Airtel Nigeria has launched the Airtel Web Data Calculator, a new digital tool designed to help customers estimate and better understand their internet data consumption based on real-life usage patterns.

The launch comes amid a broader industry effort to improve transparency around data consumption and strengthen customer confidence in mobile broadband services.

It also aligns with ongoing collaboration between telecommunications operators and the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) to address customer concerns about data depletion and improve quality of service across the sector.

Recent industry initiatives have included customer education campaigns, daily usage notifications, billing audits, customer engagement forums, and the development of new tools that provide greater visibility into how data is consumed.

Available through Airtel’s website, the calculator enables customers to estimate data usage across common digital activities such as video streaming, social media engagement, voice and video calls, and everyday web browsing. By translating online behaviour into understandable data estimates, the tool empowers customers to make more informed decisions about their data plans and digital habits.

Speaking on the launch, Oladokun Oye, Customer Experience Director, Airtel Nigeria, said the initiative reflects Airtel’s commitment to customer empowerment and service transparency.

“As Nigerians become increasingly dependent on digital services for work, education, entertainment and communication, it is important that customers have clear visibility into how their data is consumed. The Airtel Web Data Calculator was developed to help our customers understand their usage patterns better, make informed choices, and enjoy greater confidence in their digital experience,” he said.

Oye added that customer concerns around data depletion have remained a recurring topic across the telecommunications industry, making transparency a critical component of customer experience.

“We believe that trust grows when customers have access to clear information. This tool is another step in our ongoing efforts to simplify the customer experience, provide greater clarity around data consumption, and support informed decision-making,” he said.

The launch follows a period of intensified engagement between telecom operators, regulators and consumers on data usage awareness. The NCC has consistently emphasized that many instances of perceived rapid data depletion are linked to factors such as high-definition video streaming, automatic application updates, cloud synchronization, background app activity and evolving smartphone capabilities. The regulator has encouraged operators to improve customer education and develop tools that help subscribers better understand their consumption patterns.

Industry data underscores the importance of such initiatives. Nigeria recorded more than 13 million terabytes of internet consumption in 2025, reflecting the country’s accelerating digital transformation and growing dependence on mobile broadband services.

Commenting on the significance of the launch, Dinesh Balsingh, Chief Executive Officer, Airtel Nigeria, said the company remains focused on building a network and customer experience ecosystem anchored on trust, transparency and continuous improvement.

“The future of telecommunications will be defined not only by network investments but also by how effectively operators help customers understand and manage their digital lives. The Airtel Web Data Calculator represents a practical innovation that places more information and control directly in the hands of our customers.”

He noted that Airtel continues to invest heavily in network modernization, customer experience initiatives and digital tools that improve service quality while making telecommunications services easier to understand and use.

“We welcome the industry’s collective focus on transparency and commend the NCC’s continued collaboration with operators to strengthen consumer confidence. As data becomes increasingly central to everyday life, Airtel will continue to develop solutions that make connectivity more accessible, transparent and rewarding for every customer.”

The launch also builds on Airtel Nigeria’s recent customer engagement initiatives, including forums dedicated to helping subscribers better understand data usage, value optimization and service quality. These engagements have brought together customers, regulators and Airtel executives to foster greater awareness and dialogue around digital consumption.

The Airtel Web Data Calculator is now available to customers nationwide and can be accessed via Airtel Nigeria’s website.

The Board of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has commended telecommunications operators for ongoing investments aimed at improving network coverage, capacity and quality of service across the country.

NCC

This was contained in a communiqué issued at the end of the Commission’s 109th Board Meeting held on May 25 in Abuja.

According to the communiqué, Mobile Network Operators (MNOs) have planned the deployment of more than 12,000 additional coverage and capacity sites nationwide, with over 5,000 already completed, representing more than 40 per cent of the target.

The Board also noted that fibre connectivity had been extended to more than 700 sites to improve network resilience, backhaul capacity and service reliability.

It added that co-location and infrastructure sharing licensees had upgraded equipment across more than 2,000 Base Transceiver Stations (BTS) to support network expansion and compliance with quality-of-service obligations.

The Board reviewed the implementation of the Commission’s directive requiring operators to compensate subscribers affected by poor service quality in areas where prescribed standards were not met.

It noted that full compliance by operators had resulted in compensation being offered to more than 75 million affected subscribers.

The Board said efforts were ongoing to independently verify operators’ claims and ensure that all eligible subscribers received the compensation due to them.

However, it expressed concern that tower infrastructure providers had only partially complied with directives requiring the reinvestment of regulatory fines into infrastructure upgrades through escrow accounts.

