Airtel Nigeria is approaching the 18,000-cell-site mark as the telecommunications operator accelerates network deployment across the country, adding more than 1,000 new sites annually and extending high-speed mobile connectivity deeper into rural communities.

The expansion places Airtel as an operator making one of the largest sustained infrastructure commitments to Nigeria’s digital economy, with the company’s network now spanning all 774 Local Government Areas in the country.

More than 99 percent of Airtel Nigeria’s sites are 4G-enabled, with the company continuing to add new capacity and upgrade existing infrastructure as demand for mobile connectivity rises. Airtel Africa’s latest annual report said the Nigerian operation added more than 1,050 new sites during its 2025-26 financial year.

The pace represents a significant increase from the approximately 15,000 sites Airtel operated two years ago. By early 2026, the operator had crossed 17,000 sites, after adding about 2,000 sites in two years.

The current expansion has also taken the network further into locations that have historically been underserved by telecommunications infrastructure. These communities include Kukawa, Borno State; Okomu-Udo, Edo State; Chimbi, Niger State; Orile Ijaiye, Oyo State; Kopii, Benue State; and Aran-Orin, Kwara; among others.

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Airtel has previously said a significant portion of its network investments is targeted at deep rural communities, small towns and the fringes of major cities. At a media roundtable in February, Chief Executive Officer, Dinesh Balsingh, said the company intended to maintain the large scale of network expansion during 2026.

“Everyone has the right to digital connectivity, including people in deep rural markets and small communities,” Balsingh said.

The impact of the growth extends beyond the ability to make calls or browse the internet. Wider network availability gives families more reliable access to one another, enables businesses to communicate with customers and suppliers, and supports access to digital banking, education, healthcare and government services.

For farmers in remote areas, mobile connectivity can provide access to current crop prices, weather information, market information and agricultural advisory services. For small businesses, reliable mobile data supports payments, customer acquisition, logistics and digital commerce. For communities, connectivity can improve access to health and social services and help residents participate more fully in the digital economy.

Airtel’s network strategy is also increasingly focused on improving the experience delivered through the infrastructure already in place. In 2025, the company upgraded capacity on about a quarter of its existing sites, deploying higher-capacity radios and moving portions of its backhaul from microwave to fibre.

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The operator has also reported a continued addition of spectrum to strengthen its spectrum position. Since November 2025, it has added 20MHz spectrum, which is on track for full integration on all sites this quarter.

Balsingh said the company’s investment programme was designed to improve coverage, capacity and resilience, with the benefits ultimately reflected in the quality of service experienced by customers.

“We have invested with discipline and clarity to strengthen our network nationwide. Those investments are now translating into measurable improvements in performance, customer experience and reach, including in underserved communities,” he said.

Third-party measurements have also continued to provide evidence of changing network performance in Nigeria. Ookla’s Speedtest Global Index, for example, reported a median mobile download speed of 97.74 Mbps for Nigeria in June 2026.

For Airtel, the network expansion not only extends the geographical footprint; but also increases the speed, capacity and stability available to existing customers.

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Director of Marketing, Ismail Adeshina, said the company’s network investments were ultimately aimed at making connectivity more useful in the everyday lives of Nigerians, as increasing numbers of consumers, families and businesses depend on mobile services for communication, commerce and access to essential services.

Airtel’s infrastructure programme is also contributing to the wider development of Nigeria’s digital economy.

“With mobile connectivity increasingly serving as the platform for financial services, commerce, education, healthcare, agriculture and enterprise, expanding the physical network effectively increases the number of Nigerians able to participate in those activities,” Adeshina said.

National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) is calling for a unified, cross-sector push to translate the framework of the Nigerian Startup Act (NSA) into practical benefits for local entrepreneurs and investors.

The Director-General of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Kashifu Inuwa, CCIE, represented by the National Coordinator, Office for Nigerian Digital Innovation (ONDI), Ms Victoria Fabunmi, in a group photograph with participants from various Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) at the Nigerian Startup Act (NSA) Incentives Activation Co-Creation Workshop in Abuja.

