Telecom
GSMA MWC Africa to Explore Connectivity, Fintech
GSMA MWC Africa will bring together a variety of industry sectors, business leaders and policymakers with the region’s mobile ecosystem over a packed three-day agenda for the first in-person edition of MWC Africa, 25 – 27 October 2022.
Together with founding partners Mastercard, MTN, Orange and ZTE, as well as supporting partners the Shared Value Africa Initiative (SVAI) and Smart Africa, MWC Africa will convene to discuss how technology and shared value have the power to drive economic growth for people and businesses across Africa.
Excitement is mounting as the GSMA shares the MWC Africa agenda that will explore the hottest technology themes, including Leadership for Connectivity, One People – One Purpose, Accelerate Africa and Fintech. MWC Africa 2022 will host more than 120 expert speakers and 60-plus hours of curated content.
The GSMA is delighted to share that Assistant Secretary-General and CEO of the United Nations Global Compact, Ms Sanda Ojiambo will join Keynote 1, alongside Smart Africa’s CEO, Lacina Kone, and the ATU’s Secretary General, John Omo.
“MWC Africa is just around the corner, and we are looking forward to welcoming the mobile ecosystem, industry leaders and policymakers to Kigali, Rwanda. Expect to hear from thought leaders and experts who will share their insights on topics such as how to close the mobile usage gap and power digital transformation to drive economic growth and opportunities for all across our continent,” said GSMA’s Head of Sub-Saharan Africa, Angela Wamola.
The 2022 GSMA Africa Policy Leaders Forum will bring together key stakeholders from ministries, regulatory bodies and the broader mobile ecosystem. Discussions will include how government policy across the region is aligning with technological developments as well as the policy developments needed to advance Africa to the digital economy.
The GSMA would like to extend its thanks to Rwandan Minister of Information and Communications Technology (ICT), Ms Paula Ingabire and the Ministry of ICT for their support as hosts and facilitators of the event.
Partner Programmes and Summits
The 5G Summit will deep dive into commercial 5G services, with a particular focus on Africa, where the journey to 5G has begun, with stakeholders taking steps to accelerate the transition to 5G.
FinTech, which is at the forefront of Africa’s digital transformation, is pioneering the availability of financial services and supporting financial inclusion. The FinTech Summit will explore the latest innovations and emerging technologies which are set to shape Africa’s financial services over the next decade.
SVAI and Shift Impact Africa have partnered with the GSMA to bring together the sixth annual Africa Shared Value Leadership Summit (ASVL Summit) and MWC Africa. The ASVL Summit’s unifying theme ‘One Africa, One Voice’ underscores the need for organisations to work together across borders and industries to benefit all Africans.
It shows how the economic benefits of creating shared value as a collective can be achieved by close collaboration between stakeholders and companies for social progress and business success.
At the ASVL Summit, Assistant Secretary-General and CEO of the United Nations Global Compact, Ms Sanda Ojiambo will join the session, “Creating Shared Value – Technology as an enabler to driver Africa’s growth.”
Smart Africa has partnered with the GSMA to co-host key organ meetings during MWC Africa. Smart Africa’s co-located meetings at MWC Africa include the Council of Ministers of ICT (CMICT), the Steering Committee and the first edition of the Forum of the Private Sector.
The meetings are an opportunity for stakeholders to discuss regulation and policy frameworks and advance the digital transformation of the continent. Smart Africa actively encourages and supports private initiatives and investments in the technology and communications sectors ia the Smart Africa Alliance platform.
Large-Scale Impact
GSMA Mobile for Development (M4D) is uniquely positioned at the intersection of the mobile ecosystem and the development sector. Our work has impacted 126 million lives to date – and counting.
We are excited to host our first dedicated “Development Theatre”, where attendees can learn how M4D stimulates digital innovation to deliver both sustainable business and large-scale socio-economic impact for the underserved.
Event Partners
MWC Africa’s industry-leading agenda is enabled by the partners of our event. We are proud to have the support of leading global and regional companies including our founding partners Mastercard, MTN, Orange, and ZTE and our supporting partners ASVL Summit 2022 and Smart Africa. Additionally, mobile partner and headline partner Safaricom and headline sponsors Evina and M-Pesa.
Airtel Africa reported a profit after tax of $376 million for the half year ended September 30, 2025 as compared to $79 million in the corresponding period last fiscal, benefitting from a $90 million gain largely arising from Nigerian naira appreciation during the current quarter (Q2’26) and the Central African franc (CFA) appreciation during the previous quarter (Q1’26).
Revenues at $2,982 million for the reported period saw strong growth as compared to $2,370 million in the six months of the last fiscal, rising 24.5% in constant currency and 25.8% in reported currency.
