Airtel Nigeria has announced plans to double its capital expenditure in 2025, marking a major push to accelerate 5G rollout and bring reliable mobile services to underserved rural communities across the country. This move signals renewed ambition from Nigeria’s second-largest telecoms provider amid rising demand for high-speed connectivity and broader digital inclusion.
The expanded investment will support a wide-reaching network upgrade that includes the installation of new base stations, extension of Airtel’s fibre-optic backbone, and enhancement of existing infrastructure with high-capacity radios. These upgrades aim to improve network performance, especially in high-traffic areas, and expand coverage into hard-to-reach rural regions.
According to Airtel Nigeria CEO Dinesh Balsingh, the decision to scale up investment reflects the company’s long-term commitment to Nigeria’s digital future. “Our decision to double our investment reflects our deep commitment to Nigeria’s future,” he said in a statement released Friday. “As a company that views Nigeria as home, we are investing in transformative infrastructure that will deliver unmatched value to our customers and make connectivity an everyday reality for more Nigerians.”
The company, a subsidiary of India’s Bharti Airtel, currently serves over 57 million subscribers nationwide. It has faced scrutiny in recent months following a 50 per cent tariff increase, prompting renewed efforts to build customer trust through improved service delivery.
Since launching its 5G network in January 2023 across Lagos, Ogun, Abuja, and Rivers states, Airtel has continued to build on its spectrum assets—leveraging the 3.5GHz band for ultra-fast data and low latency, and the 2600MHz spectrum to handle growing user demand. To further strengthen data capacity, Airtel plans to integrate the 2Africa submarine cable into its network, enabling faster and more affordable internet services across its coverage areas.
Airtel’s 2025 network expansion plans also include the construction of a state-of-the-art data centre in Lagos, being developed under the Nxtra by Airtel brand. The facility, which broke ground in early 2024 at Eko Atlantic, is expected to become the largest of its kind in Nigeria, supporting cloud services, enterprise solutions, and digital transformation efforts across various sectors.
The telecom operator’s strategy is also bolstered by a landmark infrastructure-sharing agreement signed with MTN Group on March 26, 2025. The deal aims to reduce the costs of network expansion, improve service quality, and extend rural connectivity across Africa through shared infrastructure.
Despite growing subscriber numbers and improved technology, a significant portion of Nigeria’s population—particularly in rural areas—still lacks access to reliable, high-speed internet. Challenges such as limited infrastructure, high data costs, and low digital literacy continue to hold back inclusive economic development.
To address these issues, Nigerian telecom operators have collectively placed equipment orders exceeding $1 billion with Chinese manufacturers for 2025, marking a return to heavy investment following years of economic pressure. However, much of the equipment is still awaiting customs clearance, creating uncertainty about rollout timelines.
For Airtel, the upcoming year will be crucial. The company’s commitment to deepening digital access, particularly in remote communities, could play a transformative role in bridging Nigeria’s digital divide—setting the stage for broader social and economic advancement in the years ahead.
