Telecom
Celtel to Zain, Unification Rebranding
The recent rebranding of Celtel
Celtel International was not originally owned by MTC group, it acquired 85% of equity in the then leader is cellular operation in sub-Saharan
MTC’s acquisition of Celtel has helped it achieved a big part of its ambitious vision of becoming a global cellular operator, opened up many promising markets and secured leadership for MTC in sub-Sahara telecom market.
“MTC has built on Celtel’s expertise in sub-Sahara markets to continue its expansion plan in emerging
It is pertinent to note that, the underlining cause of these rebranding to Celtel was as a result of change of ownership, which distinguished the recent rebranding from Celtel to Zain. The recent rebranding is precipitated by the desire of the parent company then MTC of Kuwait to change its name to Zain in September 2007; this led to
Owners of the telecommunication giant felt that there is need to unify its brand required for harmonious operation, and good quality of service that led to rebranding of all Zain operations in Africa to Zain which as well affected its
To some industry watches the rebranding of Celtel to Zain is a good opportunity for the company to change the battered image of GSM operators, if it will match it with actions by improving on its quality of service.
Presently, GSM operators are facing with quality of service issues where many are expecting that the new entrant Etisalat will do the magic by offering them better quality of service. The rebranding and trading with a new name will make most uninformed people to believe that it is a new GSM operator. For instance, this writer had an encounter with some people who were in a hot argument about the emergence of another GSM operator with the name Zain, they are five in number three are arguing that Zain is a new GSM operator that president Yar’adua brought from Arab country to change the face of GSM that is saddle with poor quality of service while the other two more informed, argued in the opposite that it is Celtel that has changed its name to Zain. It took this write a lot of explanation to convince these three gentle men that it is their own Celtel
To mark the launch of its new colourful identity across Africa, Zain also announced the creation of the world’s first cross-continental borderless network, extending and linking its ‘One Network’ service between Africa and the
According to Al-Barrak, ‘this truly is a defining moment in the history of global telecommunications. The connecting of One Network across two continents demonstrates how under one brand, Zain is able to offer enhanced mobile telephony services. Going forward it will now be easier and more affordable for people to keep in touch and support cross-continent trade and enterprise. This is the essence of the Zain brand promise to create ‘A wonderful world’.
This allows all Zain customers (pre-paid and post-paid) in Africa and the
Zain is a leading emerging markets player in the field of telecommunications aiming to become one of the top ten mobile groups in the world by 2011.
Zain was established in 1983 in
Since 2003, it has grown significantly becoming the 4th largest telecommunications company in the world in terms of geographic presence with a footprint in 22 countries spread across the Middle East and
In Africa, Zain now operates in 15 sub-Saharan African countries namely:
In the Middle East, Zain operates in:
Zain is renowned for its pioneering role in bringing technical innovations and modern telecommunication services to the markets it serves. For instance, the launch of its ‘One Network’ service in September 2006 offering Zain customers’ affordable and effective cross-border communications was a world first. Zain also launched the world’s first nationwide 3G and WiMAX network in
It promised to continue to pioneer ‘One Network’, the world’s first borderless network, which has already broken new ground as it is now available for the first time across two continents – Africa and the
Corporate Social Responsibility continues to be high on Zain’s agenda, given its historic role in supporting the communities it serves. Zain is committed to helping to open up an exciting world of new possibilities and opportunities, in culture, health and education, and acting responsibly in the communities where it operates. Zain has pioneered a range of education-based initiatives across
The Zain brand is wholly owned by Mobile Telecommunications Company KSC, which is listed on the Kuwait Stock Exchange (Stock ticker: ZAIN). The company had a market capitalization of US$ 25 billion on 30 June 2008. Financial results for H1 2008 are available on www.zain.com.
Telecom
Celebrating African Creativity: Made by Africa, Loved by the World’ Returns for Its Fifth Year

