Telecom
Airtel Nigeria Named Telecoms Company of the Year
For its laudable contributions to the growth of the telecoms industry in Nigeria, leading telecoms operator, Airtel Nigeria, has been named ‘Africa’s Telecommunications Company of the Year.’
The award was conferred on the Telco over the weekend at the 6th African Business Leadership Forum & Awards 2015, which held at the Hilton London Metropole, United Kingdom.
Airtel was also honoured with a Special Commendation Award from the US Georgia Legislative Black Caucus at the event.
Organisers of the awards, the African Leadership Magazine, noted that Airtel emerged the telecommunications company of the Year because of its “immense contribution to the growth of the Telecommunication sector in Nigeria and beyond.”
“In arriving at the choice of the Airtel Nigeria for this award, the magazine had conducted a survey among our over 480,000 readers comprising 180,000 fans on Facebook, several other thousands on our other platforms including our registered subscribers. In the opinion poll, we asked for their choice of outstanding business leaders and institutions in Africa who should be rewarded for excellence, dedication and business acumen and our different polls nomination shows that you ranked tops in the Telecommunication Category,” Mr. Ken Giami, managing director of African Leadership Magazine said while presenting the award to Airtel.
According to Giami, the award recognises companies who have made a mark in their industry through uncommon customer service, innovative products offering, community impact or technological offering.
It was also noted that in the last three years, Airtel has literally blazed the trail in the telecoms landscape in Nigeria, leading with innovative, bespoke products and services, significant improvement of its customer services and a revolutionary approach to Corporate Social Responsibility with award-winning CSR programmes such as Adopt-a-School and Touching Lives.
Mr. Segun Ogunsanya, Airtel Nigeria’s managing director and chief executive officer, received the awards at the colourful occasion, which had notable international business magnates and political leaders in attendance among whom were Rep. Dee Hawkins, Haigler Chair, State of Georgia Legislative caucus and Ms. Carol Abel, Governor, Central Bank of Seychelles.
Ogunsanya while receiving the award thanked all the critical stakeholders of the company for reposing such a high level of confidence on the Airtel brand and also for their invaluable support.
“While we relish this glorious recognition, it is very important for us to dedicate this laurel to all our customers in Nigeria and indeed the entire African continent. Our customers are not the only reason why we are in business today, but they are the major reason for all our successes,” he said.
The African Business Leadership Awards is a prestigious recognition event to reward exceptional practices and outstanding achievers especially in Africa’s private sector. It attracts over 250 businesses and professionals, as it provides a powerful networking opportunity for African businesses and business leaders to link with business leaders from Europe and other parts of the world.
Past outstanding recipients of the African Leadership awards include, H.E Hifikepunye Pohamba, President of Namibia; H.E. Jakaya Kikwete, President of Tanzania; H.E Dr. Ernest Bai Koroma, President of Sierra Leone; H.E. President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, President of the Republic of Liberia; H. E John Kufour former President of Ghana and Dr. Joyce Aryee, former CEO of the Ghana Chamber of Mines;
Others are Cal Bank Limited Ghana, African Development Bank Ghana, First Bank of Nigeria Plc, Liberia Bank for Development and Investment, Dr. Mo Ibrahim, Founder Ibrahim Prize for Leadership; Dr. Donald Kebaruka, President of the African Development Bank Group; Hon. Xavier Luc-Duval, Vice Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, Republic of Mauritius; Mr. Mohammed Dewji, CEO METL Group, Tanzania, etc .
Airtel Nigeria has secured a fresh 10-year renewal of its spectrum licence from the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), reinforcing the telecom operator’s long-term commitment to expanding broadband connectivity and improving digital access across the country.
The renewed licence covers Airtel’s spectrum holdings, which are critical to the delivery of voice and high-speed data services, providing regulatory certainty for continued investments in network expansion, capacity upgrades and improved customer experience.
