Swift Telephone Network Limited (STN) has received a Unified Access Service Licence (UASL) from the Nigerian federal government, granting it the authority to provide telecommunications services across the country. The licence, announced on Wednesday, positions STN as a new operator in a market currently dominated by MTN Nigeria, Airtel Nigeria, Globacom, 9mobile, and Lebara.
STN's Licence and Strategic Plans
STN described the licence as a key milestone in its long effort to expand its telecoms operations. The company said it will reveal its strategic partnerships and national rollout plans in the coming weeks. Managing Director and CEO Oluwole Adetuyi said the company's focus areas include training engineers and digital professionals, forging partnerships with Nigerian vendors, widening connectivity to close the digital divide, and creating economic opportunities across the telecoms value chain.
STN's Director of Legal and Regulatory Affairs, Yetunde Okafor, said the company aims to build a business rooted in Nigeria but competitive globally. According to DailyTrust Reports, Okafor stated: "Our ambition is clear. To build a telecommunications company that is proudly Nigerian in its roots, global in its outlook, and transformational in its impact." She added: "We want to connect people to opportunities, businesses to customers, and Nigeria to the possibilities of the digital future."
STN's Long Road to UASL
STN was founded in 1998 and had an early footprint in digital landline services, voicemail, and connectivity projects for institutions including the World Health Organisation and the Nigerian military. The company formally applied for the UASL on February 22, 2022, after rebuilding its operations and settling regulatory obligations that followed its earlier shutdown.
STN's operations had ceased in November 2010 due to infrastructure losses and boardroom challenges. Adetuyi revived the company in February 2017 alongside Okafor, beginning the process of rebuilding the business. After reinstating its licence in 2019, STN resumed operations in September of the same year, Leadership reports. The latest UASL approval gives the company a pathway to expand its telecommunications services nationwide as it prepares to announce its rollout plans and strategic partnerships.
Market Impact and Lebara's Entry
Earlier, Legit.ng reported that Lebara is entering the Nigerian market as a Mobile Virtual Network Operator (MVNO), delivering services using infrastructure owned by existing network operators rather than building its own. This approach allows Lebara to compete on pricing, distribution, and customer experience without the capital outlay of constructing a full mobile network. The initial service bundle covers mobile voice, SMS, and data, alongside features such as usage tracking.
With STN's UASL secured, the company will now compete alongside MTN Nigeria, Airtel Nigeria, Globacom, 9mobile, and Lebara. Adetuyi reflected on the journey, stating: "This licence is not the destination. It is the bridge. From a small business centre in 1998 to a UASL operator in 2026, the journey has been long. But the journey has never stopped." As STN prepares to unveil its strategic partnerships and national rollout, its entry is expected to intensify competition in Nigeria's telecoms market, potentially influencing pricing and service offerings for consumers.
