General News
Rural Telephony, Internet Connectivity Now Critical in Nigeria- Smith
Leigh Smith is the managing director of World Telecoms Lab (WTL). Smith, an Australian with Economics degree has been based in Belgium for over 30 years and has held international positions. These positions have enabled him to gain extensive experience in Europe, the Middle East, the US and Japan. The business areas that Smith has worked are Office Equipment and Telecommications. The last and current role that he is engaged on is to successfully grow the WTL business in Africa and in particular by having the main WTL business focus now being placed on Nigeria. In this interview with peter ugwu, he spoke on the Company’s role in repositioning the country telecoms sector, while discussing other national telecoms related issues.
World Telecoms Labs (WTL)
WTL is a Belgian based company which has long been a leader in the provision of VoIP switches, pre-paid applications and signalling gateways for emerging carriers and telecom service operators. WTL has an installed base of 100,000’s of voice ports with service providers worldwide switching billions of minutes of VoIP traffic using WTL equipment.
Nigeria’s Telecom Industry Overtime
Under the control and guidance of the NCC the 4 key operators are offering voice, SMS and internet services to a large proportion of Africa’s 180 million inhabitants. This has been a massive achievement but is there still significant QOS improvements to be achieved and estimated 40 million rural dwellers still to be connected. So there is, still major infrastructure investments to be made to get the quality of all the services being offered up to a more acceptable level.
Critical Areas to Address
Specifically, WTL helps in solving key challenges with telecoms networks and businesses, so that they can deliver better, more profitable services, more efficiently and faster. Over the years, in Nigeria we have observed key challenges that need to be addressed. Today the old style TDM switching accounts for over 95% of all the switched Nigerian voice traffic where as in Europe the evolution the VoIP takeover of the TDM traffic is virtually been completed. So Nigeria still has to go through the same evolution. As WTL was one of the VoIP pioneers we are very well equipped to help accelerate the change over from TDM switching into VoIP and the WTL customers are now playing an important role in building up the confidence amongst the key operators that VoIP will allow them to manage traffic more efficiently and at a lower cost.
WTL & ICN’s 2nd Generation VoIP Switches for Voice Traffic Transfer
As was mentioned in the last point, Nigeria is still in the early stages of the transition it using IP and it is not yet evident to the consumers at this point in time. However the process needs to start and the faster the evolution comes the sooner the QOS improvements will start to be seen by the consumers.
Reducing Traffic on Congested Inter-city Links
WTL has a tried and very well tested VoIP protocol which allows the operators to send high capacity traffic over inter-city or intra-city links which requires only one tenth of the bandwidth required to carry each call compared to the transmitting the call with TDM. This is therefore one of the means which available to free up band width on congested networks but it will require the existing operators to invest and install the necessary WTL equipment to optimize the bandwidth available on the existing inter-city links.
Assessment of Mobile Number Portability (MNP)
The consumers are experiencing quality issues with all four (4) of the key operators so the consumers have not been to motivated to change from one operators just to be with another operator who has similar problems so the use of MNP has been quite limited. If one of the operators finds a way to address the QOS issues in a much more efficient way than the others then it would seem most likely that the requests for MNP could go up significantly as consumers mover offer the operator who has developed the higher quality image.
Messaging and SMS Routing Hub & Unsolicited Messages
Yes there are ways to cut the number of unsolicited messages but as the big 4 operators are all sending out daily unwanted messages to their respective client basses then I can see anything changing until they themselves start the process to cut back these messages
ISPs Benefit from WTL’s Value Added Service Product
The ISP’s already have a customer base which they are handling the internet traffic so they can look at ways to offer additional voice and value added services to their existing customers to try to generate more revenue.
Trending Data Vs Telecoms Losing Revenue on Voice Services
I think I disagree with this question as last year the estimated total revenue of the Nigerian operators was $10.0 billion and of this total $ 7.5 billion of the revenue was related to the voice traffic. It is true that the growth of data is going faster but voice is still very much the king when it comes to revenue generation and the voice traffic volume is still growing. The operators need to look at how to reduce the costs associated with carrying all the voice traffic and using WTL’s TDM to VoIP platforms is one way to achieving this.
WTL’s Technology Agenda for New Government in Nigeria
The absolutely need to give basic telephony and internet connectivity to the rural areas which the government has been talking about since I first came to Nigeria 5 years ago and very little has been done. The National Broadband Plan is very commendable but the rural areas could start to benefit from initial and basic connectivity now instead of waiting another 3 – 5 years for more expensive broadband connectivity.
Bandwidth Efficiency: WTL’s Role
As I have already explained WTL has a VoIP optimizing protocol which enables voice traffic to be transmitted using only 6Kbps (kilobytes) per call compared to 26 Kbps per call for standard VoIP calls and 64 Kbps using TDM.
