Telecom
Etisalat’s 0809uchoose Offers More Choice with Homezone
Etisalat has introduced Homezone, another dimension in the suite of choices it is offering potential subscribers to the Etisalat network in its ongoing 0809uchoose campaign.
Homezone is an innovative feature from Etisalat that will empower customers with the power to choose and register any area of their choice nationwide in the launch cities, and in other cities subsequently, as their Homezone. On this highly unique plan, calls within the registered Homezone attract discounted costs compared to calls made in other areas. This means that customers can register any area they spend most of their time as their Homezone and thus enjoy discounted call rates every time they make calls from this zone.
Speaking on the new initiative, Wael Ammar, Etisalat Nigeria’s marketing vice president, stated that with Homezone, Etisalat is further demonstrating to Nigerians that it is entering the market with the sole intention of ensuring that Nigerian customers enjoy quality offerings that are comparable to the best in the world.
"As a world class brand with 32 years of experience of doing business on 3 continents, Etisalat knows only one way of doing business in all the markets we operate in – our customers’ way. We are always looking for the best ways to give our customers an unforgettable experience on our network. That is why we chose to enter the Nigerian market by giving 1 million Nigerians the opportunity to choose numbers that have a special meaning to them with 0809uchoose for free. This is the first time this has ever happened in this market. We are further reinforcing the power of choice that we offered with 0809uchoose by giving them an opportunity to talk more and pay less when they register their Homezone on the Etisalat network. The Homezone can be anywhere they spend the majority of their time. For every call they make in this zone, they save money because they pay a lot less than anywhere else," Ammar explained.
Ammar also said a person’s Homezone can be anywhere there is Etisalat network coverage and they can make calls at anytime of the day or night from this zone and pay less; no peak or off peak time to worry about, he said.
"Anyone can take advantage of this opportunity to truly talk more for less as long as they register their Homezone on the Etisalat network. It costs nothing to register but the benefits are immense for the customer. For instance, workers who spend a large percentage of their days in their offices can choose their office area as their Homezone. Businessmen can choose the areas where they spend a greater percentage of their time as their Homezone. Market men and women can do the same. Students can choose their schools as their Homezone.
The Homezone will be as flexible as the lifestyles of the various customers the GSM outfit hopes to cater for. "I encourage Nigerians to reserve numbers during the duration of the 0809uchoose campaign as the benefits are lifelong and far reaching," he stated. He reminded potential subscribers that they still had the chance to reserve and enjoy the power of choice on several levels which include, the choice of special number, the choice of their Homezone and in addition, 300 seconds of free airtime for their lifetime, whether on or off the network.
Etisalat recently launched its unique 0809uchoose campaign through which it is offering subscribers an opportunity to choose and reserve special numbers for free on its network. Subscribers who make a reservation at this time will get the numbers free (if they do not fall within the Gold, Silver or Bronze range). They will also get an opportunity to enjoy free airtime every month for life. The Homezone is a key benefit for all subscribers on the Etisalat network even as it gets set to begin commercial operations in the country.
Association of Licensed Telecom Operators of Nigeria (ALTON), official industry umbrella body and pressure group for major mobile network operators in the country, has faulted claims that foreign direct investments (FDIs) into the sector slumped significantly in quarter one (Q1).
Gbenga Adebayo, Chairman, ALTON
ALTON, said that with N2.13 trillion spent in 2025 on network upgrades and expansion that they would invest an additional N1.86 trillion on network expansion this year.
The body was reacting to the claim by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) that FDIs into the sector slumped significantly in quarter one.
The telcos commended the Federal Government for its continued support of the industry, while calling for a more comprehensive framework to track and report investments coming into the sector.
The operators highlighted the importance of accurate data in shaping investor perceptions and guiding policy decisions.
The association noted that while the NBS recently released its Q1 Capital Importation Report, the figures presented do not fully capture the scale of capital deployment within Nigeria’s telecoms industry.
“This disparity between reported foreign capital inflows and actual infrastructure investment highlights a gap in how sectoral capital deployment is currently measured and reported,” the statement read.
ALTON, in the statement, signed by Gbenga Adebayo and Damian Udeh, chairman and publicity secretary, respectively, expressed appreciation to the Federal Government for approving a strategic 50 per cent tariff increase in 2025, describing it as a pivotal intervention that rescued the industry from financial distress.
According to the association, the tariff adjustment restored operational viability, closed critical revenue gaps and enabled operators to reinvest in infrastructure and service quality.
