Telecom
Ruwase says there is no better time to harness ICT than now
Mr.Babatunde Ruwase, President, Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry, (LCCI) has said that there is no better time to harness the benefits of ICT than now, that the Nigerian economy is in dire need of diversification and sustainable recovery.
Ruwase, disclosed this on Wednesday at the 2018 Information Communications Technology and Telecommunications Expo (ICTEL EXPO) held at Eko Hotels & Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos.
He emphasized that ICT is strategic in driving productivity and efficiency in all sectors of the economy, noting that virtually all sectors leverage ICT for optimal performance.
He added that the impact of ICT in the economy can be seen in the financial service sector, where electronic banking is now the vogue, the agricultural sector, where government allocates farm inputs through mobile phones to farmers, the consumer goods sector where online stores and e-commerce has brought an incredible transformation to retail business.
“The fact is that ICT has become the backbone of businesses,” he stated
Ruwase, said that in spite of the phenomenal growth we have witnessed in the sector over the last two decades, that there is still enormous potentials yet untapped, stressing that the Expo is one of the major platforms that offer opportunities to unlock these untapped potentials.
He noted that Lagos Chamber of commerce and industry through the Expo is providing a credible platform to advance the opportunities and linkages in the world of ICT.
“We are committed to the building of economic and commercial ties across all subsectors and players in the ICT sector.
“We plan to continuously broaden the horizon and scope of the Expo over the coming years.
“We see great investment opportunities coming from closer interactions and business integration among ICT players and their customers,” he added.
Dr Abdul-Raheem Adebayo Shittu, Minister of Communications, speaking at the event said that Federal government is committed to support the growth of digital economy in the country.
The minister represented by Mrs.Monisola Udoh, Director of ICT, ministry of communications, said that “we are committed to supporting digital economy in its laudable endeavor and vision to bridge the gap between Nigeria and the rest of the world in information and communications technology”.
He noted that the ministry will support the establishment of companies or organizations in the area of hardware and software by ensuring that they are protected through regulations or other means.
He said, “We will assist them to grow. We have accepted that Nigeria must take the leadership role in Africa’s ICT ecosystem.
“Therefore, we are amenable to PPP relationships to drive the ministry’s projects, 2018 and beyond must be a year of action.”
He stated that to ensure efficiency and competitiveness in the 21st century ICT ecosystem, “the ministry had conceived a national ICT park and exhibition centre in the federal capital territory and other parts of the country.
“Proposed the establishment of a National ICT bank and full implementation of the national broadband plan, ICT roadmap 2017-2020 and the implementation of the eGovernment masterplan.”
He added that his ministry will collaborate with the organizers of ICTEL to create a platform where organizations and startups can pitch their innovative ideas.
These ideas according to her will be passed through a structured selection process to come up with marketable innovations for implementation by the federal government.
Airtel Nigeria, telecom service provider, has announced that its AI-powered Spam Alert Service issued over 9.6 million spam alerts between March 13 and May 20, 2025.
As part of its ongoing commitment to protecting customers from unwanted and potentially fraudulent communications, Airtel designed the AI Spam Alert service to analyze traffic patterns and detect anomalies.
In the period since launch the AI pinpointed a total of 9,667,008 SMS as potential spam messages in the two months after its launch.
Of these, the system identified 528,080 on-net (Airtel-to-Airtel) and 9,138,928 off-net (from other networks) numbers as suspected spam messages, demonstrating the scale of the threat and Airtel’s advanced processing capability.
Airtel Nigeria is a subsidiary of Airtel Africa.
Commenting on this development, Dinesh Balsingh, CEO, Airtel Nigeria, restated Airtel`s commitment to protecting its customers.
“This milestone demonstrates the strength of our AI-driven infrastructure in combating the growing menace of spam and scam calls. At Airtel Nigeria, we are focused on connecting Nigerians and ensuring their safety and confidence while using our network.
“We understand that trust is the cornerstone of digital communication. That’s why we’ve invested heavily in intelligent systems that not only detect potential threats but also learn and evolve with data. As threats become more sophisticated, so will our solutions. As a company, we remain focused on leading the industry in innovation and customer satisfaction, ensuring that every Nigerian can enjoy a safer and smarter digital experience,” Mr. Balsingh said.