On broadband development, the Board noted rising data consumption across the country but observed that growth remained constrained by infrastructure limitations, reliance on mobile internet and duplication of assets.

It welcomed the growth in Fibre-to-the-Home (FTTH) subscriptions, which rose from 84,141 in the fourth quarter of 2025 to 210,065 connections as of the first quarter of 2026.

According to the Board, expanding fixed broadband infrastructure will help reduce pressure on mobile networks, improve service quality and provide consumers with more connectivity options.

The Board also noted that the Commission was reviewing the telecommunications market structure to reflect current realities in both the wholesale and retail segments of the industry.

It reaffirmed that broader access to wholesale backbone fibre and expanded metropolitan fibre networks would help lower connectivity costs, improve network resilience and support the Federal Government’s digital transformation agenda.

The Board further identified infrastructure vandalism as a major challenge affecting industry growth despite ongoing efforts by security agencies to protect telecommunications facilities designated as Critical National Information Infrastructure (CNII).

It called for greater collaboration among stakeholders and disclosed that the Commission was exploring the feasibility of establishing a Communications Industry Security Trust Fund to strengthen infrastructure protection.

The Board also reviewed ongoing engagements with industry players on the development of a framework for zero-rating educational platforms and content to promote digital inclusion and improve educational outcomes.

In addition, the Board approved the appointment of Princess Oforitsenere Emiko, a Non-Executive Commissioner of the NCC, as Interim Chairman of the Governing Board of the Digital Bridge Institute (DBI).

It also approved the appointments of Engr. Abraham Oshadami, Executive Commissioner, Technical Services, and Ms. Rimini Makama, Executive Commissioner, Stakeholder Management, as interim members of the DBI Governing Board.

The Board reiterated the Commission’s commitment to fostering a sustainable and inclusive communications sector through improved quality of service, network resilience, consumer protection, transparency, fair competition and market discipline.

Stakeholders in Nigeria’s Information and Communications Technology (ICT) sector have expressed concerns over the inclusion of a foreign country code top-level domain (ccTLD) in a recent partnership under the Federal Government’s 3 Million Technical Talent (3MTT) programme.

The concerns followed the announcement by the Federal Ministry of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy (FMCIDE) of a 10 million-dollar partnership with Hello.cv, a platform associated with Cape Verde’s “.cv” country code domain.

Under the agreement, 20,000 beneficiaries of the 3MTT programme will receive access to Hello.cv’s profile package, which includes a personal .cv domain, an artificial intelligence-powered job search agent and professional CV writing services.

Some industry stakeholders argue that the arrangement appears inconsistent with the Federal Government’s “Nigeria First Policy”, which encourages Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) to prioritise local products and services.

The policy, approved by the Federal Executive Council in May 2025, seeks to reduce dependence on foreign goods and services, strengthen domestic industries and create jobs.

Speaking on the development, Chief Executive Officer of DNS Africa Media and Communications, Dr. Adebunmi Akinbo, said the use of a foreign domain for Nigerian trainees raised questions about data protection and digital sovereignty.

According to him, the country’s indigenous domain, .ng, managed by the Nigeria Internet Registration Association, is capable of accommodating the beneficiaries and should have been prioritised.

“If branding is important to the company, there are alternatives such as integrating the service within the .ng ecosystem. The focus should remain on promoting Nigeria’s digital identity and protecting citizens’ data,” he said.

Akinbo also expressed concerns about the storage and management of data generated through the platform, noting that government agencies should ensure that local digital assets remain at the forefront of national digital development efforts.

Also commenting, Emmanuel Amos, Chief Executive Officer of Programos and Innovationbed-AI Academy, said government institutions needed to demonstrate consistency in implementing policies designed to strengthen local technology ecosystems.

According to him, Nigeria must develop the institutional commitment required to support indigenous technology solutions and maximise value from local innovation.

The stakeholders noted that while the training partnership itself was commendable, the inclusion of a foreign domain component had generated questions about compliance with the spirit of the Nigeria First Policy.

Ugonma Egwuatu, an ICT and data protection expert at ECAM Global Services, called for greater clarity regarding data governance arrangements under the partnership.

She said agencies responsible for data protection should be satisfied that adequate safeguards were in place for the personal information of programme beneficiaries.

“We are dealing with the data of about 20,000 individuals. There should be clear explanations regarding how the data will be managed, protected and utilised,” she said.

Egwuatu added that transparency regarding data handling processes and any third-party arrangements would help address concerns among stakeholders.

The partnership is part of ongoing efforts by the ministry to equip young Nigerians with digital skills and improve their access to employment opportunities in the global technology ecosystem.

As of the time of filing this report, the ministry had not publicly responded to the concerns raised by stakeholders regarding the domain component of the partnership.