According to the company, the renewal underscores confidence in Nigeria’s telecommunications sector and will support its ongoing efforts to bridge the country’s digital divide by extending quality connectivity to more underserved communities.
Sunil Taldar, chief executive officer, Airtel Africa, said the renewal provides the company with the confidence to continue investing in Nigeria’s digital infrastructure.
He said, “The spectrum renewal reaffirms our long-term commitment to Nigeria, our largest market. It gives us the certainty required to continue investing in network expansion, improve service quality and accelerate digital inclusion for millions of Nigerians.”
Taldar added that Airtel remains focused on expanding broadband access and supporting Nigeria’s digital economy agenda through sustained investments in telecommunications infrastructure.
He further said, “We appreciate the Nigerian Communications Commission and the Federal Government for their continued support in creating an enabling environment for investment. We remain committed to delivering reliable and affordable connectivity while contributing to Nigeria’s socio-economic development.”
Meanwhile, Industry observers said the licence renewal removes regulatory uncertainty and allows Airtel to pursue long-term capital investments, including the expansion of 4G and 5G networks, as demand for mobile data and digital services continues to grow across Nigeria.
The renewal comes as telecom operators continue to invest heavily in broadband infrastructure to meet rising data consumption and support government efforts to achieve Universal digital access.
Furthermore, It also aligns with the NCC’s objective of ensuring efficient spectrum management while encouraging sustained private sector investment in the country’s telecommunications industry.
Telecom
GSMA Supports Abuja Declaration on Meaningful Connectivity for Africa, Joins Partners to Launch ATLAS Umoja
The GSMA supports the Abuja Ministerial Declaration on Meaningful Connectivity for Africa by Ministers and Heads of Delegation at the African Telecommunications Union (ATU) Conference of Plenipotentiaries (CPL-2026), describing it as an important milestone in strengthening Africa’s digital future through evidence-based policy, investment and regional collaboration.
The Declaration commits African governments to advancing policies that promote meaningful connectivity, digital inclusion, technology-neutral regulation, resilient digital infrastructure and locally relevant digital services. It also reinforces the importance of collaboration between governments, industry and development partners to close the continent’s connectivity and usage gaps.
Throughout the conference, the GSMA has worked alongside governments, regulators and industry leaders to support these shared ambitions through practical policy engagement, evidence-based research and new collaborative initiatives designed to accelerate Africa’s digital transformation.
Speaking during the ATU-GSMA African ICT Regulatory Leaders’ Forum, policymakers and regulators explored how stronger evidence-based regulation, greater regulatory harmonisation and future-ready policy frameworks can create an enabling environment for investment, innovation and sustainable digital growth across Africa. Drawing insights from the GSMA’s Digital Africa Index, participants also examined future-ready approaches to satellite regulation, highlighting how technology-neutral licensing frameworks can support innovation while extending connectivity to underserved communities.
Caroline Mbugua, Senior Director, Public Policy, Africa, GSMA, said: “The Abuja Ministerial Declaration sends an important signal that African governments share a common vision for delivering meaningful connectivity through modern, evidence-based and investment-friendly policy. Its emphasis on digital inclusion, technology-neutral regulation, resilient infrastructure and stronger regional collaboration reflects the practical policy foundations needed to accelerate Africa’s digital transformation.”
Launching ATLAS Umoja AI
Supporting the ambitions set out in the Abuja Declaration, the GSMA, Nigeria’s Ministry of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Togo’s Ministry of Digital Economy and Transformation, Kenya’s Ministry of information, Communications and the Digital Economy, Namibia’s Ministry of Information and Communication Technology, Benin’s Ministry of Digital Transformation and Innovation, Awarri, Zindi, Pawa AI and Mozisha today announced ATLAS Umoja AI –a new pan-African initiative to strengthen collaboration on African language AI.
