Telecom
Galaxy Backbone Partners Interra Network to Connect S/East and S/South with STORM ISP
Galaxy Backbone (GBB) and Interra Networks have officially launched an Internet Service Provider, codenamed STORM.ng, for the benefit of the South East and South South regions of the country.
The project, under the Nigeria National Information and Communication Technology Infrastructure Backbone (NICTIB) Phase I, was launched in Enugu State on Tuesday.
The GBB and Interra Networks, through STORM, would cover Enugu, Ebonyi, Owerri, Port Harcourt, Awka, Onitsha and Asaba under its national fibre roll out programme.
Dr Isa Pantami, minister of Communications and Digital Economy, at the launch of the project expressed delight with the unveiling of STORM as a fibre connectivity and digital services platform powered by GBB, which aligned with the vision of the present administration.
The minister, who joined virtually, explained that STORM would open up massive opportunities for corporates, small businesses and for homes looking to improve the quality of internet services in those regions.
“I would like to congratulate Galaxy Backbone and its project partners for achieving this great feat, which will provide fast and efficient delivery of Internet and hosting services for the South-East and South-South regions.
“Since 2019, the Federal Ministry of Communications and Digital Economy has championed the country’s digital transformation agenda in efforts to position it as one of the leading Digital Economies in the world.
“To achieve this aim, we developed the National Digital Economy Policy and Strategy (NDEPS) (2020-2030) with the clear vision ‘to transform Nigeria into a leading Digital Economy providing quality life and digital economies for all.”
He said the mission was “to build a nation where digital innovation and entrepreneurship are used to create value and prosperity for all.”
He, however recalled that STORM initiative was in line with the National Digital Economy Policy for a Digital Nigeria (2020 – 2030).
Pantami added that STORM was a significant milestone in support of the Federal Government’s efforts to accelerate broadband penetration across cities and underserved communities in the country.
He expressed optimism that Digital Services would expand and strengthen development since Nigeria was endowed with enormous potential.
He congratulated GBB and Interra Network teams for putting the launch in place and urged them to work together in order to ensure wealth and prosperity was expanded in the nation.
“In particular, it supports the implementation of Pillar 3 (the Solid Infrastructure Pillar). It is also in alignment with the Nigerian National Broadband Plan (2020 – 2025).
“Broadband connectivity plays a major role in the economic fortunes of countries around the world.
“A 10 per cent increase in broadband penetration can lead to growth in Gross Domestic Product in the region of 0.6 per cent to 2.8 per cent.
“Furthermore, the use of broadband technology goes beyond facilitating socialisation.
“Rather, it supports key sectors of the economy, such as the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs).
“These enterprises are a critical part of the Nigerian economy and broadband access enables them to extend their services beyond their physical locations through the use of e-commerce platforms.
“It will support government’s effort in meeting the target of the NNBP, which aims to achieve a 90 per cent broadband penetration by 2025.
“Through platforms like STORM, we are extending the provision of internet services beyond major cities in the country, thereby deepening broadband penetration across the country to overcome the existing digital divide,” he said.
Recall that Galaxy Backbone had deployed fibre optics to 17 major cities across the federation under the first phase of NICTIB.
Prof. Mohammed Abubakar, managing director of GBB, said the plan to launch the project in year 2020 was aborted by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Abubakar, who also joined virtually, expressed optimism that with the official launch of STORM, GBB and Interra Networks were ready to unleash broadband services to organisations and homes in South East and South South.
He informed that STORM would bridge the notable gaps in the market in terms of reliable internet service.
According to him, change is the only constant thing in life and as people living in a fast changing digital world, I am sure you all know how important it is to ensure we embrace change,
“So, that we are not left behind at the speed of light transformations taking place all around us.
“We are confident that by making fast and reliable internet services available in urban and rural communities, greater number of job opportunities will emanate and we can lift more people out of poverty.
“History has shown that in every major pandemic, one or two sectors begin to thrive and lead to the transformation of the lives of entire communities and indeed the world.
“In this case, Digital Technology has taken centre stage, especially in Nigeria, where we have observed its great contributions to the GDP of our country in the last quarter of the year 2020.