The Spam Alert Service is part of Airtel Nigeria’s broader strategy to integrate artificial intelligence into its core offerings to deliver smarter and safer experiences for its customers across the country.
Recall that the Spam Alert Service was launched on March 13, 2025. A groundbreaking and free solution from Airtel, it notifies users in real-time of suspected spam SMS messages by analyzing over 250 parameters.
The Airtel AI Spam Alert Service is available to all Airtel subscribers on smartphones and feature phones.
Vitel Wireless Limited, pioneer mobile virtual network operator (MVNO) in Nigeria has made another history by announcing the successful completion of interconnectivity with all major Mobile Network Operators (MNOs) in Nigeria.
Kenneth Nwabueze, Chairman and CEO of Vitel Wireless
Recall that Vitel Wireless, became the first Mobile Virtual Network Operator to receive a dedicated number series (0712) from the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC).
This breakthrough enables Vitel Wireless subscribers to make and receive calls with users on MTN Nigeria, Airtel Nigeria, Globacom (Glo), and 9mobile Nigeria.
It also marks the first time an MVNO in the country has successfully interconnected with all the major MNOs, setting a new precedent for Nigeria’s telecom sector.
Following the NCC’s licensing of 46 MVNOs, Vitel Wireless continues to lead the way in establishing a dynamic MVNO sector in Nigeria—Africa’s largest market and most populous nation.
The company has already achieved several historic firsts: the first MVNO issued a numbering plan and national and international routing codes, the first to launch a location awareness network in Africa, and the first to unveil a strategic nationwide rollout plan.
“We are gathering momentum for our big launch,” said Kenneth Emeka Nwabueze, chairman and CEO of Vitel Wireless.
“We are proud to be showing what’s possible for MVNOs, while also creating a path for others to follow. By leveraging our years of experience in Nigeria’s telecom industry, we are opening up new possibilities where there used to be none.”
Interconnectivity was achieved through a combination of direct fiber connections with some MNOs and indirect routing via third-party providers.
This milestone was the result of a collaborative effort involving engineers from Vitel Wireless, Wireless Technology Labs (WTL), and Interconnect Clearinghouse Nigeria (ICN), working closely with engineers from MTN, Airtel, Glo, and 9mobile.
“We wish to thank the regulatory agency, the Nigerian Communications Commission, for their timely interventions and guidance, which were instrumental in achieving this interconnectivity and bringing the formal launch of the Vitel Wireless nationwide network one step closer to reality,” said Nwabueze.
The company entered a nationwide pilot phase in May 2025, with plans for a full rollout in July 2025, aiming to deliver next-generation mobile services to millions across Nigeria.
Layer3 Limited, One of Nigeria’s foremost ICT solutions providers, has once again solidified its place as a trailblazer in Africa’s technology landscape, emerging as the Enterprise Solutions Provider of the Year and Leadership Award in Cloud Services at the prestigious African Beacon of ICT Leadership and Awards held on May 24, 2025, at the Four Points by Sheraton, Lagos.
This year’s event brought together leading tech innovators, policymakers, and thought leaders to recognize organizations making extraordinary contributions to Africa’s digital transformation.
Among the many luminaries in attendance, Layer3 stood out for its 19+ years of consistent innovation, technical excellence, and client-centered service delivery.
Speaking at the event, the organizers praised Layer3’s pioneering work in delivering robust enterprise solutions across sectors, as well as its bold leadership in advancing cloud infrastructure and services across Nigeria and beyond.
“These awards are more than recognitions, they are a reminder of the fulfilment to our mission to deliver peace of mind to our customers,” said David Ita, the Head of Strategy and Business Development of Layer3.
“They speak to the impact we’ve made and the promise we hold for the future of the cloud and enterprise technology business in Africa. We dedicate this honor to our clients, partners, and the hardworking Layer3 team who continue to redefine excellence every day.”
Since its founding, Layer3 has championed a future-forward approach to ICT services offering cutting-edge solutions in enterprise networking, cybersecurity, broadband, cloud computing, managed services, and IT advisory. The company’s Layer3Cloud platform and managed service offerings continue to power the digital ambitions of Nigeria’s leading businesses.
These accolades underscore Layer3’s unwavering commitment to driving transformation and supporting digital economies through smart, secure, and scalable technology.
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