Telecom
Glo, Only Operator to Achieve Customer Growth in July – Industry Report
Nigeria’s digital solutions provider, Globacom, led the growth of the industry in the month of July, 2021, as it added over a million new customers to its base.
According to latest published statistics of the industry’s regulator, Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Globacom was the only network whose subscriber base grew in July, as MTN and Airtel both suffered losses, while 9mobile was stagnant.
The NCC report also shows that Globacom was equally the only operator that added new data customers during the period. Its internet subscribers rose from 37,875,966 in June to 38,214,155 in July, a growth of 338,189 new data customers.
MTN’s internet subscriber base shrank from 59,594,891 in June to 59,008,651 in July, a loss of 586,240, just as Airtel lost 182,682 data customers from the 36,235,905 it had in June to 36,053,223 recorded at the end of July. 9mobile had the same figure of 6,108,151 for the two months, according to the NCC report.
In the same vein, the data indicates that Globacom added 1,007,259 new subscribers to see its subscriber base grow from 50,130,540 in June to 51,137,799 at the end of July.
MTN, on the other hand, lost 447,460 subscribers as its figure fell from 73,571,192 in June to 73,123,732 in July. Airtel’s subscriber base which stood at 50,665,723 in June fell to 50,301,237 in July, showing a loss of 364,486 customers. 9mobile, however, remained stagnant in its numbers with 12,908,092 subscribers reported.
Globacom’s remarkable performance in the sector is believed to be a result of its competitive data plans in the market and the continuous network enhancement and extension of 4G data coverage to more cities across the country.
The telecoms service provider also offers subscribers attractive products with unmatched value. These include the 22X offer which gives subscribers 22 times the value of their recharge, the Berekete SIM which gives subscribers N600 airtime, 700% bonus on every recharge and 100% bonus on all data plans.
Google has launched its Search Live feature globally to over 200 countries, including Nigeria, where AI Mode is available, enabling voice-and-camera conversations in users’ preferred languages.
Powered by the new multilingual Gemini 3.1 Flash Live model, it delivers natural, real-time interactions via the Google app on Android or iOS—tap the Live icon under the Search bar.
Ideal for hands-free help, users can speak queries for audio replies, follow-ups, or web links. Camera integration adds visual context, like troubleshooting a shelving unit, or pairs with Google Lens for real-world chats.
From the app or Lens, Nigerians can now explore, learn, or solve tasks instantly, boosting everyday productivity worldwide.
Clean and reliable power for telecom networks in Ethiopia, Liberia, and Sierra Leone will be expanded following a $45 million investment by the International Finance Corporation (IFC) in IPT PowerTech.
The investment targets countries where limited power supply continues to slow digital connectivity and broader economic participation, the institution stated earlier this week.
To enable this expansion, the IFC is providing a $45 million corporate financing package consisting of an A-loan of $27 million and $18 million in blended finance.
The blended portion is sourced from the Canada-IFC Blended Climate Finance Programme and the IDA20 Private Sector Window Blended Finance Facility.
The initiative marks the IFC’s first direct infrastructure engagement in Liberia in a decade and in Sierra Leone in six years.
It will help scale solar- and battery-based power systems that reduce reliance on diesel and support greener, more resilient telecom networks.
By improving the quality and stability of power to telecom towers, the initiative will strengthen mobile coverage and ensure that households, schools, health centres, and small businesses can depend on consistent digital services, said the IFC.
The funding supports the modernisation, operation, and maintenance of 2 235 telecom sites across the three nations. More than 90% of these are located in off-grid or weak-grid locations.
With new solar and battery systems powering these sites, mobile networks will experience fewer outages and improved service quality.
Optimising the energy mix is estimated to reduce power costs for operators by up to 30% in Liberia, 26% in Sierra Leone, and 52% in Ethiopia.
This transition is also expected to cut emissions by more than 10 624 tonnes of carbon dioxide annually. Furthermore, the partnership will promote gender inclusion by expanding opportunities for women in technical, operational, and leadership roles within the sector, says the IFC.
This agreement reflects a shared vision for a greener telecom industry and empowers the company to scale its innovative energy platforms, according to Nabil Haddad, CEO of IPT PowerTech Group.
Reliable and affordable power for telecom networks is a cornerstone of Africa’s digital transformation, said Nathalie Kouassi-Akon, IFC regional director for West Africa and the Gulf of Guinea.
Through this partnership, the institution is supporting a scalable, private sector-led solution that enables mobile operators to reach underserved and fragile communities more sustainably, added Kouassi-Akon.
The project advances the World Bank Group and African Development Bank’s Mission 300 initiative, which aims to provide electricity to 300 million Africans by 2030.
Expedier has unveiled “Expedier for Business,” an online pro-banking platform to simplify global payments, multi-currency transactions, and financial operations for expanding companies.
Kingsley Madu
The tool centralizes payments, invoicing, payroll, and treasury into one secure dashboard, tackling challenges like fragmented systems and poor visibility that hinder international scaling.
Kingsley Madu, Co-Founder and CEO of Expedier, said: “African businesses are increasingly global… Expedier for Business was built to simplify how companies manage money across borders while maintaining visibility, control, and compliance.”
Key features include customizable dashboards for payments, invoices, and workflows; support for USD, CAD, GBP, EUR, and more; virtual cards; automated payroll/invoicing; currency swaps; and real-time tracking.
Security measures cover two-factor authentication, KYC/KYB verification, and team access controls.
As cross-border trade and remote work boom in Africa, the platform aids firms dealing with international suppliers, teams, and customers. It is now available for organizations scaling globally.
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