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Mastercard Partners Fletcher School Unveil Digital Intelligence Index

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The Fletcher School at Tufts University, in partnership with Mastercard, have unveiled the Digital Intelligence Index, which charts the progress countries have made in advancing their digital economies, fostering trust and integrating connectivity into the lives of billions.

Building upon earlier editions in 2014 and 2017, this year’s index paints a picture of global digital development, sheds insight on key factors driving change and momentum, and unpacks what this means for economies facing the challenges of a global pandemic and post-pandemic future.

The 2020 study highlights that while economies like Nigeria remain in the Watch Out zone, young people are demonstrating high levels of digital engagement, a bright spot for governments attempting to expand digitalization in their economies who need to do more to nurture their digital economies and instill trust in their emerging digital ecosystems. The country is forecast to grow its 25 million smartphone user base to more than 140 million by 2025, exhibiting high levels of digital engagement in the future.

The Sub-Saharan African region, on the other hand, has led a mobile money revolution, making two-thirds of the world’s 37 billion mobile money transactions in 2019 demonstrating the potential for massive growth in digital economies.

Bhaskar Chakravorti, Dean of Global Business at The Fletcher School, said: “The pandemic may be the purest test of the world’s progress towards digitalization. We have a clearer view on how dynamic digital economies can contribute to economic resiliency during a time of unparalleled global turmoil and can be positioned for recovery and change.”

Other key findings include:
• With nearly two thirds of the world’s population online today,[1] we are entering an ‘after access’ phase, where access alone is not enough. Aspects such as the quality of access, effective use of digital technologies, accountable institutions, robust data governance policies and fostering trust are greater factors in determining digital competitiveness and sustainability.
• Young people in emerging economies are demonstrating high levels of digital engagement, a bright spot for governments attempting to expand digitalization in their economies.

Ajay Bhalla, president, Cyber & Intelligence, Mastercard, said: “Never before has there been such an acute need to understand the factors that drive digitalization and digital trust. With that knowledge, businesses and governments can work together to help all 7.6 billion people around the world benefit from the vast opportunities a digitally advanced economy can bring. Whilst much remains uncertain today, it is clear that digital success will be a key building block in our collective recovery.”

A Global Outlook on Digital Evolution and Trust

This year’s index looks at two components: Digital Evolution and Digital Trust. Digital Evolution captures an economy’s historical momentum from the physical past to the digital present. Digital Trust is the bridge that connects its journey from the digital present to an intelligent and inclusive digital future.

Mapping 95% of the world’s online population and drawing on 12 years of data, the Digital Evolution scorecard measures 160 indicators in 90 economies across four key pillars: institutional environment, demand conditions, supply conditions, and the capacity for innovation and change. These segment into four categories:

• Stand Out economies – Singapore, United States, Hong Kong[2], South Korea, Taiwan, Germany, Estonia, UAE, Israel, Czech Republic, Malaysia, Lithuania and Qatar – are both highly digitally advanced and exhibit high momentum. They are leaders in driving innovation, building on their existing advantages in efficient and effective ways.
• Stall Out economies – such as Sweden, United Kingdom, Netherlands, Japan and Canada – are mature digital economies with a high state of digital adoption despite slowing digital momentum. They tend to trade off speed for sustainability and are typically invested in expanding digital inclusion and building robust institutions.
• Break Out economies – such as China[3], India, Indonesia, Poland and Russia – are evolving rapidly along with Kenya, Cameroon, Ivory Coast, Rwanda, Tanzania and Ghana. With such momentum and significant headroom for growth, they are often highly attractive to investors.
• Watch Out economies – such as South Africa, Nigeria, Uganda, Ethiopia, Namibia, Colombia, Peru, Pakistan and Sri Lanka – have a number of infrastructure gaps. Despite this, young people are showing enthusiasm for a digital future with increased use of social media and mobile payments.

The Digital Trust scorecard measures 198 indicators in 42 of the index’s economies across four key pillars: behavior, attitudes, environment, and experience.

• Economies such as Brazil, Colombia and Mexico are beginning to build momentum on behavior scores, demonstrating substantial engagement on social media and other new technologies.
• Economies such as China, Indonesia and Vietnam have increasingly favorable attitudes about their digital future, buoyed by rapidly expanding digital adoption and opportunity.
• Economies with more mature approaches to digitalization and related policymaking such as Sweden, the Netherlands and Denmark shares measures that strengthen the trust environment, such as privacy, security and accountability policies. Citizens in these countries tend to have more optimistic attitudes around the future of digitalization.
• Economies such as United States, Hong Kong, Taiwan, South Korea and Singapore provide citizens with a near seamless experience, delivering the holy grail of advanced infrastructure, broad access and unparalleled interaction. This experience is matched by high levels of engagement, offering these economies a clear advantage in a ‘beyond access’ future.

