Airtel Nigeria to Invest Over N500 Billion in 2025 to Accelerate 5G Rollout and Expand Nationwide Network

Leading telecommunications services provider, Airtel Nigeria, has announced plans to more than double its capital investment in the Nigerian market to over N500 billion in 2025. The move is aimed at accelerating the rollout of 5G technology, expanding network coverage, and driving inclusive connectivity across the country.

This announcement follows the release of Airtel Africa’s financial results for the year ended March 2025, which revealed that Airtel Nigeria had invested $168 million (approximately N259 billion) in capital expenditure during the period. The company is now committing to a significantly larger investment to meet rising data demands and support Nigeria’s digital transformation agenda.

“Our decision to double our investment reflects our deep commitment to Nigeria’s future,” said Dinesh Balsingh, CEO of Airtel Nigeria. “As a company that considers Nigeria home, we are building transformative infrastructure to deliver unmatched value to our customers and make connectivity an everyday reality for more Nigerians. This is not just about technology—it’s about empowerment and making a positive difference in people’s lives.”

Investment Focus Areas

Airtel Nigeria’s 2025 investment program will cover key areas such as:

• Accelerated 5G Deployment: Fast-tracking the rollout of 5G services to bring ultra-fast data speeds and low-latency connectivity across urban and semi-urban areas.

• Rural Network Expansion: Adding more network sites in underserved and remote areas to bridge the digital divide.

• Infrastructure Upgrades: Enhancing existing network sites with high-capacity radios and fiber-optic expansion to handle increasing data usage.

• Data Center Development: Establishing a new, state-of-the-art data center and leveraging the 2Africa submarine cable to increase international bandwidth capacity.

• Retail Footprint Growth: Opening new service outlets and customer touchpoints nationwide.

• Home Broadband Solutions: Introducing advanced broadband terminals to improve internet access in homes.

In line with its customer-first strategy, Airtel Nigeria has also launched several innovations, including an AI-powered fraud detection system that alerts users of suspicious SMS messages in real-time, upgraded customer service centers, and customizable mobile plans for enhanced user control.

Supporting Regulatory and Economic Goals

This strategic investment aligns with recent directives by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) requiring telecom operators to improve network capacity and service quality—part of the conditions for the recently approved 50% tariff adjustment introduced in February 2025.

With this initiative, Airtel Nigeria reaffirms its role not only as a telecommunications leader but also as a key player in the nation’s economic and digital transformation, driving innovation, job creation, and community empowerment.