Designed to complement national AI programmes, ATLAS Umoja will bring together governments, industry and researchers to share expertise, datasets and best practice, helping develop trusted, scalable AI that better reflects Africa’s languages, cultures and development priorities. The initiative aims to accelerate innovation, attract investment and scale African language AI across the continent.
The launch builds on the momentum of the newly established AI for Good Global Commission. Ministers from Nigeria, Namibia and Togo, who serve on the Commission, have committed to support Africa Umoja, demonstrating how African leaders are turning global ambitions for trusted and inclusive AI into practical regional collaboration.
Angela Wamola, Head of Africa, GSMA, said: “Africa’s AI future must reflect Africa’s own languages, communities and development priorities. ATLAS Umoja brings together governments, industry, researchers and innovators to build African language AI at scale. By making AI and digital services available in the languages people speak every day, the initiative will help tackle two of the biggest barriers to internet adoption – digital literacy and locally relevant content – supporting efforts to close Africa’s usage gap and expand meaningful connectivity across the continent.”
Dr. Bosun Tijani, Honourable Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy of Nigeria said:“Artificial Intelligence will be a defining technology for Africa’s future, but its benefits must be built on our own languages, cultures and knowledge systems. Nigeria is proud to have taken the first step through N-ATLAS and is equally proud to see that vision evolve into the continental ATLAS Umoja AI.
“By working together with governments, researchers and ecosystem partners across Africa, we can build AI that is more inclusive, locally relevant and accessible to millions of people, while strengthening Africa’s digital sovereignty and creating new opportunities for innovation, education and economic growth.”
Silas Adekunle, Founder & CEO, Awarri added: “Awarri is proud to support The ATLAS Umoja AI and contribute lessons from N-ATLAS, which has demonstrated what is possible when African language data, local technical talent and practical AI applications are brought together. This is an important opportunity to help build AI systems that work for African languages and communities.”
Celina Lee, CEO & Co-Founder, Zindi concluded: “Africa’s AI future will be built by the people who best understand its languages, cultures and communities. Through ATLAS Umoja AI, we have an opportunity to empower local researchers, data scientists and developers to solve meaningful challenges, strengthen national AI capabilities and ensure African language AI is developed by Africans, for Africans.”
Alongside the launch of ATLAS Umoja AI, the GSMA continued discussions with policymakers at the ATU Conference on future-ready regulatory frameworks, including satellite connectivity, spectrum policy and technology-neutral licensing.
Drawing on the GSMA Satellite Regulatory Playbook, discussions explored how modern regulation can encourage investment, expand meaningful connectivity and support the ambitions of the Abuja Declaration.
Together, the Abuja Declaration, ATLAS Umoja and continued collaboration between governments, regulators and industry represent an important step towards expanding meaningful connectivity, accelerating digital inclusion and supporting Africa’s digital transformation.
MTN Nigeria has warned its customers to disregard fraudulent online posts claiming the telecommunications company is offering “One Month Free Data for Old Subscribers.”
MTN
The company described the promotion as fake, stressing that it has no affiliation with the individuals or websites circulating the offer.
In a disclaimer issued to customers, MTN advised subscribers not to click on suspicious links or disclose their phone numbers, personal information or other sensitive details on third-party websites.
The company emphasised that it would never require customers to submit personal information on external platforms to claim data bonuses, rewards or promotional offers.
“Beware of fraudulent posts claiming that MTN Nigeria is offering ‘1 Month Free Data for Old Subscribers.’ This promotion is not from MTN and has no affiliation with us,” the company stated.
Screenshot
MTN urged customers to verify all promotional offers through its official communication channels before participating.
According to the company, all authentic promotions, products and services are announced only through its official website, verified social media platforms and the *180# shortcode.
The telecommunications operator advised customers to remain vigilant against online scams and avoid sharing confidential information with unauthorised persons or websites.
It reiterated its commitment to protecting customers from fraud while encouraging subscribers to rely solely on official MTN communication channels for accurate information.
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