The “Made by Africa, Loved by the World” campaign is back for its fifth year, celebrating African creativity and global influence. This year’s theme, “Where Culture Meets Connection,” highlights how social media fosters conversations around cultural moments worldwide.
The campaign features three cinematic films premiering on the Meta Africa page, showcasing the groundbreaking work and personal stories of six dynamic African creatives.
These artists, from Nigeria, Kenya, Ghana, and South Africa, represent diverse disciplines, including rap, animation, dance, photography, fashion, and videography.
Here are some of the featured talents:
- Ladipoe (Nigeria) – A BET-nominated rapper known for blending global hip-hop with African rhythms.
- Fatboy Animations (Kenya) – An animation studio founded by Michael Muthiga, recognized by Forbes for its original African storytelling.
- Lisa Quama (Ghana) – A dancer who gained fame after appearing in Beyoncé’s “Already” music video.
- Gilbert Asante (Ghana) – A photographer and creative director featured in GQ and Glam Africa.
- David Tlale (South Africa) – A fashion designer whose bold designs have been showcased at major fashion events, including the Met Gala.
- Ofentse Mwase (South Africa) – A filmmaker with over 24 international awards for his unique visual storytelling.
Kezia Anim-Addo, Communications Director for Africa, Middle East & Turkey, emphasized that the campaign not only celebrates individual success stories but also showcases how culture and social media drive meaningful connections and inspiration.
Telecom
Telcos Warn of Nationwide Telecom Blackout over Diesel Shortage

Association of Telecommunications Companies of Nigeria (ATCON), has raised the alarm over a diesel supply crisis caused by an ongoing strike by the National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG).
Mr Tony Emoekpere, president, ATCON in a statement said that the fuel supply disruption is critically affecting telecom base stations, pushing them to the brink of a shutdown and threatening millions of mobile and internet users in the region.
“This strike, which stems from the persistent harassment of tanker and petroleum product drivers by police officers in Lagos State, has effectively halted all truck loading operations and fuel movements,” Emoekpere stated.
He explained that diesel supply to telecom infrastructure has been severely impacted, leaving critical sites with dangerously low fuel levels.
According to him, if urgent measures are not taken, the situation could escalate into a full-blown network blackout, disrupting essential services, including mobile and internet access, business operations, emergency response systems, and daily communications.
ATCON has called on the governors of Lagos and Ogun states to intervene immediately by facilitating the release of diesel from depots to telecom operators to prevent further deterioration of the situation.
“This is not just a telecom issue—it is a national emergency that could cripple economic activities and compromise public safety,” Emoekpere stressed.
The association also appealed to security agencies and petroleum unions to resolve the crisis swiftly to safeguard Nigeria’s connectivity and economic stability.
ATCON emphasised that a prolonged disruption in fuel supply to telecom infrastructure could have far-reaching consequences for both businesses and individuals who rely on stable communication networks for daily operations.
Telecom
Nigerians Spend N5.3 Trillion on Telecom Services

In 2023, Nigerians spent a total of about ₦5.3 trillion on telecommunications services, which includes calls, data, SMS, and other telecom services, according to the Leadership.
Specifically for voice calls, Nigerians made approximately 408.5 billion minutes of local calls, generating around ₦3.28 trillion from outgoing calls and ₦3.23 trillion from incoming calls, totaling about ₦6.51 trillion in call-related revenue according to projections based on 2023 call volumes and tariff data.
However, the ₦5.3 trillion figure represents the overall telecom sector revenue, with voice calls being a major component but also including data and other services.
For individual spending, MTN subscribers spent an average of ₦2,508 monthly on voice calls in 2023, showing a 14.4% increase from 2022, while Airtel customers spent about ₦1,694 monthly on voice calls.
Total telecom spending (calls, data, SMS, etc.): ₦5.3 trillion in 2023
Estimated revenue from voice calls alone: around ₦6.5 trillion based on call minutes and tariffs
Average monthly spending on calls per subscriber: ₦1,694 to ₦2,508 depending on the network
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