In a bid to address internet connectivity challenges experienced by Nigerian air passengers travelling abroad, the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has given a “no objection” to the introduction of eSim service during flight operations.

The initiative introduced by Univasa Nigeria Limited will aid improvement of passengers’ travel experience by making it easier for them to access internet services and communicate while travelling outside the country.

The director of public affairs and consumer protection at the NCAA, Mr. Michael Achimugu said the authority’s position followed an assessment of the service and feedback from users.

Speaking at a UNIVASA-NCAA stakeholders’ engagement in Abuja on Wednesday, Achimugu said the decision was based on the need to support solutions to problems affecting passengers’ travel experience.

According to him, internet connectivity has been a recurring challenge for Nigerian travellers, particularly those who need to purchase data after arriving in foreign countries.

He said the initiative also falls within the federal government’s policy of supporting local businesses that provide solutions to identified needs.

Achimugu said the NCAA would support Univasa because the service addresses a connectivity need among Nigerian passengers, noting that “When we identify a problem, we seek to solve those problems. To make the travel experience better for Nigerian passengers.”

He also disclosed that the minister of aviation and aerospace development, Festus Keyamo, uses the service while travelling abroad, adding that some chief executives in the aviation sector also use it.

NCAA’s special adviser to the director-general, Mrs. Ifueko Abdulmalik also said the authority was interested in the initiative from the passenger-experience perspective.

She said passengers travelling into and out of Nigeria often experience connectivity difficulties, adding that access to internet services could make communication and movement easier for travellers.

“From the customer angle, we think that this would help passengers improve their travel experience,” Abdulmalik said.

The managing director and chief executive officer of Univasa, Dr. Ben Adeniyi said the service was developed partly in response to the need for international travellers to remain connected when they arrive in a new country.

He said the Universa eSIM provides connectivity in more than 150 countries and over 200 destinations, while its physical SIM, known as P-SIM, is intended for phones that do not support eSIM technology.

Adeniyi said international travellers increasingly require internet access to communicate with family and friends at home and with people at their destinations.

He added that the company’s pricing is based on its ability to purchase data in large volumes.

Also speaking, Engr. Dr. Halimat Adediran, vice president of the Nigerian Society of Engineers and a partner with Universa Nigeria Limited, said the service has agreements with many networks globally.

She said the system can switch between available networks when the quality of a particular network becomes inadequate.

Adediran also said the service could provide an alternative for travellers who would otherwise have to purchase data or roaming services from operators in their destination countries.