Telecom
20,000 Units of InfinixZERO Sold on Konga.com in 3 Weeks
Infinix Mobility adoption of e-commerce as credible platform to market InfinixZERO mobile device is already paying off with the sale of 20,000 units of the device within three weeks, after it was launched in Nigeria on August 20.
Officials of the Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) who addressed the media in Lagos at the launching of updated version of the phone, said that, the e-commerce platform, Konga.com, afforded them opportunity to offer customers 45% discount on each phone purchased.
Mr. Adebayo Shobanjo, Infinity Brand manager, said that research has proved that through online sells, the customers enjoyed reduced costs and who 5%, 10%, 10% and 20% discounts on retail, distribution, wholesale and advertisement respectively.
He said that plans are underway to launch versions of InfinixZERO with embedded local applications; a measure that will encourage local content developers.
”Already, Konga app is fused into the phone right from the lab. The number of sales, that is, 20,000 units within the 3 weeks we launched the phone, shows the level of acceptability among Nigerians. Of course, before InfinixZERO was launched, we carried out a survey and Nigerians, especially youths were amazed when we told them that the phone costs N23,900, when you buy through Konga.
“We are continuing with e-commerce as our marketing platform, because we are sure Nigerians have embraced online business”.
“Apart from the cheap price,” Shobanjo said, “InfinixZERO comes with six months warranty for the glass. There is no OEM that gives that currently. And we are offering a one year warranty on the phone itself. Therefore, screen replacements are claimed by Infinix within 6months of purchase if users crack their phone screen by accident and can be replaced at Calcare Service centre.
The essence is to allow the users have value for their money. On the other hand, we trust the technology used in building the phone”.
While explaining the features of the “reloaded” InfinixZERO, Mr. Peter Zhou, head of Marketing, Infinix Mobility Company Limited, said that, with ‘Over The Air (OTA)’, referring to the ‘wireless system update’ service, through 3G or WiFi, the InfinixZERO service does not end on purchase as the team will upgrade the device monthly.
He said this will be based on customer feedback and Google Android Operating System update.
Zhou said that the brand is set to dwarf others in the market in terms of performance and technology.
“Imagine the superior picture quality of a 13MP camera with Sony sensor, the speed derived from the powerful Octa-Core processor, the latest Android 4.4.2 kit kat and Gorilla glass 3 technology, this device has to offer it along comes along with 16GB Rom+2GB RAM.
He boasted that InfinixZERO, an embodiment of aesthetics, is known for it sleekness.
Also speaking, Bruno Li, country sales manager of the Company, said that InfinixZERO is sold exclusively on Konga, because the online retailer is the “best marketplace platform in Nigeria as shown by several metrics.
“InfinixZERO is sold online because the costs of e-commerce is cheaper than that of the a brick and mortar market, thereby making products more affordable for customers,” he added.
Telecommunications services disrupted in Kogi State have resumed following a resolution of the dispute between MTN Nigeria and the state government, the Association of Licensed Telecoms Operators of Nigeria (ALTON) has said.
Gbenga Adebayo, chairman of ALTON, told TVC News that the issues that led to the shutdown of telecom masts in the state, primarily affecting MTN, had been addressed, paving the way for service restoration.
TVC News earlier reported that businessmen and women were counting their losses as they suffered the impact of a shut down of telecommunication service in Kogi State
Over the past two weeks, telecoms connectivity had been erratic, with competing brands experiencing glitches, particularly in the Lokoja metropolis.
The State government suspended the operations of some telecom services citing unpaid taxes and fibre-related dues.
The shutdown stemmed from a compliance dispute between MTN and the Kogi State Utility Infrastructure Management and Compliance Agency, which accused the telecom giant of violating operational rules and under-declaring the extent of its optic fibre network coverage in the state.
The protracted Unstructured Supplementary Service Data (USSD) debt misunderstanding between the Deposit Money Banks (DMBs) and telecommunications operators appears to have been resolved.
This was confirmed by the Chief Executive Officer of MTN Nigeria, Karl Toriola, Thursday, March 1, when he appeared on Arise TV to speak on the firm’s first-quarter 2025 result, where the telecommunications company reported over N1 trillion in revenue earnings.
Recall that the USSD debt had been a major issue between the DMBs and telcos and had lasted for about five years.
In the third quarter of 2024, the telcos had threatened to withdraw their service over the lingering debt, which was around N200 billion at the time. This led to the swift intervention of the Central Bank of Nigeria and the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), and an agreement was reached on payment.
As of November 2024, the NCC put the debt at N160 billion. However, earlier this year, when it appeared the banks were not forthcoming with payments, the NCC directed the telcos to withdraw the USSD services from debt-owning DMBs, where about 18 banks were listed.
This directive prompted the banks to look inward and start to comply with an earlier circular signed by the CBN and NCC, which articulated the payment patterns for the debt.
Speaking, on Arise TV this morning, May 1, Toriola confirmed that the matter has been fully resolved and that banks have made payments.
“I can confirm that the matter has been fully resolved. We have received payments in full. Special thanks to the CBN, NCC, the banks, and other stakeholders that intervened in the matter,” the MTN CEO stated.
Sterling Bank, Leading commercial bank and Africa’s most agile company has announced the introduction of AlwaysOn by Sterling, a bold new feature on its OneBank platform that will give eligible customers up to ₦1 million extra every month -even when their account balances are running low.
Launched on Workers’ Day 2025, the initiative is part of an ongoing movement to remove structural barriers to financial freedom and empower everyday Nigerians to move boldly, even in uncertain times.
AlwaysOn is a specialised, invitation-only feature for customers who maintain an active OneBank account for a while. It provides an advance to settle bills or make payments without delays, or any of the friction associated with traditional credit systems.
“This is not just about funds,” said Abubakar Suleiman, Chief Executive Officer of Sterling Bank. “It’s about freedom and dignity. It’s about backing our customers with the trust and tools to act boldly when life demands it.”
Suleiman emphasised that the new feature is not a product, it’s a logical shift in how the bank supports its customers.
“We’re building a financial ecosystem designed for momentum -for people with grit, urgency, and dreams too big to wait. If you’ve banked with us, you’ve earned our confidence. Now you’ll have our backing to match,” added Suleiman.
The introduction of AlwaysOn marks the next chapter in Sterling’s growing movement to create a fairer and more responsive financial system. It follows the Zero Transfer Fees initiative in April, which returned an estimated ₦13 billion to Nigerians by eliminating transfer charges across the OneBank platform. It also builds on Sterling’s Free Bus Ride initiative, which helped commuters get home from work for free during a time of intense economic pressure.
Together, these efforts reflect the bank’s bold, people-first approach to customer impact, now made possible by its adoption of SeaBaas, Nigeria’s first indigenous core banking platform.
“We’re not the kind of bank that stands on the sidelines while Nigerians hustle,” said Obinna Ukachukwu, Growth Executive for Retail and Consumer Banking. “We removed the fees that slowed them down. Now we’re giving Nigerians the financial freedom to seize opportunity when it shows up. We’re on the pitch with them.”
Sterling’s actions have sparked widespread public support and national recognition as they have continued to push the boundaries of what corporate citizenship can mean to everyday Nigerians.
Notable icons from various fields have canvassed their support and praised the bank’s stance in redefining financial services, inspiring other institutions to follow suit.
Nigerians are encouraged to apply to join the waitlist for the scheme when it goes live in later this month and ultimately, eligibility for up to N1M extra in relief advances.
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