The link to the full report and methodology can be found here. For more information and shareable content, please visit our digital press kit.


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Ugo Onwuaso is an ICT enthusiast. He believes technology should be used for general good. He holds a Master of Public Administration (MPA) degree from the Lagos state University. Dear Reader, Your support matters. But we believe that technology makes life more exciting and helps improve the lives of people around Nigeria and indeed the world. That is why, we have devoted our energy to independent reportage of technology and finance and how they affect lives. Our incisive and analytical view of how technology news affects the daily life help individuals and organizations make up their minds. Quality journalism costs money. Today, we're asking that you support us to do more. Kindly support our effort to deliver technology and finance journalism to everyone in the world. Donate as little as N1,000. Bank transfers can be made to: UBA Plc 1017156876 Communication Week Media Ltd

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Dimension Data Nigeria Secures ₦20Billion Funding Strengthen Digital Infrastructure

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Dimension Data Nigeria has raised ₦20 billion (approximately $13.7 million) through a bond programme under Dimension Data SPV Funding Plc, following approval from the Securities and Exchange Commission of Nigeria.

This initiative aims to strengthen Nigeria’s digital infrastructure by addressing gaps in fibre coverage, limited enterprise connectivity, and increasing demand for cloud, fintech, digital services, and Artificial Intelligence.

The integrated IT solutions provider stated that the capital will be used to fund long-term investments in expanding network capacity, enhancing resilience, and supporting carrier-grade and enterprise services as data consumption continues to accelerate nationwide.

Speaking at a documentation and regulatory clearances event in Lagos, managing director, Gbenga Olabiyi, said sustained infrastructure investment is critical to maintaining competitiveness and enabling future growth.

He noted that strategic upgrades would help future-proof operations, reduce service disruptions, and allow the company to scale efficiently as business and consumer demand for cloud, fintech, and other digital services intensifies.

The bond programme is backed by private equity firm Mbavaa Partners Limited, whose managing partner, Shatse Kakwagh, described the transaction as a milestone that unlocks long-term capital for expansion.

He highlighted that strong ratings and an oversubscribed first issuance show investor confidence in Dimension Data’s execution and growth potential.

The fundraising comes as Nigeria confronts persistent infrastructure gaps, including limited metro and last-mile fibre coverage and rising enterprise connectivity needs.

Government intends to deploy 90,000 kilometres of fibre nationwide under Project Bridge aim to expand internet penetration and lower access costs.

 


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MTN Nigeria Posts Record N1.70 Trillion Pre‑Tax Profit, Declares N20 Dividend for 2025

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MTN Nigeria Communications Plc has recorded a landmark turnaround in 2025, posting a pre‑tax profit of N1.70 trillion, reversing a loss of N550.3 billion in 2024 as the company emerged from a rough patch driven largely by foreign exchange volatility.

MTN Nigeria Posts Record N1.70 Trillion Pre‑Tax Profit, Declares N20 Dividend for 2025

MTN Nigeria

The telecom giant said the performance reflects a “significant turning point” in its corporate and financial trajectory, underpinned by improved macroeconomic conditions, strong service‑revenue growth, and tightening operational efficiency.

Profitability, Revenue, and Dividend

For the full year 2025, MTN Nigeria reported profit after tax of N1.11 trillion, compared with a loss after tax of N400.4 billion in 2024, while earnings per share rose to N53.07 from a negative N19.05 a year earlier.

Total revenue grew 54.9% year‑on‑year to N5.20 trillion, with service revenue up 55.1% to N5.17 trillion, driven mainly by data, voice, and fintech services.

The company’s board proposed a final cash dividend of N15 per share, bringing the total dividend for the 2025 financial year to N20 per share. Dividends will be paid electronically to shareholders on the register as of April 8, 2026, subject to completed e‑dividend mandates.

This payout is one of the largest single‑year dividends in Nigerian corporate history, signalling strong cash‑flow generation and management confidence in the company’s earnings quality.

Fourth‑Quarter Momentum and Customer Base

MTN Nigeria’s fourth‑quarter performance was particularly robust, with pre‑tax profit surging 248.8% year‑on‑year to N569.6 billion, compared with N163.3 billion in Q4 2024.

The company’s mobile subscriber base reached 87.3 million at year‑end, up 7.9% from the previous year, reinforcing its position as Nigeria’s largest telecom operator by subscribers.

Active data users grew by 11.6% to 53.2 million, and smartphone penetration rose to 66.1%, reflecting the deepening shift toward data‑driven services and digital lifestyles among Nigerians.

Data, Fintech, and Voice Growth

Data was the biggest growth driver, with data revenue up 74.5% to N2.78 trillion and data traffic increasing 34.0%, amid rising demand for mobile broadband and video streaming.

