Association of Telecommunications Companies of Nigeria

What Association of Telecommunications Companies of Nigeria does

The Association of Telecommunications Companies of Nigeria (ATCON) is a professional, non-profit, non-political umbrella organization founded on December 10, 1993, and headquartered at Plot 1, Block 99, Olori Muyibat Oyefusi Street, Lekki Phase 1, Lagos. It represents over 100 telecommunications and ICT companies across six membership categories: telephone operators, infrastructure providers, internet service providers, value-added services providers, consulting firms, and equipment dealers. Members include MTN Nigeria, Airtel, 9mobile, MainOne (Equinix), ipNX, Pan African Towers, RackCentre, Galaxy Backbone, NIGCOMSAT, Spectranet, and a broad base of smaller operators and vendors.

ATCON's core offerings are membership-based services: structured advocacy and policy representation before the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), NITDA, NDPC, the Central Bank of Nigeria, and the legislature; flagship industry events such as the Telecom Executives and Regulators Forum (TERF) and National Strategic Mobilization conferences; and publications including policy memoranda and the "100 Leading Telecoms & Digital Economy Personalities in Nigeria." Its operating model is event- and policy-driven rather than technology-product-driven, and there are no proprietary platforms, APIs, or AI systems in its stack.

Revenue is generated almost entirely through membership dues (a recurring subscription model) supplemented by event sponsorships from technology vendors and government-linked partners such as Huawei and NIGCOMSAT. Pricing is not publicly disclosed and engagement with the secretariat is required for membership. The organization is governed by an elected National Executive Council led since April 2023 by President Tony Izuagbe Emoekpere, with the secretariat run by an Executive Secretary and supported by coordinators across each member category.

Name

Association of Telecommunications Companies of Nigeria

Legal name

Association of Telecommunications Companies of Nigeria

Website

https://atcon.ng

Company type

Private

Founded year

1993

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

ATCON is a Nigerian non-profit industry association, founded 1993, representing 100+ telecom and ICT companies across operators, ISPs, infrastructure providers, and vendors, delivering policy advocacy, regulator engagement, and industry forums such as TERF.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Telecom Industry Association Services

NAICS

Business Associations (813910), Professional Organizations (81392), Convention and Trade Show Organizers (56192)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYTHAHACAA

Association & Society Conference Management (Nonprofit, Professional Bodies)

Travel & Hospitality/MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences & Exhibitions)/Professional Conference Organizers (PCOs) & Meeting Planners

SECONDARYMPAGAGAK

Executive Summits & Invitation-Only Forums

Media, Entertainment & Sports/Live Entertainment & Events (Concerts, Theater, Festivals)/Conventions & Conferences (Business Events)

SECONDARYMPAGAGAM

Conferences & Conventions Operations Services (Registration, AV, Logistics)

Media, Entertainment & Sports/Live Entertainment & Events (Concerts, Theater, Festivals)/Conventions & Conferences (Business Events)

SECONDARYTHAHAMAD

Customer/User Conferences & Client Advisory Boards

Travel & Hospitality/MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences & Exhibitions)/Corporate Meetings & Summits

Keywords

• Telecom industry association
• Regulatory policy advocacy
• Industry stakeholder representation
• Telecom sector advocacy
• Trade association services

Headquarters

HQ city

Ikeja

HQ country

Nigeria

HQ region

Africa

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Membership Fees: ATCON generates revenue through membership fees from telecommunications companies, ISPs, infrastructure providers, and other ICT businesses operating in Nigeria. The association has a membership framework with different categories including telephone operators, infrastructure providers, internet service providers, value added services, consulting, and equipment dealers.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

ATCON is a non-profit, non-political umbrella organization that provides collective industry representation, advocacy, and policy engagement for telecommunications and ICT companies operating in Nigeria. It convenes members through industry events such as the Telecom Executives Roundtable Forum (TERF) and Annual General Meetings, and serves as the unified industry voice in engagements with regulators including the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), NITDA, and the Federal Government of Nigeria. Membership-based services support telecom operators, ISPs, infrastructure providers, equipment vendors, and value-added service providers across the Nigerian telecoms ecosystem.

Product overview

The Association of Telecommunications Companies of Nigeria (ATCON) is a professional, non-profit, non-political umbrella organization of telecommunications companies in Nigeria, formally inaugurated on December 10, 1993. ATCON does not offer a traditional product portfolio but provides membership services, organizes industry forums and events (including TERF and the National Strategic Mobilization), and publishes policy documents and reports. The organization serves as an advocacy body representing telecom and ICT companies, facilitating dialogue between industry players and regulators, and promoting digital economy development in Nigeria.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• ATCON Membership Services
• Telecom Executives Roundtable Forum (TERF)
• Annual General Meeting (AGM)
• National Strategic Mobilization Program

Quantifiable outcome

• Organized the 2023 Telecom Executives and Regulators Forum (TERF 2023) with 200+ attendees including executives from major operators and regulators
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers14 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and major.

• Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPrimary regulatory partner. NCC collaborates with ATCON on industry consultations, policy development, stakeholder forums, and regulatory initiatives including infrastructure cleanup exercises, broadband planning, and spectrum management. The NCC EVC participates in ATCON events and ATCON provides industry feedback on regulatory proposals.
• National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerKey regulatory partner for ICT policy and digital economy matters. ATCON engages with NITDA on issues including the NITDA Bill 2022, digital economy development, and technology regulation. The relationship involves policy advocacy and coordination on IT sector development.
• Nigeria Data Protection Commission (NDPC)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNDPC collaborates with ATCON on data protection compliance, industry awareness, and regulatory frameworks for the telecommunications sector. NDPC participates in ATCON forums and provides guidance on data protection requirements.
• Nigeria Communications Satellite Limited (NIGCOMSAT)majorTechnology or IntegrationSatellite communications provider engaged with ATCON on industry forums, broadband deployment, and satellite connectivity initiatives. NIGCOMSAT participates as sponsor and panel contributor in ATCON events.
• Internet Exchange Point of Nigeria (IXPN)majorTechnology or IntegrationIXPN works with ATCON on internet infrastructure, peering, and connectivity matters. IXPN participates in industry forums and contributes to discussions on critical national infrastructure.
• AFRINICmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAfrican regional internet registry for IP addresses. ATCON partners with AFRINIC on industry engagement meetings addressing internet number resource management, regional internet coordination, and technical capacity building.
• Association of Licensed Telecoms Operators of Nigeria (ALTON)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerALTON represents licensed telecom operators. While ALTON historically separated from ATCON, both associations maintain collaborative dialogue on industry issues, regulatory matters, and sector advocacy. ALTON leadership participates in ATCON forums.
• Lagos State Infrastructure Maintenance and Regulatory Agency (LASIMRA)majorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerCollaborated on telecom infrastructure cleanup exercise in Lagos, addressing aerial fiber cable safety, infrastructure standardization, and regulatory compliance for telecom infrastructure deployment.
• Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCBN engagement addresses intervention funds for telecom sector, USSD debt resolution, foreign exchange access for operators, and financing mechanisms for infrastructure development.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• European Telecommunications Network Operators' Association (ETNO): European telecom operator association representing major European operators on policy, regulatory, and spectrum issues. ETNO's role as the unified voice of operators vis-à-vis the European Commission parallels ATCON's positioning with NCC and Nigerian government stakeholders.
• CTIA: U.S. wireless industry association representing carriers, equipment makers, and mobile ecosystem players. CTIA's advocacy on spectrum policy, 5G deployment, and device certification aligns closely with ATCON's mandate around spectrum, broadband, and regulatory coordination in Nigeria.
• Association of Licensed Telecommunications Operators of Nigeria (ALTON): Nigerian association specifically representing licensed telecom operators. ALTON is the most direct peer — historically split from ATCON — competing for the same operator membership base and regulatory engagement mandate in Nigeria.
• Cellular Operators Association of India (COAI): Indian industry association representing major telecom operators and digital communications companies. COAI mirrors ATCON's operator-focused advocacy, regulatory engagement with India's Department of Telecommunications, and event convening model in an emerging market context.

Broad incumbents

• Telecommunications Industry Association (TIA): U.S.-based trade association representing ICT manufacturers, suppliers, and service providers. TIA's standards development and policy advocacy on telecom infrastructure parallels ATCON's engagement with NITDA on digital economy and infrastructure standards.
• African Telecommunications Union (ATU): Continental intergovernmental organization for ICT in Africa, coordinating policy and spectrum matters across member states. ATU provides the regional layer above national associations like ATCON, making it a complementary peer in the African telecom policy ecosystem.
• GSMA: Global mobile industry association representing mobile operators and the broader mobile ecosystem. ATCON operates as the Nigerian counterpart to GSMA's national-association engagement model, performing similar advocacy, event convening (e.g., MWC), and policy representation functions at country level.

Regional players

• Telecommunications Carriers' Association (TCA) New Zealand: New Zealand industry association for telecommunications carriers. TCA operates a similar small-country, operator-focused advocacy and convening model, with comparable relationships to national regulators as ATCON has with the NCC.
• SAMENA Telecommunications Council: Telecommunications industry council serving the South Asia, Middle East, and North Africa region. SAMENA's tri-regional operator and stakeholder convening model is comparable to ATCON's role in West Africa, with similar advocacy and policy development functions.
• Comms Alliance (Australia): Australian communications industry peak body representing carriers, ISPs, and equipment vendors. Comms Alliance operates the same membership-association + industry-forum + standards-development model that ATCON applies in Nigeria's telecom sector.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/ATCONG
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/atcon.ng
• Facebookfacebook.com/ATCON.ng

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Association of Telecommunications Companies of Nigeria