Telecom
itel Partners Airtel to Launch itel A60, Dubbed 2023 Most Affordable 4G Smartphone
itel, leading global phone maker, on Wednesday launched the latest in its line-up of smartphones, the itel A60 smartphone targeted at leveraging on existing 4G technology to provide smoother, faster and more stable internet connectivity at an affordable price for consumers.
This is just as the global home appliances’ maker reassured one and all that it is constantly improving on its products and services to stay in touch with and satisfy the ever-dynamic demands and yearnings of its customers across the globe.
Veeki Chen, itel’s Country Manager at the itel – Airtel Press Briefing
During the official launch and press briefing which held at the Lagos Marriot Hotel, Ikeja, Lagos State, itel’s Marketing Manager for West Africa 1, Oke Umurhohwo noted that in line with the 4G for Everyone tagline, the itel A60 will bring a different dimension to how the brand’s target users surf the internet and engender an overall amazing experience for customers.
Oke Umurhohwo, itel’s Marketing Manager at the itel – Airtel Press Briefing
He added that even though itel has established itself as a first-rate maker of smartphones, accessories and electronics, it will not rest on its oars in the bid to deliver quality products and services which cater to the needs of millions of existing and potential consumers.
The press briefing also doubled as the formal announcement of itel’s new strategic partnership with telecommunications giant, Airtel. Oke Umurhohwo disclosed that itel’s partnership with Airtel is to continue to bring ease to consumers. Speaking further, he described the itel A60 as the first of its kind, combining affordability and efficiency without dropping the ball in terms of performance.
L-R: Veeki Chen (itel Nigeria Country Manager); Ismail Adeshina (Marketing Director, Airtel Nigeria); Oke Umurhohwo (Marketing Manager, itel Nigeria); Adefemi Adeniran (Director Corporate Communications, Airtel Nigeria); Jack Cao (Brand Manager, Transsion; Chidi Okonkwo (General Manager, Transsion Nigeria)
Commenting on the announcement, Director Corporate Communications, Airtel Nigeria, Adefemi Adeniran said that Airtel is delighted to establish a prolific partnership that will go a long way in creating a strong value chain for the customers of both brands.
Adefemi Adeshina, Airtel’s Director of Corporate Communications at the itel – Airtel Press Briefing
In his remarks, Airtel’s Marketing Director, Ismail Adeshina reiterated Airtel’s commitment to delivering affordable innovation aimed to create meaningful experiences for Nigerians.
Ismail Adeshina, Airtel’s Marketing Director at the itel – Airtel Press Briefing
“Airtel is committed to delivering affordable innovations that will create a better and more meaningful experience for Nigerians, and we believe that this partnership will not only help us achieve that, but also significantly contribute to building a solid experience for both customers of Itel and Airtel Nigeria.” he said.
Touted as 2023’s most affordable 4G smartphone across all OEM businesses, the entry-leve itel A60 will retail for N45,000 and comes with a range of distinctive features to give the user a different experience while getting value for money.
The Itel A60 4G Smartphone on Display at The itel – Airtel Press Briefing
The itel A60 will feature a 5000mAh battery for longer uptime, 6.6″HD+ Waterdrop FullScreen for an immersive display experience, 32+2GB memory, 8MP+QVGA Rear Camera + 5MP FF Camera+AI Selfie as well as Facial Recognition and Fingerprint protection.
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.
Nigerian fintech unicorn Moniepoint Inc. has finalised its acquisition of a 78% stake in Kenya’s Sumac Microfinance Bank, gaining a key deposit-taking licence for credit expansion in East Africa’s biggest economy.
The deal, marked by a Nairobi reception, bypasses the Central Bank of Kenya’s licence freeze, letting Moniepoint rival giants like Safaricom and Equity Group after a stalled Kopo Kopo bid.
It signals Africa’s fintech shift to licensed banking and mergers, equipping Moniepoint to roll out high-speed SME lending via Sumac’s 20-year-old infrastructure and branches.
The acquisition builds a cross-border merchant ecosystem beyond fees, integrating recent Orda buyout (cloud restaurant software) for “business-in-a-box” tools like inventory, payroll, and capital amid Kenya’s digital lending scrutiny.
Moniepoint, which hit $294 billion annualised transactions in 2025, eyes Kenya’s SMEs with Nigeria-honed retail expertise.
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