Airtel Nigeria CEO Champions Data Revolution, Pushes for Smarter Nationwide Connectivity
In a bold move to shape Nigeria’s digital economy, Airtel Nigeria’s CEO, Dinesh Balsingh, hosted an exclusive media roundtable in Lagos, outlining the company’s key innovation areas: data demand and nationwide connectivity.
Held at Radisson Hotel Ikeja, the roundtable brought together senior editors across business, technology, capital markets, and consumer brands. The event was more than a press briefing; it was an invitation to understand how Airtel is powering Nigeria’s digital transformation in real time.
The Data Surge Shaping Urban Nigeria
During his address, Balsingh revealed that Airtel is responding to the nation’s fast-paced digitisation with a smarter and scalable network infrastructure. He highlighted Lagos as a prime example of a city where data usage has skyrocketed due to mobile-first habits, growing businesses, and an evolving tech ecosystem.
Data is the new oxygen, he said. Our cities are growing at lightning speed. Airtel is investing in 5G and fibre to support the bandwidth needs of Nigeria’s future. But this goes beyond fast internet. It’s about enabling education, commerce, and opportunity.
His message was clear: Airtel is not just building a network. It’s building digital infrastructure for national growth.
Connecting Everyone, Everywhere
Balsingh detailed how Airtel’s strategy is targeting not just urban centres but also remote and underserved communities. Through partnerships with satellite innovators like Starlink and OneWeb, Airtel is expanding high-speed internet access to places that were once considered unreachable.
This push toward inclusive coverage was also backed by the launch of its Network as a Service platform for businesses, AI-enabled spam protection for mobile users, and continuous updates to its Smartcash app that reward customers through cashback offers.
Investments Beyond Connectivity
The CEO also shared the company’s growing involvement in social impact and education. With over 1.5 million learners reached through its Reimagine Education programme and over 880,000 children supported in 1450 Airtel UNICEF schools, Airtel’s footprint in Nigerian classrooms is significant.
One of the most notable future plans shared at the event was the NXtra Data Centre, slated to be the largest in Nigeria by 2026. It will deepen Airtel’s digital roots and strengthen the country’s tech backbone.
Keeping Pace with a New Digital Era
While competitors chase speed, Airtel is focused on quality. Balsingh emphasised that Airtel’s 5G-ready network and fibre rollout are designed to meet the evolving expectations of today’s consumers. These innovations are intended to deliver uninterrupted, high-speed connectivity whether you’re in Lagos, Kano, or a small town on the outskirts of the country.
This is how we future-proof Nigeria’s place in the global digital economy, Balsingh said.
A Commitment to Innovation and Inclusion
Airtel’s CEO concluded the session by reaffirming the brand’s commitment to technology innovation, customer excellence, and inclusive development. The roundtable was not only an update on progress, it was a vision statement of where Airtel sees Nigeria headed.
In a time when connectivity equals opportunity, Airtel is setting the pace. From urban fibre to rural reach, and from fast networks to future skills, Airtel Nigeria is building more than a telecom brand. It’s building a smarter, connected nation.