“We are not unmindful of the strides recorded by most of our competitors in this industry.
“We are confident that the broadband internet connectivity and hosting service being offered by STORM will lead to an experience that you will find efficient, reliable and with great support.”
Speaking on ‘”Partnering to Serve: The Storm Value Proposition”, Mr David Onu, president, Interra Networks, , said that the service would enable greater youth participation in technology and digital economy drive.
According to Onu, ICT is considered to be the new oil worldwide and it is very interesting to see that just 15 years ago, the top six companies were oil companies.
“Today, those companies are no more in the top 10. The only one that has broken the top 10 record is the Exxon Mobil.
“And you ask yourself what has made it so. What have made it so are the IT services and data.
“It is something interesting, taken away from the corporate world and countries that were considered to belong to the third world 20 years ago.
“It is interesting to see how they have erased their poverty index; by empowering people, creating jobs and creating wealth.”
He, however bemoaned the misnomer in Nigeria, which was excessive reliance on natural resources, adding that the biggest strength had been intellectual resources.
“What has been going on today in the country is that silent revolution and it will soon take the country by storm with the engagement of our young people in technology.
“We hear of our young people getting investments from companies outside the country to expand; we hear of services that are being used Africa-wide and worldwide and we haven’t even started.
He hinged the launch of STORM on the harnessing of the capacity of young people and businesses in the regions to boost the economy.
Dignitaries present at the event included: Mr Osita Chidoka, former minister of Aviation; Sir Carl Obi Kama, commissioner, Enugu State Ministry of Science and Technology; Prof. Boniface Nworgu, commissioner, Imo State Ministry of Science and Technology.
Others were Rocky Ighoyota, director of ICT, Delta State Ministry of Science and Technology; Abdul-Malik Suleiman, group head, Regional Offices, Galaxy Backbone; Tope Dele-Oni, head, Regional Business & Operations, Galaxy Backbone (Lagos and South West), among others.
Association of Telecommunications Companies of Nigeria (ATCON), has raised the alarm over a diesel supply crisis caused by an ongoing strike by the National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG).
Mr Tony Emoekpere, president, ATCON in a statement said that the fuel supply disruption is critically affecting telecom base stations, pushing them to the brink of a shutdown and threatening millions of mobile and internet users in the region.
“This strike, which stems from the persistent harassment of tanker and petroleum product drivers by police officers in Lagos State, has effectively halted all truck loading operations and fuel movements,” Emoekpere stated.
He explained that diesel supply to telecom infrastructure has been severely impacted, leaving critical sites with dangerously low fuel levels.
According to him, if urgent measures are not taken, the situation could escalate into a full-blown network blackout, disrupting essential services, including mobile and internet access, business operations, emergency response systems, and daily communications.
ATCON has called on the governors of Lagos and Ogun states to intervene immediately by facilitating the release of diesel from depots to telecom operators to prevent further deterioration of the situation.
“This is not just a telecom issue—it is a national emergency that could cripple economic activities and compromise public safety,” Emoekpere stressed.
The association also appealed to security agencies and petroleum unions to resolve the crisis swiftly to safeguard Nigeria’s connectivity and economic stability.
ATCON emphasised that a prolonged disruption in fuel supply to telecom infrastructure could have far-reaching consequences for both businesses and individuals who rely on stable communication networks for daily operations.
In 2023, Nigerians spent a total of about ₦5.3 trillion on telecommunications services, which includes calls, data, SMS, and other telecom services, according to the Leadership.
Specifically for voice calls, Nigerians made approximately 408.5 billion minutes of local calls, generating around ₦3.28 trillion from outgoing calls and ₦3.23 trillion from incoming calls, totaling about ₦6.51 trillion in call-related revenue according to projections based on 2023 call volumes and tariff data.
However, the ₦5.3 trillion figure represents the overall telecom sector revenue, with voice calls being a major component but also including data and other services.
For individual spending, MTN subscribers spent an average of ₦2,508 monthly on voice calls in 2023, showing a 14.4% increase from 2022, while Airtel customers spent about ₦1,694 monthly on voice calls.
