Telecom
Fuelling Growth in Telecom With W.AFri.Tel
The growth in telecommunications sector in the country did not only bring about employment and increased telephone access to Nigerians, it also created opportunity for investment and exhibition.
Since Global System for Mobile communications (GSM) operators rolled out services over six years ago, the industry has witnessed an increase in exhibitions that offer industry players the opportunity to showcase their products and solutions as the case may be.
One of the exhibition events that have remained committed to providing platform for both foreign and local Information and Communications Technology companies to reach out to customers is West African International Telecommunications and Information Communications Technology Exhibition (W.Afri.Tel).
W.Afri.Tel was initiated by British born, but South African resident John Thomson in June 2001. He did this through his company, Exhibition Management Services (EMS), which has experience in organizing exhibitions throughout the world, for over 15 years now. IT & Telecom Digest, Africa’s leading ICT magazine, is the sole Nigeria agent for W.Afri.Tel.
W.Afri.Tel has been taking place every June since 2001 with phenomenal growth, recording over 50-60 % growth each successive year. The exhibition’s only problem has been finding space for the increasing number of prospective exhibitors as many companies jostles for space to be part of the window of opportunities created by W.Afri.Tel.
Since its inception W.Afri.Tel has been very instrumental, and continues to be so, in helping to focus global attention on the Nigerian ICT industry; it has been at the forefront in bringing global telecom equipment manufacturers to exhibit, for the first time, in Nigeria, thereby instilling confidence in the foreign investor about the Nigerian economy.
W.Afri.Tel has been growing rapidly over the last three years doubling its growth, with last year being more than double the growth in particular the number of visitors and the caliber of exhibitors.
Having recognised it’s potential in driving their businesses, many leading Nigerian ICT companies, telecom operators, mobile operators, equipment vendors have come to take W.Afri.Tel as their priority ICT show in Nigeria.
No wonder it is voted, year in, year out, as the biggest and the best organized professional exhibition in the West African sub-region.
From a time when foreign direct investment from the ICT sector was just under $50 million, to this day when FDI to Nigeria through the sector stands at over $15 billion.
Leading operators in the telecom sector, including the second national operator, Globacom, Celtel Nigeria, Starcomms, and the newest mobile operator, Etisalat are some of the exhibitors at this year’s event. Others include Sony Ericsson, Netcom Africa, DCC Satellite among others.
Impressed with the growth dimension of telecom in Africa and Nigeria’s leading role, Mr. John Thomson chief executive officer of Events Management Services said the continued rise in foreign direct investment (FDI) into Nigeria’s telecom is a "renewed confidence in the country’s economy as a peaceful environment where people- foreigners and indigenes now transact businesses without hindrance," he said.
According to Thomson, W.Afri.Tel is an event aimed ostensibly to further the growth in Nigeria’s telecom sector. He explained that as Africa’s mobile phone subscriber-base exceeds 100 million which is only 11 per cent of the continent’s population. "The African telecoms market is booming; but the fact remains that it is only the surface that has been scratched, and Nigeria has taken the lead proving that the potential is still immense. We are glad that W.Afri.Tel has contributed in its own way towards this growth in the Nigerian telecom sector," he added.
Dr. Chris Nwannenna, former president of the Nigeria Computer Society, and managing director, Condata Nigeria, described W.Afri.Tel as a wonderful window of opportunity that allow foreign companies and Nigerian companies to come together to offer value added services to Nigerians. He added that the event introduces Nigerian workforce to possibilities and opportunities. "It allows the telecom industry to have a view of all the latest and greatest technologies. Most people think, there’s only CTIA, World GSM, but W.Afri.Tel is in reality the most aggressive, most comprehensive, most powerful show. Because in a very small space, it allows one to visit many more people without having to have his legs get tired; so you get a lot more done in W.Afri.Tel," he said.
W.Afri.Tel is West Africa’s most professional and biggest information and communications technology exhibition, and has maintained a seven-year unbroken lead opening up investment and business opportunities for operators as well as governments in the sub-region. It brings the world of ICT, from manufacturers to professionals, experts to academia, and operators to governments to Lagos.
Celebrated as the most successful and best organized ICT event in the West African region, W.Afri.Tel often leaves a memorable tale behind after each edition. Thus the enthusiasm at witnessing another year of the show is understandable, and this led to many companies that have become familiar with how competitive getting a stand at the event can be, preparing early and grabbing the available spaces.
Telecom
Mart Networks Rolls Out Tailored Cybersecurity Solution for Fintechs

