Telecom
MTN Unleashes Digital Journey 2.0 with BetterMe App
MTN Nigeria has disclosed it is moving to a new dispensation called Telco 1.5, which is characterized by full scale focus on data and digital services leveraging the power of the internet.
MTN Nigeria which has 60 million subscribers as at the end of year 2014, according to Funmi Onajide, the general manager, Corporate Affairs, on January 1, launched the BetterMe campaign as a clear evidence of how Nigerians can use the power of the internet to do extraordinary things in ways that add values to their lives.
Onajide while speaking at a press conference in Lagos to announce the launch of the Campaign, re-emphasized that telecom products and services in the currently are moving from predominately voice to data and digital services.
She said, “In the past the focus was on voice- that is the ability to connect people so that they could make phone calls. This industry has achieved that well over 100 million active subscribers in Nigeria of which MTN has 60 million subscribers as at the end of 2014.
“That dispensation was Telco 1.5. Now, we are moving to Telco 2.0 which is characterized by full scale focus on data and digital services leveraging the power of the internet”.
On the BetterMe campaign, Onajide said, “As you know, Nigerians are very innovative and millions of people, especially our youth are already very familiar with the internet. The ‘Better Me’ campaign will build on that and will expose Nigerians from all works of life to how they can use the internet to do all sort of things that are relevant to their peculiar circumstances and show them how various digital and data products and services can make their lives better.”
The General Manager, Corporate Affairs of MTN Nigeria added that the platform will introduce local contents that many Nigerians are not aware.
They include websites such as pidgin-based websites, local language news and a variety of useful information which should help people to see the positive value in the internet.
Bayo Adekanmbi, chief marketing officer, in a presentation provided further details about the App, stressing that in spite about 200% growth in internet penetration in the country in the recent years, the usage has remained limited.
He said MTN is working with Neo-2 Limited, a 100% Nigerian company, to launch the app in order to drive the behaviourial change among Nigerians.
“There is no gainsaying that the internet has become a powerful tool, equipping people in such ways like learning new skills or improving on one’s skills, become better economically, socially, culturally or even educationally. We want a situation the internet usage grows in line with the internet penetration, where Nigerians can improve themselves in so many ways. For instance, do we know there are many scholarships Nigerians can benefit from?” he explained.
Also speaking, Fola Akinmolayan, CEO, NEO-2 Limited, said “the BetterMe Bundle is a rich bouquet loaded with internet data (MB) , voice minutes (National) and sms that gives you the opportunity to be better in various facets of life through access to the power of the internet. Whether you want to be better in Business, relationships with friends and family, fashion, health or style, access to the internet via MTN makes it easy for you to access information on the go”.
To enjoy offers accruable to the app, Mrs Saidat Lawal-Mohammed, Snr. manager, Segment Management, MTN Nigeria, said that there are three (3) types of BetterMe Offers that are available, namely daily Package Offer which consists of 20 National mins + 15MB + 35 National SMS @ N250 only; monthly Package Offer which consists of 100 National mins + 100 National SMS + 300MB@ N2,015only and monthly Data Bundle Offer which consists of 2015MB@ N2,015 only
“Today is the day you leave old ways behind for newer, smarter and faster ways. With the power of the internet to enhance your lifestyle, MTN is committed to bringing the best out of you. To enjoy the offer, simply dial *123*4*# to get started”.
Aside the Better Me app, MTN also showcased the benefits of ‘My2015App” as a one stop guide to news, resolutions, prophecies, opportunities, deals and more; which the offers are available to users on daily and monthly bundles.
Adekanmbi explained further on the My2015 App thus, “It is an app aimed to enhance peoples’ lives with the power of internet. It provides easy access to a variety of digital content and offers MTN subscribers a single platform to access, view and share New Year Resolution & Must-do, 2015 Prophesies & Events, News, Daily Deals, Gossips, Healthy Living and Lifestyle. Customers can download the app free of charge by taking the following steps: Send the keyword 2015 to 131 via SMS. An SMS containing the link for download will be sent to you immediately; click the link to download the app free of charge and it takes you to the homepage where you select your area of interest.
He said that as the world is fast changing, with technology taking over people’s everyday lives, access to the internet provides opportunities that enable individuals to achieve greater heights and do a whole lot of things faster and better with less effort.
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
Nigeria’s corporate elite gathered recently to bid farewell to one of the nation’s most influential business titans, Dr. Pascal Gabriel Dozie.
The Nigerian Exchange Group’s headquarters in Marina, Lagos, played host to an ‘Afternoon of Tributes’ that saw industry captains, financial moguls, and family members celebrate the extraordinary legacy of a man who helped reshape Nigeria’s economic landscape.
MTN Nigeria Chairman, Dr. Ernest Ndukwe, captured the mood of the gathering when he described the late Dozie as “a visionary leader, a true patriot, and a trailblazer” whose impact continues to reverberate across Nigeria’s business terrain.
“Thanks to his remarkable foresight and unwavering dedication, MTN Nigeria didn’t just find its footing—it soared,” Ndukwe told the distinguished audience.
“Today, it stands not only as the largest telecommunications company in the country but also as one of the most highly valued corporations on the NGX Premium Board.”
The symbolic bell-ringing ceremony—a highlight of the event—paid homage to Dozie’s pivotal role in transforming both Nigeria’s capital market and telecommunications sector.
Speaker after speaker painted the portrait of a man whose influence transcended conventional boundaries. Beyond founding Diamond Bank and steering MTN Nigeria to unprecedented heights, Dozie was celebrated for embodying the rare combination of business acumen and ethical leadership.
Throughout the afternoon, the late business icon was remembered not merely as a successful entrepreneur but as a nation-builder whose contributions spanned critical sectors from banking and telecoms to public policy and education.
More than his corporate achievements, however, it was Dozie’s personal qualities that dominated tributes—his uncompromising integrity, innovative thinking, disarming humility, and lifelong commitment to service.
As the event concluded, it became clear that the gathering was more than a memorial—it was a celebration of possibilities, a testament to what can be achieved when purpose meets passion and when leadership is firmly rooted in service to others.
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