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Airtel Nigeria’s CEO, Dinesh Balsingh, announced the company’s push into advanced technology, with a focus on expanding its 5G network and building Nigeria’s largest hyperscale data center. These initiatives are designed to position Airtel as a leader in the country’s digital transformation.
Balsingh confirmed the company’s commitment to technological leadership, announcing an accelerated rollout of its 5G network. He acknowledged that while the adoption of 5G devices in Nigeria is still in its early stages, Airtel is ready to meet future demand.
“We are building what we believe will be Nigeria’s largest hyperscale data center, designed to support not just cloud services but also the next generation of artificial intelligence applications. This facility will be a major catalyst for Nigeria’s digital economy”, Balsingh said.
The new data center, with a massive 38 megawatts of IT load, is being built in partnership with Eco-Atlantic. It is designed to host hyperscalers and provide the necessary infrastructure for cutting-edge technologies like artificial intelligence (AI), signifying a major leap forward for Nigeria’s tech landscape
To ensure reliable connectivity across the nation, Balsingh highlighted the company’s strategic efforts to overcome Nigeria’s unique infrastructure hurdles.
“Terrains are heavy, and access issues are there. We are using a lot of different solutions for that. We are talking with Starlink and we are talking with OneWeb to backhaul the traffic”, he explained.
He also addressed the persistent challenge of fiber optic cable cuts due to construction and vandalism. To counter this, the company has relocated thousands of kilometers of fiber and is actively working with the government to protect critical infrastructure.
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“The NCC has done a lot of work in that regard. The Critical National Infrastructure (CNII) paper, which was signed by the President, has made cutting fiber a criminal offense,” he noted, expressing satisfaction with the regulatory support.
Balsingh emphasized the critical role of Airtel’s financial service, Smart Cash, in promoting financial inclusion highlighting its robust distribution network as a key differentiator.
“One of our largest differentiators is distribution. We are available in every single LG, almost in every single ward. We have a massive distribution and we can go to the most interior parts of Nigeria to ensure that our products are available”, he stated.
He detailed how Smart Cash is helping to onboard customers in rural areas and facilitating government-led cash disbursements through a partnership with the National Social Safety Network Coordinating Office (NASCO). The platform also offers significant value to customers, providing cash back on various transactions, including bill payments and airtime top-ups.
Airtel Nigeria’s commitment extends beyond business, with a focus on social impact. Balsingh spoke about initiatives in education and youth empowerment.
“We are giving a lot back on the app,” Balsingh said, highlighting the company’s efforts to provide value. He also announced that Airtel is a key partner in the federal government’s 3 Million Technical Talent (3MTT) initiative, sponsoring 25,000 tech talents. This program will equip young Nigerians with skills for global remote job opportunities.
The company is also dedicated to improving education by providing free data access to school children for their educational needs and connecting over 1,450 public primary schools to digital learning, with plans to expand further.