Mart Networks, a leading cybersecurity distributor across Africa and the Middle East, has unveiled a specialized cybersecurity package tailored for fintech firms.
The solution, powered by Invinsense, Infopercept’s unified cybersecurity platform, aims to address the growing security needs of fintechs operating in highly regulated environments.
According to Moiz Maloo, Managing Director at Mart Networks, fintech companies face unique security challenges due to stringent regulatory requirements and increasing threats. “Most fintechs don’t have the luxury of multiple internal security teams or system integrators. With this focused offering, we’re providing an all-in-one platform with managed services built specifically for the fintech environment,” he said.
The offering integrates four key components: Invinsense XDR and Managed Detection & Response for real-time monitoring, Exposure Management for vulnerability detection, Security Compliance Management to support fintechs in meeting regulatory standards, and Cybersecurity Awareness Programs to empower teams against cyber threats.
Furthermore, the package includes deep application visibility, ensuring fintech-specific applications remain secure through Invinsense SIEM’s custom log ingestion capabilities. To reinforce protection, Infopercept’s engineering team will provide code-level fixes, patches, and infrastructure security enhancements.
With the rise of cloud-based fintech operations, the solution also incorporates full-stack cloud security, including API security, Cloud Infrastructure Entitlement Management (CIEM), and Application Security Posture Management (ASPM).
Mart Networks’ move underscores the growing importance of cybersecurity in Africa’s fintech sector, as financial services become increasingly digital and susceptible to evolving cyber threats.
Telecom
Equinix Expands Digital Footprint in Nigeria with Launch of LG2.3 Data Center

Equinix, Inc. the world’s digital infrastructure company™, has officially opened its latest data center expansion in Lagos. Called LG2.3, the facility will support Nigeria’s growing digital transformation efforts, providing state-of-the-art colocation and secure interconnection solutions which will empower businesses across the region.
It also signifies Equinix’s unwavering dedication to advancing Nigeria’s position in the global digital economy, reinforcing the company’s commitment to the region.
As part of the inauguration, Bruce Owen, President of EMEA at Equinix, along with other Equinix executives, led the ribbon-cutting ceremony at the newly expanded site. In addition to an official visit to the Governor of Lagos State, Equinix hosted an exclusive customer engagement event, bringing together key customers and partners from Nigeria’s business and technology sectors.
Attendees discussed shared successes and Equinix’s role in facilitating digital transformation, while also connecting directly with Bruce Owen for insights into how Equinix’s solutions drive innovation and business agility in the region.
Equinix executives also took part in a tree-planting ceremony, symbolising Equinix’s continued investment in sustainable initiatives across the globe and highlighting the company’s broader goal of reducing its carbon footprint while supporting greener practices across its operations worldwide.
Speaking about the expansion, Bruce Owen, President of EMEA at Equinix said “Nigeria is a crucial market for Equinix. Today’s opening is a clear demonstration of our continued commitments to invest and grow digital infrastructure that will benefit the many thousands of businesses in Nigeria and on the continent as a whole.
“I am deeply encouraged by the enthusiastic partnerships and innovations emerging from this dynamic region, which continue to inspire our commitment to Nigeria’s digital and sustainable future.”
Adding to this, Wole Abu, Managing Director of Equinix West Africa, highlighted the critical role of data centers in driving economic growth stating “Data centers continue to play a pivotal role in driving economic development in Nigeria, serving as critical infrastructure that supports digital transformation and economic growth.
“As governments and enterprises increasingly acknowledge their significance, global demand for data center capacity is poised to rise. While Africa’s demand for data solutions is still evolving compared to more mature markets, the continent is demonstrating strong potential for digital adoption and innovation.
“To meet this growing need, Equinix is actively advancing three major data center projects in Nigeria, with future expansion plans for Ghana, Côte d’Ivoire, and South Africa.”
Equinix remains steadfast in its mission to enable secure, scalable, and sustainable digital growth for economies across the world.
Telecom
African Women Hit Hardest as Mobile Internet Gender Gap Persists

African women remain among the most digitally excluded globally, with smartphone affordability and digital literacy among the key barriers. New data from the 2025 GSMA Mobile Gender Gap Report, launched recently, reveals a persistent global gender gap in mobile internet use across low- and middle-income countries (LMICs).
It further notes that literacy, digital skills, safety, and affordability of data also remain critical barriers. The report highlights that 885 million women across these regions still do not use mobile internet, with nearly 60% of them living in Sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia.
While mobile internet is the primary way women in LMICs access the internet, offering critical lifelines to health, education, and financial services, the pace of female adoption has stalled, leaving 235 million fewer women than men connected.
Claire Sibthorpe, head of digital inclusion at GSMA, highlighted that the gender gap had narrowed significantly between 2017 and 2020, but progress flatlined in recent years.
Although 2023 brought a slight improvement, restoring the gap to 15%, 2024 saw minimal change, with the gap settling at 14%.
The disparity is most severe in Sub-Saharan Africa, where women are 29% less likely than men to use mobile internet.
“It’s disheartening that progress in reducing the mobile internet gender gap has stalled. The digital divide is driven by deep-rooted socio-economic and cultural factors that disproportionately impact women,” said Sibthorpe.
GSMA projects that closing the gender gap by 2030 could add $1.3 trillion to GDP across LMICs and deliver $230 billion in revenue to the mobile industry.
The report, funded by the UK FCDO, Sida, and the Gates Foundation, stresses the urgent need for targeted investment and policy action to bridge the digital divide and ensure that no woman is left offline.
“The mobile internet gender gap is not going to close on its own. It is driven by deep-rooted social, economic, and cultural factors that disproportionately impact women,” said Sibthorpe.
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