Comparing Broadband in Nigeria to Other Markets
There are many different markets with a whole range of differently priced services so I find this difficult to comment on. The prices still have to reflect to very significant infrastructure investment made by the 4 key operators and the leading data infrastructure company Main One. So if the prices are on the higher side then this is due to the sizeable investment that has and is still being made.
What Should The Market Expect from WTL?
WTL will continue to strive to provide the most reliable, high performance VoIP solutions throughout the period of the market change from TDM over VoIP and we want to continue to build on our growing reputation as one of best support and maintenance organisations in the industry.
General News
EFCC Says Corrupt Politicians are Using Crypto Wallets to Launder Money

Ola Olukoyede, chairman, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), has raised the alarm that some corrupt Nigerian politicians are now hiding their illicit wealth in cryptocurrencies to evade scrutiny and detection by anti-graft agencies.

Ola Olukoyede, chairman, EFCC
The EFCC boss said the agency had uncovered a growing trend where fraudulent public officials now used cryptocurrency wallets to stash stolen public funds and conduct illicit transactions.
Olukoyede made the revelation at an event commemorating Africa Anti-Corruption Day.
The event was held simultaneously in Abuja, Lagos and Ibadan, Oyo State.
Other speakers at the event lamented that Nigerians usually fell victim to crypto fraud, including the recent CBEX scam, where Nigerians lost over N1.3tn.
Olukoyede said, “Virtual asset fraud is on the rise. Our findings show that fraudulent politicians are already perfecting schemes and hiding their loot in cryptocurrencies to beat the investigative blackness of anti-corruption agencies.
“Stolen funds and unexplained wealth are being warehoused in wallets and payment for services are being done through this window,” he said.
Olukoyede warned that while the rise of virtual assets had transformed financial transactions globally, it had also created new avenues for money laundering and financial crimes.
He said, “Technology is moving at a supersonic speed around the world.
“The advent of virtual assets is a response to one of the qualities of money as a store of value like it is known in our elementary economies.”
“However, as with every progressive innovation, fraud starts to usually evolve, evolve ways of perverting their genuine purposes,” he said.
He added that the EFCC was not helpless in the face of the sophisticated schemes, noting that proactive training and intelligence sharing had enabled the commission to identify and investigate such cases.
General News
Airtel Nigeria Drives BFSI and Utility Sector Innovation with Industry-wide Workshop

Airtel Nigeria, telecommunications and digital solutions provider, has reemphasised its commitment to national development with a two-day workshop for companies in Nigeria’s Banking, Financial Services & Insurance (BFSI) and utility sectors.
Held from July 8 to 9, 2025 at the Lagos Continental, the exclusive event brought together C-suite executives and industry thought leaders to co-create transformative and tech-driven solutions for these critical industries.
Themed “Banking on Innovation: Powering Financial Services with Connectivity” on 1 and “Accelerating Nigeria’s Digital Leap: Smarter Networks, Smarter Business” on Day 2, the sessions were designed to identify critical pain points, unlock business potential, and drive smarter, more connected operations across two of the nation’s most essential sectors.
Delivering the keynote address, Dinesh Balsingh, Managing Director/CEO of Airtel Nigeria, reaffirmed Airtel’s dedication to enabling and driving Nigeria’s digital transformation across the finance and energy sectors.
Speaking on the timeliness of the workshop, Airtel Nigeria’s Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Dinesh Balsingh said, “From power and water to finance, transportation, and logistics, this is a defining moment for every sector. The real question isn’t whether to adopt digital solutions, but how quickly and intelligently we can do so. At Airtel Nigeria, we’re moving beyond basic connectivity and becoming a true digital partner to the industries we serve.”
He highlighted Airtel’s categories of enterprise solutions that has been created to improve quality of life. These groupings include Internet of Things (IoT) for such services as smart metering, leak detection, energy optimisation, and real-time asset tracking; Communications Platform as a Service (CPaaS), which enables secure, multi-channel customer engagement via SMS, WhatsApp, Voice, and USSD; as well asl Network as a Service (NaaS), which delivers flexible, secure connectivity with cloud-ready agility.
Mr. Balsingh added that, “Nigeria’s power and energy industries are under growing pressure to modernise. Legacy infrastructure, fragmented systems, and lack of real-time visibility are major obstacles. Airtel is stepping in with the right tools, not just to connect, but to transform. With IoT, CPaaS, and NaaS, we’re laying the groundwork for smarter operations, improved service delivery, and better outcomes for businesses and consumers alike.”
Abhishek Biswal, Chief Business Officer, Digital Services at Airtel India, brought substantial insight to the discourse with a demonstration of Airtel’s IoT Hub and its transformative impact on energy distribution.
