought together key players across Nigeria’s telecommunications ecosystem to reflect on the evolution of mobile telecommunications, from the introduction of GSM services in 2001 to the emergence of today’s increasingly connected digital economy.

The event also featured the unveiling of two books, The Pilgrim Trail – Footprints of Mercy and Nigeria’s GSM Revolution at 25 – The Hall of Digital Pioneers, Players, authored by Aaron Ukodie, convener of the eWorld Forum and publisher of eWorld News.

Representing IHS Nigeria at the event, the company’s Director, Corporate Communications, Sylva Ifedigbo, said the GSM revolution had fundamentally changed how Nigerians communicate, conduct business and access opportunities.

“Twenty-five years ago, the introduction of GSM technology fundamentally transformed how Nigerians connect, communicate and conduct business. What began as a telecommunications revolution has evolved into a powerful catalyst for economic growth, financial inclusion, innovation and national development,” he said.

Ifedigbo noted that IHS Nigeria’s growth has been closely linked to the development of the country’s telecommunications industry, adding that the company has spent more than two decades building and managing shared communications infrastructure for mobile network operators and internet service providers.

As part of IHS Towers, one of the world’s largest independent owners, operators and developers of shared communications infrastructure by tower count, IHS Nigeria currently has an infrastructure footprint of approximately 16,000 towers and more than 15,000 route kilometres of fibre deployed across Nigeria.

Ifedigbo described the company as a major contributor to the country’s digital connectivity, saying, “IHS Nigeria is synonymous with Nigeria’s GSM story. We are proud to refer to ourselves as Nigeria’s backbone of digital possibilities.”

According to the company, its infrastructure supports the delivery of voice and data services, while its shared infrastructure model enables telecommunications operators and other service providers to expand their networks without duplicating infrastructure.

Speaking during a panel session, Director, Regional Operations, IHS Nigeria, Olaitan Ogunbiyi, reflected on the dramatic transformation of Nigeria’s telecommunications industry since the rollout of GSM services.

Ogunbiyi recalled that mobile telecommunications was initially accessible to only a limited number of Nigerians, noting that the licensing of GSM operators in 2001 marked a major turning point for the industry.

He traced the sector’s evolution from 2G technology through 3G and 4G, alongside the expansion of fibre infrastructure and the growth of high-speed connectivity.

“Looking back at where we started in 2001, the transformation has been remarkable. We moved from a time when mobile lines were limited to a few hundred thousand subscribers to an ecosystem that now supports connectivity across virtually every part of our lives,” Ogunbiyi said.

He noted that the impact of the telecommunications revolution has extended beyond the sector, with mobile and digital connectivity increasingly influencing healthcare, transportation, manufacturing, technology and other areas of the economy.

Ogunbiyi also highlighted the importance of colocation and infrastructure sharing in the expansion of Nigeria’s telecommunications networks.

He explained that infrastructure sharing enables multiple operators and service providers to leverage existing facilities instead of independently developing similar infrastructure, thereby reducing duplication and deployment costs.

“Because we’ve been able to build infrastructure that significantly lowers the cost of deployment for a lot of the mobile network operators, it has helped to drop the cost of the service to the end user as well,” he said.

He added that IHS Nigeria’s infrastructure serves multiple mobile network operators and internet service providers, while its fibre network provides additional connectivity capacity that can be shared among users.

The forum also featured personal recollections from participants about the early days of GSM in Nigeria, including experiences of purchasing their first mobile phones and SIM cards.

The memories provided a reflection of the significant changes in Nigeria’s telecommunications landscape over the past 25 years, from limited mobile access to widespread connectivity and an increasingly digital economy.

As Nigeria prepares for the next phase of its digital transformation, IHS Nigeria said it would continue to collaborate with industry stakeholders to expand connectivity, encourage sustainable innovation and support inclusive economic growth.