If Nitel, Nigeria’s former state-owned utility and monopoly telecommunications operator had been shaken from its slumbers, companies such as Starcomms might not have grown as fast as it has.

Using third-generation Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) technology from the US, the once family-owned and run company has launched itself into the ranks of Nigeria’s top telecoms operators, selling products such as fixed wireless phones, mobiles and high-speed roaming internet access.