Biswal said, “The future of finance and energy is digital, and that future must be secure, scalable, and seamless. When financial players and utility providers partner with telcos like Airtel, we’re not just connecting systems; we’re building a smarter digital ecosystem for everyone.”
Reinforcing the CEO’s position, Ogo Ofomata, Director, Airtel Business, called for collaboration among the participating sector and their stakeholders.
“We don’t take lightly the trust you have put in us. Airtel operates in what we call the enabler industry. Sometimes we don’t even know there’s a problem until we come together like this. This workshop is about understanding your needs and working side by side to design solutions that truly fit,” she said.
In his remarks, Luc Serviant, Group Enterprise Business Director at Airtel Africa, highlighted the company’s role in driving digital transformation through sustained investments in 5G and LEO satellite connectivity, aimed at boosting remote operations and expanding access in underserved regions across the finance and energy sectors.
He said, “At Airtel, we understand that the future of is going digital, and reliable connectivity is the backbone of that future. From 5G to LEO satellite integration, we are investing in intelligent infrastructure that empowers service providers to operate more efficiently, respond in real-time, and deliver uninterrupted services to millions of Nigerians. This isn’t just about innovation; it’s about building the digital foundation that will power the nation’s next chapter.”
This workshop, which continues the series of sectoral engagements within Nigeria’s growing economy, concluded with feedback from stakeholders who called for the inclusion of regulatory bodies such as the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) in future editions.
General News
AfCFTA Credit Fund Makes First Investment With $10m Loan

The Credit Fund of the AfCFTA Adjustment Fund has successfully closed its first investment, committing $10 million to Telecel Global Services Ltd, through a senior secured amortising loan.
The transaction marks a significant milestone in the operationalisation of the Fund. The Credit Fund is one of three Funds under the AfCFTA Adjustment Fund, established by the AfCFTA Secretariat and African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) to provide targeted transitional support to AfCFTA State Parties and private sector entities as they adjust to the requirements and opportunities presented by the AfCFTA Agreement.
Telecel Global Services, a subsidiary of the Mauritius based Telecel Group, provides wholesale voice and SMS services and enterprise connectivity solutions to more than 250 telecoms operators across Africa and globally.
With digital connectivity being at the heart of the trade and economic integration and success of the AfCFTA, this facility will support Telecel’s expansion in Ghana and Liberia, strengthen its infrastructure, and contribute to bridging Africa’s digital divide through enhanced connectivity and digital inclusion.
By investing in digital infrastructure in underserved markets, the Fund is helping reduce trade barriers, foster cross-boarder productivity and accelerate inclusive industrialization. Mr. Jean-Louis Ekra, Chairman of the Board of the AfCFTA Adjustment Fund Corporation, stated: “
The closing of our first deal marks a historic milestone for the Credit Fund and the broader vision of the AfCFTA.
This US$10 million investment in Telecel Global Services is a clear demonstration of how targeted capital can drive meaningful impact—accelerating digital connectivity, enabling intraAfrican trade, and supporting private sector-led development in priority sectors.
It is our commitment to ensure that such investments continue to bridge critical gaps, stimulate economic resilience, and unlock Africa’s vast potential.”
H.E. Wamkele Mene, Secretary-General of the AfCFTA Secretariat, noted: “This transaction demonstrates how the AfCFTA Adjustment Fund is beginning to serve its intended purpose – supporting State Parties and the private sector as we work to make this Agreement commercially meaningful.
By investing in digital infrastructure, we are addressing some of the most critical enablers of trade facilitation, industrialisation, and regional value chain development.”
Prof. Benedict Oramah, President and Chairman of the Board of Directors of Afreximbank, added: “Today, we make another bold statement of our unwavering intent to ensure that Africans reap the benefits of the African Continental Free Trade Agreement.
We are proud to have commenced the operationalisation of the Credit Fund. With this Fund, we will provide vital support to African corporates, helping them retool and expand their operations necessary to capitalise on the AfCFTA opportunities.
The investment strengthens a critical enabler, the digital economy and regional connectivity, while reinforcing our long-term commitment to transforming the structure of the African economy.”
Marlene Ngoyi, CEO, FEDA, the Fund Manager of the AfCFTA Adjustment Fund, said: “This investment exemplifies the strategic intent of the Credit Fund – to catalyse growth and resilience in sectors that are vital for Africa’s structural transformation.
We are proud to partner with Telecel, whose operations directly advance intra-African connectivity and digital trade.”
The Credit Fund will continue to prioritise commercially viable investments that enable trade, support diversification, and promote inclusive growth in line with the broader AfCFTA implementation agenda.
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