Telecom
Airtel Nigeria Chalks Up 5m New Subscribers
Airtel Nigeria released its first-quarter 2020 results for the period ended June 30, 2020, on Friday, showing a 5 million increase in subscribers from 37.5 million in June 2019 to 42.5 million in June 2020.
Total revenue grew by 8.9 percent to $341 million in Q1 2020 compared to $313 million in the corresponding period in 2019.
Providing a breakdown, Airtel said voice revenue accounted for $197 million of the total revenue, a 0.5 percent reduction from the $198 million recorded in June 2019.
Data revenue jumped 30 percent from $94 million in 2019 to $122 million.
In Nigeria, revenue in constant currency increased by 17.1 percent, with reported revenue growth of 8.9 percent as a result of the Nigerian naira devaluation,” the telco said.
“The slowdown in revenue growth during the quarter was driven by the restriction on movements imposed as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, which impacted customer usage, particularly in voice.
“Voice revenue increased 6.9 percent to $197m, which was supported by a 13.5 percent increase in the customer base and was partially offset by a 4.6 percent drop in voice ARPU.
“The ARPU decline was a result of a change in customer usage mix due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The customer base growth of 13.5 percent was driven by the expansion of our distribution network supported by the accelerated rollout of our network infrastructure.”
The company reported that it grew its customer base from 99.7 million to 111.5 million and grew total revenue from $796 million to $851 million.
Commenting on the results, Raghunath Mandava, Airtel Africa, chief executive officer, said: “We focussed on expanding and maintaining our network to ensure it could cope with increasing demand, we kept our distribution up and running by increasing the penetration of digital recharges and stock levels, and we expanded our home broadband solutions to ensure customers could work and access entertainment remotely.
“The business showed its resilience even during these unprecedented circumstances with all key business segments – voice, data and mobile money, and all regions – Nigeria, East Africa and Francophone Africa contributing to growth.
“The outlook remains uncertain, particularly regarding a so-called potential second wave of infections and the actions governments will decide to take in that event.”
Mandava said the result is evidence of the growth opportunities available in the markets where they operate.
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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