The association emphasised that the policy intervention transformed the sector from a struggling model into a sustainable, growth-focused industry.
“The timely investment enabled operators to transition from financial distress to a sustainable, growth-focused model characterised by significant capital reinvestment,” ALTON stated.
The statement revealed that telecom operators, tower companies, and other players in the sector recorded a total capital expenditure of N2.13 trillion in 2025. For 2026, planned capital expenditure stands at N1.86 trillion, with funds directed towards network infrastructure expansion, technology upgrades, and operational investments critical to maintaining service quality and coverage.
These commitments, ALTON stressed, are fundamental to advancing Nigeria’s digital economy objectives and improving services for millions of subscribers nationwide.
While the NBS report indicated a sharp decline in foreign capital importation into the telecom sector, from $80.78 million in 2025 to just $7.24 million in Q1 2026, ALTON argued that this metric only reflected a portion of the actual investment activity.
The association explained that much of the sector’s capital deployment now comes from domestic sources, including reinvested operational earnings.
These financial mechanisms, ALTON noted, are not fully reflected in conventional foreign capital importation metrics, thereby painting an incomplete picture of the industry’s health.
To address this reporting gap, ALTON proposed a collaborative engagement among the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), the NBS, and the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).
The goal, according to the association, is to develop a more inclusive and transparent investment-tracking framework that accurately reflects both foreign and domestic capital flows.
ALTON reassured the Nigerian public that telecom operators remain committed to continuous investment in network expansion, modernisation, resilience and service quality improvements.
The association pledged to work closely with regulators and government institutions to ensure that the sector’s contributions to national development are comprehensively documented and appropriately recognised.
With sustained collaboration and government support, ALTON said Nigerians can expect uninterrupted access to digital services that drive economic growth, innovation, financial inclusion, and overall national development.
Princess Emiko
The regulatory and digital infrastructure pillars of Nigeria’s telecommunications ecosystem, led by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Digital Realty, and IHS Nigeria, have rallied robust support for the upcoming 2026 Nigeria DigitalSENSE Forum (NDSF) on Internet Governance for Development (IG4D) and its prestigious industry awards.
The annual high-level forum is scheduled to hold this Thursday, June 11, 2026, at the prestigious Banquet Hall, Welcome Centre Hotels, Lagos, anchoring its deliberations on the crucial theme: “Sustaining WSIS Vision with Multistakeholder Synergy in Nigeria.”
The Executive Vice Chairman and CEO of the NCC, Dr. Aminu Maida, is set to deliver the Keynote Address, highlighting the regulatory framework required to preserve the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) vision through inclusive, multi-stakeholder partnerships.
Joining the regulatory commission in driving this momentum is IHS Nigeria, the nation’s premier digital infrastructure champion boasting a footprint of over 16,000 telecom towers and 15,000km of fiber optic cables across the country. Alongside data center colocation leader Digital Realty, these organizations are heavily backing the forum as part of their commitment to promoting critical national infrastructure and securing Nigeria’s digital possibilities.
Speaking ahead of the event in Lagos, Ogbuefi Remmy Nweke, the Editor-in-Chief of host media organization ITREALMS Media Group, commended the immense institutional support flowing from the public and private sectors.
“Achieving sustainable internet governance and digital trust requires an intentional alignment of regulation and infrastructure,” Nweke remarked. “The active collaboration of the NCC, IHS Nigeria, and Digital Realty ensures that the 2026 forum will move beyond mere dialogue to produce clear, actionable policy recommendations for our digital economy.”
The event will be presided over by Dr. Olusola Teniola (hon), Director, Strategic Business Initiatives, ipNX Nigeria and former President, Association of Telecommunications Companies of Nigeria (ATCON), who will deliver the Chairman’s Opening Speech on the 2026 NDSF blueprint.
Earlier, leading telecommunications, technology, and internet governance stakeholders have thrown their weight behind the 17th milestone edition of the annual Nigeria DigitalSENSE Forum (NDSF) on Internet Governance for Development (IG4D), including ICT infrastructure leader MTN Nigeria; the Association of Licensed Telecoms Operators of Nigeria (ALTON); premier software and DNS infrastructure firm Upperlink Limited; and the Nigeria Internet Registration Association (NiRA), managers of the .NG country code Top Level Domain name.
Media & Event Contact: The Secretariat Nigeria DigitalSENSE Forum (NDSF) / ITREALMS Media Group Banquet Hall, Welcome Centre Hotels, Lagos Website: www.itrealms.com.ng
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