Total telecom spending (calls, data, SMS, etc.): ₦5.3 trillion in 2023
Estimated revenue from voice calls alone: around ₦6.5 trillion based on call minutes and tariffs
Average monthly spending on calls per subscriber: ₦1,694 to ₦2,508 depending on the network
Across Africa, more and more people are finding themselves interacting with artificial intelligence every day, perhaps without even realizing it. From the personalized recommendations that pop up on their phones to the smart assistants helping them manage their schedules, AI is quietly becoming an indispensable part of modern life.
This widespread adoption underscores a global trend: AI is evolving from a complex theoretical concept into practical, helpful tools that solve real-world problems and enhance our capabilities.
It’s against this backdrop that the annual Google I/O conference takes center stage. Google I/O is Google’s flagship event featuring the latest announcements and updates in technology. It’s Google’s moment to reveal the future they’re building, pulling back the curtain on their newest products, technologies, and, most significantly this year, their breakthroughs in AI. This is where ambitious research prototypes often make their public debut, demonstrating how AI is moving from the lab into everyday tools designed to enrich our lives.
This year’s proceedings highlighted the ongoing advancements in Google’s AI capabilities, with its most advanced models, Gemini, being extensively integrated across its product offerings and research initiatives. A central theme observed was the development of artificial intelligence intended to be not just powerful but also beneficial, designed to be more intelligent, more capable of taking action on behalf of users (referred to as ‘agentic’), and more uniquely tailored to individual needs and preferences (personalised). Building on previous developments, Gemini has now been incorporated into every one of Google’s 15 products that collectively serve over half a billion users. The innovations unveiled at I/O 2025 suggest a focus on expanding the scope of AI applications and making artificial intelligence broadly more useful and intuitive for a wider audience.
Here are 13 of the new AI-powered tools, features, and advancements announced at Google I/O 2025 and how they are designed to assist you:
1. Faster and Smarter AI Experiences Enabled with Gemini 2.5
Google’s Gemini 2.5 family of models is being rapidly advanced. Gemini 2.5 Flash has now become Google’s default model, developed to combine remarkable quality with extremely fast response times, thereby offering both speed and efficiency for your daily interactions. For enhanced reasoning and the tackling of complex challenges, an experimental mode called Deep Think is being explored in Gemini 2.5 Pro, utilizing the latest research on cognitive processes. New previews for text-to-speech are also being introduced that support native audio output, including first-of-a-kind multispeaker support for two voices, allowing for more expressive and natural conversations.
2. Cutting-Edge Images Generated with Imagen 4
Imagen 4, described as a frontier-pushing image generation model, was introduced by Google and is now accessible within the Gemini app. The images it produces are richer, with more nuanced colors and fine-grain details, helping your visual ideas be brought to life with striking clarity. Imagen 4 has been significantly improved in its handling of text and typography, making creative choices in font, spacing, and layout, which is a transformative feature for design and content creation. A super fast variant, up to 10x quicker than the previous model, is also slated for release soon, enabling faster iteration on your ideas and boosting your creative workflow.
3. Advanced Video Content Created with Veo 3
Alongside Imagen 4, Veo 3, Google’s state-of-the-art video generation model, was launched. Available today in the Gemini app for Gemini subscribers in the United States, Veo 3 offers improved visual quality, a stronger understanding of physics for more realistic animations, and more intuitive controls, making video creation more accessible than ever. Notably, Veo 3 includes native audio generation capabilities, allowing users to add sound effects and background noise, with dialogue creation coming soon, thereby transforming your video projects.
4. AI for Filmmakers Unleashed with Flow
Built with and for creatives, Flow is a new AI filmmaking tool designed to help users seamlessly create cinematic clips, scenes, and stories with consistency. Custom-designed for Veo and utilizing Gemini models for intuitive prompting, Flow allows users to create story elements like cast, locations, objects, and styles using natural language, simplifying complex filmmaking tasks. Users can also easily integrate their own assets and reference images for consistency across clips, ensuring their creative vision is maintained. Flow is available today for Google AI Pro and Ultra subscribers in the U.S. only.
