Lagos – Airtel Nigeria has announced plans to double its capital expenditure in 2025 as part of an ambitious strategy to broaden rural connectivity and accelerate the expansion of its 5G network across the country.

The telecom giant, Nigeria’s second-largest by subscriber base, revealed that the increased investment will power a significant network upgrade—boosting mobile coverage in underserved regions while enhancing overall service quality. This includes the rollout of additional sites, upgrades to existing infrastructure, and major extensions to its fibre-optic network.

“Our decision to double our investment reflects our deep commitment to Nigeria’s future,” said Dinesh Balsingh, CEO of Airtel Nigeria, in a statement shared with WafricNews. “We believe connectivity should not be a privilege but a right for all Nigerians, and we are committed to building the infrastructure to make that a reality.”

Airtel currently serves over 57 million customers nationwide and continues to trail only MTN Nigeria in market share. The company has also been working to rebuild public confidence after implementing a controversial 50 percent tariff increase earlier in the year.

Airtel’s 5G journey began in January 2023, with initial rollouts in Lagos, Ogun, Abuja, and Rivers states. The network is powered by the 3.5GHz spectrum to deliver high-speed, low-latency connections, with the 2600MHz band supporting additional capacity for heavy data users.

To further boost its capabilities, Airtel plans to leverage the 2Africa submarine cable—one of the world’s largest undersea internet infrastructure projects—ensuring improved bandwidth across Nigeria’s data-hungry markets.

In another bold move, the operator is constructing a state-of-the-art data centre under its Nxtra by Airtel brand. The facility, situated in Eko Atlantic, Lagos, is expected to become the largest of its kind in Nigeria once completed. Construction began in early 2024 and will support Airtel’s growing enterprise and cloud services segment.

This infrastructure expansion comes on the heels of a landmark partnership signed in March 2025 between Airtel Africa and MTN Group. The agreement will see both operators share infrastructure across several African countries, helping reduce rollout costs and improve rural reach.

Despite rapid telecom growth in urban centres, many parts of Nigeria still suffer from poor connectivity, particularly in rural communities. Experts say bridging this digital divide is essential for economic inclusion and social development.

Telecom investment across Nigeria is poised for a resurgence. Industry sources confirm that local operators have placed over $1 billion worth of equipment orders with Chinese manufacturers for 2025 deployments. However, much of this gear remains delayed at ports due to customs clearance bottlenecks.

As competition heats up in the race for digital dominance, Airtel’s aggressive investment strategy could mark a turning point in achieving equitable access to next-generation internet services for millions of Nigerians.


By WafricNews Desk.