The company said constant currency revenue growth reflects the consistent execution of its strategy, supported by tariff adjustments in Nigeria and continued strong growth momentum in Francophone Africa.
“Our strategy has been focussed on providing a superior customer experience and the strength of these results is testament to the initiatives that we have been implementing across the business,” Sunil Taldar, chief executive officer of the company said in a statement.
He said the company has been scaling the network to build additional capacity to facilitate the rise in both digital and financial inclusion.
“The increase in smartphone penetration to 46.8% reflects the substantial demand for data services across our markets but also highlights the scale of the opportunity to further develop the digital economy,” Taldar said.
Capex for the period stood at $318 million. “We have increased our capex guidance for FY’26 to between $875m and $900m – from ‘between $725 million and $750 million’.
This reflects our decision to accelerate our ability to capitalise on the significant growth opportunity that is available across the region, as is reflected by these strong H1’26 results,” the company said.
During the period, the company continued investments in network with the rollout of over 2,350 new sites to over 38,300 sites and an expansion of its fibre network by approx. 4,000 kms to over 81,000 kms.
Vitel Wireless Limited, a GSM second level operator, licensed by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) is set to begin nationwide operations on October 30.
Kenneth Nwabueze, Chairman and CEO of Vitel Wireless
Themed “Blue is Here,” the launch event will unveil E-SIMs, physical SIMs, and smart connectivity solutions for individuals and businesses
With the tagline “Everything Connected,” Vitel aims to redefine communication in Nigeria through innovation, speed, and trust.
In a statement earlier, Vitel Wireless, said it combines reliability with innovation, leveraging cutting-edge technology to deliver seamless connectivity and intelligent solutions across the country.
“The company’s services go beyond communication — they integrate safety, mobility, and smart systems to enhance how individuals, businesses, and communities connect,” the statement reads.
According to Engr Kenneth Nwabueze, executive chairman, Vitel Wireless, at the heart of the telco’s mission is a bold vision to redefine mobile communication through technology that not only connects people but also protects them.
He highlighted the features saying the device is embedded with IoT-driven devices, smart logistics solutions and AI-powered safety analytics.
“Vitel Wireless is more than a telecom brand — it’s a movement toward a smarter, safer, and more connected Nigeria. Our goal is to bridge technology and humanity, using mobile innovation to improve lives, empower businesses, and strengthen national security,” Engr. Nwabueze said.
He stated that the Vitel Wireless team has interconnected with all major Mobile Network Operators (MNOs) in Nigeria, including MTN, Airtel, and Glo, and has a roaming agreement with MTN for nationwide rollout, extending Vitel Wireless coverage as one of the largest networks in Nigeria.
“Vitel Wireless has partnered with NCC and various law enforcement agencies to define and support key regulatory frameworks that now govern the nation’s telecom space in personal and public safety,” he said.
He added that the value added service includes Xphone -free phone calls and low international calling rates, SecureMe -location awareness solution for personal safety, Oga-App -employment enhancement and performance tool, ISEEYOU -AI-based CCTV with real-time alerts, AssetNow -LBS/GPS-based asset tracker, and many more.
“Vitel Wireless’s nationwide rollout signals a new era for the telecom industry — one where connectivity meets intelligence, and technology serves both purpose and people,” Nwabueze added.
MTN Nigeria Communications Plc, in collaboration with the Worldwide Fund for Nature (WWF) through the Nigerian Conservation Foundation (NCF), and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Nigeria, has announced the shortlist of 100 young Nigerian innovators for the second phase of the 2025 Nigeria PachiPanda Challenge.
The initiative, launched in 2024, is aimed at fostering home-grown solutions to Nigeria’s most pressing environmental challenges, including climate change, pollution, community conservation, and sustainability.
According to a joint statement by the organisers, the top 100 were selected from a pool of 2,169 applications received nationwide. The selection process involved a rigorous multi-stage evaluation conducted by 20 expert assessors, guided by a robust framework to ensure fairness and consistency.
“The shortlisted innovators represent the brightest minds committed to environmental resilience,” the statement read. “Their solutions span high-impact sectors and are designed to address both national and continental environmental issues.”
The PachiPanda programme offers participants access to mentorship, technical workshops, seed funding, and a network of industry experts. The next phase will see a further evaluation to determine the Top 10 finalists, who will be unveiled ahead of a three-day sprint pitch and masterclass event scheduled for November 2025 in Lagos.
During the event, finalists will undergo intensive training to refine their business strategies and enhance their solutions for broader impact. Winners of the Nigeria PachiPanda Challenge will advance to the continental Africa PachiPanda Contest, where they will compete with other national champions.
Nigeria CommunicationsWeek reports that the programme underscores MTN Nigeria’s commitment to eco-entrepreneurship and environmental sustainability, empowering youth-led enterprises to drive green innovation across Africa.
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