Telecom
Airtel CEO, Carl Cruz says Investment, Collaboration are Essential for Telecoms to Keep Enabling Other Industries
Carl Cruz, Chief Executive Officer of Airtel Nigeria, has emphasized the critical importance of creating an investment-friendly environment to sustain the role of the telecoms industry in driving digital inclusion and economic growth in Nigeria.
This was remarked at the Telecoms Industry Townhall, themed ‘Two Decades After: What Next for the Telecoms Industry’, on Tuesday, August 13, 2024.
The hybrid event, organized by the Financial Derivatives Company (FDC), took place at Four Points Hotel, Victoria Island, Lagos, brought together industry leaders to discuss the future of Nigeria’s telecommunications sector.
Aside from Mr Cruz, the panel also featured Karl Toriola, Chief Executive Officer, MTN Nigeria; Kazeem Oladepo, Chief Operations Officer, HIS Towers; Funke Opeke, Chief Executive Officer, MainOne; and Olatunji Bello, Chief Executive Officer, Federal Competition & Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC).
During the event, Carl Cruz discussed challenges and ways forward for the telecoms industry, highlighting the need for an atmosphere that would encourage investors to help telecom operators thrive. Telecom, he explained, is an enabler for digital inclusion and economic growth.
Mr. Cruz said, “One of the major challenges faced by the telecoms industry is the issue of security. The cases of sabotage and fiber theft on a monthly basis are over a thousand. Now, capital being invested in Nigeria is being compared to capital being invested in other countries due to some of the impacts of these challenges.
However, At Airtel, we understand that investing in infrastructure can be challenging, so we adopt a forward-looking approach as we believe that a country’s growth is significantly boosted by substantial investments.
“To illustrate this, I’m pleased to share that Airtel has established a digital lab here in Nigeria, serving our operations across the 13 other countries where we have a presence.”
Mr. Cruz further underscored the necessity of a strong regulatory collaboration to support industry growth.
“Industry collaboration with regulators is also very essential for the country to progress. It is therefore imperative for players in the telecoms industry to engage in constant communication with our regulators, especially to address the limiting factors affecting the telecoms business.
“On this note, I can say that Airtel and other operators in the telecoms industry are currently doing this and are optimistic about favorable deliberations and outcomes that will boost the success of the telecoms industry,” he said.
Other industry leaders also contributed their perspectives on the telecoms industry as it relates to the financial sector and other business areas such as aviation and banking.
Some of these speakers include Chief Executive Office, Nigerian Exchange Group (NGX Group), Temi Popoola, Special Adviser to the President on Industry, Trade, and Investment, John Uwajumogu; and Special Adviser to the Honorable Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Armstrong Katang.
With the introduction of Travel Saga, a premium, fast-paced gaming experience that is currently live and accessible to customers on its network, Globacom has lifted the bar for mobile entertainment in the country.
Travel Saga is a story-driven, intricately connected role-playing game designed to provide the thrill, complexity, and competitive intensity of some of the most well-known action games in the world.
The game, which has been painstakingly optimized for mobile devices, redefines mobile gaming as a full-fledged digital battlefield by translating a console-grade experience onto data-enabled handsets.
Fundamentally, Travel Saga takes users on quick virtual journeys against recognizable international landscapes. In a dynamic, ever-evolving gaming environment, players are thrown into furious missions, fierce fights, and ever-expanding tales where talent, strategy, and endurance determine who rises through the ranks to become a true war hero.
In addition to the excitement of fighting, users are encouraged to go to various locations, take part in thrilling challenges, and participate in intense competition for in-app rewards like points and victory badges. With each encounter and accomplishment, the immersion increases with each level, maintaining momentum and excitement.
Flexible subscription plans with one-time or auto-renewal choices are available to subscribers for the service, which costs ₦100 per day and ₦250 per week. By dialing *70021#, customers can quickly subscribe and gain instant access to the action.
With Travel Saga, Glo reaffirms its dedication to innovation and high-end digital experiences, making top-notch gaming easily accessible to its customers. The game offers uninterrupted action, adventure, and competition, all smoothly supported by the Glo network.
SHELT, a leading cybersecurity-as-a-service provider, has earned inclusion in the 2025 MSSP 250, the annual ranking of the world’s top 250 Managed Security Service Providers (MSSPs) by MSSP Alert, a CyberRisk Alliance publication.
SHELT
The list evaluates firms on business performance, service breadth, and industry impact, spotlighting those excelling in growth, operational excellence, and advanced managed security amid rising cyber threats. Selection criteria include annual recurring revenue, profitability, workforce expansion, business growth, and the depth of managed security offerings.
SHELT’s recognition underscores its investments in scalable security operations, threat intelligence, and tailored managed services across multiple regions, enabling clients to navigate complex risk landscapes effectively.
“Being recognised in the MSSP 250 is a meaningful milestone for our team,” stated Youssef Abillama, CEO of SHELT. “It validates our focus on building practical, resilient security services that help organisations manage risk and respond effectively to today’s evolving cyber threats.”
The company hailed the honour as testament to its teams’ dedication and expertise worldwide, reaffirming commitment to enhancing capabilities and delivering trusted cybersecurity solutions.
Meta Platforms, owner of Facebook, has appointed Dina Powell McCormick, a former adviser to President Donald Trump, as its new president and vice chairman, bolstering its leadership amid aggressive AI and infrastructure expansion.
Dina Powell McCormick
The announcement, made on Monday, positions Powell McCormick – who recently stepped down from Meta’s board after eight months – to guide overall strategy, including multi-billion-dollar investments in data centres and global partnerships.
A Goldman Sachs veteran with 16 years in senior roles and prior stints as deputy national security adviser under Trump and in the Bush administration, she brings deep finance and international ties to the role.
Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg hailed her as “uniquely qualified” for the company’s next growth phase, while President Trump praised the move on Truth Social as a “fantastic choice”.
The hire signals Meta’s efforts to strengthen White House relations, following recent dinners with Trump and U.S. investment pledges worth hundreds of billions
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