Voice revenue also climbed strongly, rising 42.1% to N1.85 trillion as tariffs and usage patterns adjusted to more stable exchange‑rate conditions.

Fintech revenue surged 79.7% to N191.3 billion, underscoring the rapid expansion of MTN Nigeria’s mobile money ecosystem and the growing role of digital financial inclusion in the country’s economy.

Cost Management and EBITDA Leap

Operating leverage improved markedly, with cost of sales rising 30.3% and operating expenses up 16.7%, both growth rates below the 55% revenue expansion.

EBITDA jumped 108.9% to N2.74 trillion, lifting the company’s EBITDA margin into the mid‑to‑high 50% range, ahead of its prior guidance.

Management attributed the improvement to a more stable foreign‑exchange market, moderated inflation, and sustained demand for data and digital services, as well as disciplined cost control.

FX Recovery and Capital Expenditure

Foreign exchange performance was a major swing factor: MTN Nigeria recorded a net FX gain of N90.3 billion in 2025, compared with a N925.4 billion FX loss in 2024.

The turnaround followed settlement of outstanding letters of credit and a deliberate reduction in dollar‑denominated exposure, which helped insulate earnings from earlier currency shocks.

Capital expenditure excluding leases rose 126.2% to N1.00 trillion, as the company invested heavily in network capacity, coverage, and digital infrastructure, including fibre rollout and 4G/LTE upgrades.

Despite the higher capex, free cash flow soared 215.5% to N1.2 trillion, indicating that the expansion is being funded internally without straining the balance sheet.

Balance Sheet and Shareholder Value

The company’s balance sheet strengthened materially, with total assets up 28.7% to N5.40 trillion and shareholders’ equity turning positive after several years in deficit.

Shareholders’ funds rose 219.8% to N548.7 billion, while retained earnings closed at N400.4 billion, compared with negative N607.5 billion in December 2024.

In the stock market, MTN Nigeria’s shares recently traded around N760, making it the most capitalised company on the Nigerian Exchange with a market valuation of about N16 trillion.

The stock has gained 33% in February 2026 alone, taking year‑to‑date returns to 49%, following a 155.5% rally in 2025, which investors see as a vote of confidence in the company’s turnaround story.

Outlook and Strategic Guidance

Management maintains a medium‑term service‑revenue growth guidance of at least low‑20% annually, underpinned by ongoing data and fintech expansion as well as gradual price adjustments.

The group has also revised its EBITDA margin guidance upward to the mid‑to‑high 50% range, signalling sustained profitability even as the company continues to invest in network and digital infrastructure.

Analysts note that MTN Nigeria’s 2025 performance not only restores investor confidence but also sets a benchmark for other Nigerian corporates navigating FX‑linked risks and regulatory uncertainty.


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Telecom Giant MTN Injects N1.0 Trillion CAPEX into Network Expansion

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In a bold move to future-proof Nigeria’s telecommunications infrastructure, MTN Nigeria embarked on a massive N1.0 trillion Capital Expenditure (CAPEX) drive, backed by its record-breaking 2025 financial performance.

Telecom Giant MTN Injects N1.0 Trillion CAPEX into Network Expansion

MTN

The company’s audited results revealed a historic 108.9% increase in EBITDA to N2.7 trillion and a 215.5% rise in free cash flow to N1.2 trillion, providing the exact financial muscle necessary for this aggressive network expansion.

According to the firm’s strategic blueprint, without the ability to generate strong returns, the N1.0 trillion CAPEX required to maintain the network and deploy advanced technologies would simply not exist.

This accelerated network investment is already yielding significant dividends in consumer usage and reliability. The 2025 results showed a massive 74.5% surge in data revenue alongside a 42.1% increase in voice revenue. Furthermore, active data subscribers grew by 11.6% to hit 53.2 million, underscoring the robust commercial momentum and the continuous public demand for high-quality internet services powered by fresh CAPEX.

Speaking on the company’s trajectory, CEO Karl Olutokun Toriola confirmed that the restoration of positive retained earnings and a highly resilient balance sheet directly supported this accelerated network investment.

He said: “2025 marked a significant turning point in our business performance, with a return to profitability, stronger free cash flow, and the restoration of positive retained earnings and shareholders’ funds, enabling the resumption of dividend payments.

“Our balance sheet resilience – underpinned by robust operating performance, disciplined capital allocation, and reduced foreign currency exposure – supported accelerated network investment to enhance quality of service and user experience, positioning us to sustain growth and deliver attractive long term shareholder returns.”

The company continues to position this N1.0 trillion infrastructure spending as a cornerstone of its economic patriotism. As the largest corporate taxpayer, MTN noted that its heavy investments directly support government digital infrastructure ambitions and social welfare whilst stimulating the local tech ecosystem.


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