Speaking at the NSA Incentives Activation Co-Creation Session in Abuja, organised by NITDA’s subsidiary, the Office for Nigerian Digital Innovation (ONDI), the NITDA boss stressed that while enacting the legislation was a historic milestone, its ultimate success will be measured by its tangible impact on everyday tech ventures.

Delivering remarks on behalf of NITDA Director-General Kashifu Inuwa, ONDI National Coordinator Victoria Fabunmi emphasised that Nigeria must now transition from policy design to operational delivery.

Inuwa noted that while early structural achievements such as setting up the Startup Consultative Forum and launching the digital startup portal have established vital channels for dialogue, the true test of the law lies in whether founders can easily access the relief and resources promised to them.

He said the establishment of the Startup Consultative Forum and its governance structures had created an important platform for sustained engagement among stakeholders, but stressed that the real test of the legislation would be its impact on businesses operating within the innovation ecosystem.

According to him, government agencies, private-sector actors and other ecosystem stakeholders must work collectively to remove institutional bottlenecks and ensure that startups can access the opportunities created by the Act.

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Inuwa said the participating institutions possessed different mandates, resources and policy instruments that, if properly coordinated, could significantly improve the operating environment for Nigerian startups.

“We want to go to the next level. We want to be able to say that the actors in our ecosystem have been able to benefit significantly from the legislation that has been passed, and it wouldn’t happen without everyone sitting in this room,” he said.

He urged stakeholders to shift attention from the mere existence of the legislation to its practical implementation, particularly the activation of incentives designed to promote investment, innovation and enterprise growth.

The DG noted that the implementation of the NSA involved institutions across several sectors, including trade, finance, communications, innovation, digital economy, science and technology.

He said bringing these institutions together was necessary to identify gaps, clarify responsibilities and develop workable mechanisms for delivering the incentives to intended beneficiaries.

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Inuwa also urged stakeholders to embrace continuous engagement and feedback, noting that the success of the Act would depend largely on the ability of implementing institutions to work together and respond to the evolving needs of the startup ecosystem.

He said recommendations from the session would contribute to ongoing efforts to strengthen the implementation framework and create an environment where Nigerian startups could scale, attract investment and compete effectively in global markets.

In a context-setting presentation, “Operationalising the Incentive Provisions of the Nigerian Startup Act,” Ms Elma Andah, Acting Lead, Strategy, Research and Analytics at ONDI, said the Act provides more than 31 incentives distributed across six major categories.

She identified the categories as tax and fiscal incentives, regulatory support, funding access, exports and trade, ecosystem enablers, and training and capacity building.

Andah explained that implementing the incentives required the participation of more than 15 government institutions, making inter-agency coordination central to the success of the legislation.

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She said the Nigerian Startup Act, signed into law on October 19, 2022, was designed to promote innovation, improve access to funding, strengthen collaboration and position Nigeria as a leading technology and innovation-driven economy in Africa.

According to her, Nigeria’s startup ecosystem has continued to demonstrate significant potential, with more than 3,000 startups and several globally recognised technology companies.

She added that Nigerian startups attracted about $410 million in funding in 2024, despite the challenging economic environment.

Andah highlighted several areas of progress under the Act, including engagements with states on adoption, the operational startup support engagement portal, improved startup labelling timelines, the Startup Consultative governance framework, the Startup Investment Seed Fund framework and ongoing efforts to operationalise the regulatory sandbox framework.

She, however, stressed that the interconnected nature of the incentives meant that no single institution could deliver them independently.
“No single institution can deliver all these incentives alone. Implementation requires coordination across more than 15 MDAs,” she said.

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Using practical examples, Andah explained that a startup seeking funding could simultaneously require tax incentives, while an enterprise seeking to export its products might need regulatory approvals. Investors seeking tax credits could also depend on access to the startup labelling system.

She consequently challenged participating institutions to clearly establish ownership of the incentives assigned to them, strengthen coordination, simplify access procedures and introduce effective monitoring and accountability mechanisms.

The session therefore provided stakeholders with an opportunity to identify implementation gaps and develop practical approaches for ensuring that the incentives contained in the Startup Act are accessible to startups, investors, innovation hubs and other beneficiaries.