5. An AI-Powered Google Search Experience Introduced with AI Mode
Rolling out to everyone in the U.S. starting today, AI Mode in Search is designed as Google’s most powerful AI search experience. It features advanced reasoning and multimodality, allowing for deeper exploration via follow-up questions and helpful links, providing more comprehensive answers. A custom version of Gemini 2.5, Google’s most intelligent model, is being incorporated into Search for both AI Mode and AI Overviews in the U.S. this week. Over time, many of AI Mode’s cutting-edge features will be directly integrated into the core Search experience, enhancing everyday searches.
6. Experience the power of AI with Gemini in Chrome
Starting tomorrow, Gemini in Chrome will begin rolling out on desktop to Google AI Pro and Google AI Ultra subscribers in the US who use English as their main Chrome language on Windows and macOS. The first version allows you to easily ask Gemini to clarify complex information on any webpage you are reading or summarise information. In the future, Gemini will be able to work across multiple tabs and navigate websites on your behalf.
7. Real-time Visual Assistance from Search (Search Live) Provided
Bringing capabilities first explored in Project Astra into Search, Search Live allows users in the U.S. to engage in a back-and-forth conversation with Search about what they see in real-time using their camera. This means Search can function as a learning partner, explaining concepts or offering suggestions based on visual input, with links to other resources, making learning and problem-solving more intuitive. Search Live is expected to be released to AI Mode in Labs this summer.
8. Task Accomplishment Facilitated by AI Mode
Applying the concept of “agentic” AI, Google is integrating the capabilities of Project Mariner into AI Mode in the U.S. This is designed to help users save time by performing tasks on their behalf, such as purchasing tickets for events, making restaurant reservations, or booking local appointments. AI Mode will scan across sites, analyze options, and handle tedious form-filling, presenting options that meet your criteria while you complete the purchase on your preferred site, ensuring control is maintained. These agentic capabilities are coming to AI Mode in Labs this summer.
9. Deep Research Capabilities Enhanced with AI Mode
For questions requiring a more thorough response, Deep Search capabilities are coming to AI Mode in Labs this summer. Utilizing an advanced “query fan-out” technique, Deep Search can initiate hundreds of searches, reason across disparate information, and create an expert-level, fully-cited report in just minutes, potentially saving users hours of research and helping to quickly grasp complex topics.
10. Personalized Search Results Delivered
Soon, AI Mode in Labs will offer personalized suggestions based on past searches, making the search experience more relevant. Users can also optionally connect other Google apps, starting with Gmail, to provide personal context for tailored responses, such as restaurant suggestions based on booking history when planning a trip. This feature is always under the user’s control, allowing for connection or disconnection at any time. AI Mode will also be able to analyze complex datasets and create custom charts and graphs for data visualization in sports and finance queries, coming to Labs this summer, aiding in clearer information understanding.
11. Smarter Shopping Experiences in AI Mode Unveiled
The new shopping experience in AI Mode combines Gemini model capabilities with Google’s Shopping Graph to help users browse for inspiration, consider options, and narrow down products more efficiently. This includes a new “try-on” feature allowing users to virtually try on billions of apparel listings by uploading their own image, beginning its rollout to Labs users in the U.S. today, making online shopping more confident. Users can also ask an agentic checkout feature to make purchases with Google Pay when the price is right, with their guidance and oversight. This shopping experience is expected to be available in AI Mode in the U.S. in the coming months.
12. The Helpful Gemini App Enhanced
Google’s objective for the Gemini app is for it to become the most helpful universal AI assistant. This is being enhanced by integrating capabilities first explored in Project Astra, such as video understanding and improved memory, making interactions with Gemini more natural and productive. Gemini Live in the app will soon be integrated with Google services like Maps, Calendar, Tasks, and Keep for deeper daily assistance, helping to manage daily life more seamlessly. The ability to use your camera or share your screen in Gemini Live is being rolled out to iOS users starting today, in addition to Android. More Project Astra live capabilities are also coming soon to Gemini Live.
13. Complex Tasks Delegated with Agent Mode
For Google AI Ultra subscribers, an experimental version of Agent Mode will be introduced in the Gemini app soon. This new capability allows users to delegate complex planning and tasks, seamlessly combining features like live web Browse, in-depth research, and integrations with Google apps to manage multi-step tasks from start to finish with minimal oversight, freeing up time and mental energy.
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