The outcome, stakeholders noted, is expected to support a more coordinated implementation of the NSA and strengthen its contribution to Nigeria’s innovation, investment and economic development objectives.

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GSMA Industry Services have announced the launch of its new Circularity Services offering, designed to help mobile operators and ecosystem partners extend the life of devices, reduce e-waste, and unlock greater value from existing assets.

The offering launches with two commercial partners: Closing the Loop, whose ‘One for One’ service links one new mobile device sold by an operator to the collection and responsible recycling of one end-of-life device, and RGX, a neutral, online marketplace for enterprise asset disposition.

As the mobile industry continues to grow, operators are increasingly looking for practical ways to both meet sustainability commitments and enhance commercial performance.

GSMA Circularity Services has been developed to address these challenges by providing access to trusted partners and proven solutions that support the recovery, reuse, refurbishment and responsible recycling of ICT assets – helping organisations deliver on customer needs, reduce costs and generate value from equipment that might otherwise sit idle.

The ‘One for One’ service provides a practical and measurable way for organisations to incorporate circularity into their device propositions. Vodafone, Samsung and T-Mobile have successfully used the customer-centric program for devices sold in Europe, while Google is a global user.

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One for One leads to electronic waste reduction around the world and has created positive impact in countries where formal waste collection and recycling infrastructure is often limited. Closing the Loop is an award-winning social enterprise, supported by UNIDO, UNEP and GIZ.

Joost de Kluijver, Co-founder and CEO, Closing the Loop, said: “The GSMA is globally respected as a unifier of the mobile ecosystem, and we’re excited to work together to expand the value that our ‘One for One’ service can deliver across the industry.

“By linking one new device sold to the collection and responsible recycling of one end-of-life phone, we help operators take practical action on waste reduction while supporting their wider circularity ambitions.

“One for One is also a differentiator at the point of sale that adds clear, value for customers and the brand. Through this partnership, we look forward to helping more organisations use circular thinking to excite customers.”

Michael Jungwirth, Head of Sustainability, Vodafone Germany explains why One for One is important to them and the broader ecosystem: “E-waste is a global problem. That’s why our solutions must not end at national borders.

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“With One for One, we take responsibility and set an example for the industry. Not just a sign of change, but a sign of action. We close the loop for our customers. For one new phone Vodafone brings into circulation, we retrieve an old one.”

Addressing another aspect of the circularity challenge, RGX provides a neutral, online marketplace for e-waste management and enterprise asset disposition that connects organisations with service providers through a single automated platform.

The service is designed to help businesses optimize returns from redundant devices and equipment through competitive bidding and effective resource management, while ensuring responsible disposal practices. Initially available in the United States, the offering is expected to expand internationally over time.

Sean Miles, Co-founder, RGX said: “Innovation is only as good as its ability to scale. Through our partnership with GSMA Industry Services, we have an opportunity to help a broader part of the mobile ecosystem put circularity into place.

“RGX helps organisations manage enterprise asset disposition and e-waste more efficiently through a trusted, transparent marketplace. By working together, we can help operators recover value from redundant equipment, support responsible recycling practices and help operators turn circularity ambitions into action.”

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Roman Smith, Director, Global Environmental Sustainability, AT&T commented on their collaboration with RGX: “RGX has been a valued strategic collaborator as we’ve developed our retail e-waste initiative.

“Their platform and expertise have helped support practical circularity solutions, and we appreciate the work they’ve done with our teams to advance more sustainable device recovery and recycling opportunities”

Sianne Ryder, Chief Executive Officer, Events and Industry Services, GSMA, said: “The launch of Circularity Services, together with partners Closing the Loop and RGX, marks an important step in helping operators take practical action on circularity. By bringing together solutions that support both responsible recycling and asset recovery, we are making it easier for organisations to reduce waste while unlocking greater value from existing assets.

“Through these partnerships, operators can access proven services that help accelerate their circularity ambitions and respond to growing demand for more sustainable approaches to device lifecycle management. The opportunity is a win-win: circular approaches are both more sustainable and deliver meaningful operational and commercial benefits for the industry.”

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