Telecom
Future of Telecom is 3G – Qualcomm
Nigeria’s four major mobile operators have been advised to invest more in the 3G technology space to drive further growth, seeing that voice is gradually getting saturated.
Alex Dadson, senior director, Business Development (West Africa), of Qualcomm noted that deploying more 2G networks at this stage of telecom development in the country does not make economic sense.
“The future of telecom is in data and in this sphere; we have seen the gradual migration and adoption of 3G technology by all the operators, which is a good development. But there is also a trend of first implementing 2G network infrastructure before migrating to 3G by some operators. I think that doesn’t really make economic sense,” said Dadson.
He noted that although Nigeria still lags behind South Africa, Egypt and Morocco in terms of data traffic in the continent, migration to the 3G infrastructure will greatly enhance data intake in the country and facilitate business-to-business transactions.
On the continued failing quality of service (QoS) by operators in the Nigerian market space, Dadson noted that Qualcomm has the technology to help operators implement seamless services.
“We do have the technology to drive high quality of service in the country. Qualcomm is a solution provision company, but you have sought our services,” he stated.
Dadson also noted that the continued failure of code division multiple access (CDMA), operators in the country is not a failure of technology, but rather a failure of ‘failed business module application.’
He stated further that they would only do well if they invest in the right technology. “If you don’t spend money, you don’t make money.”
Citing American operator Verizon Wireless, as a standard example of a successful CDMA operator that rules the North American market,
Dadson stated that Nigerian CDMA operators need to invest more in infrastructure and remodel their businesses not be in competition with GSM networks.
“First, they would need to redefine what business model they (CDMA operators) want to adopt. It could be as simple as what services do people and businesses in Lagos prefer and you go ahead to meet the needs of the people and businesses in Lagos. If your services are not meeting needs of the people, there is no way you would stay afloat in business,” he stated.
Looking ahead five years into the Nigerian mobile market, Dadson said: “Smartphones and other devices like tablets will drive 3G penetration and adoption. There is already a convergence of the PC and smartphones/mobile devices, so more people prefer their tablets or smartphones since they could still meet their office demands on the go. The future is in smartphones.”
Qualcomm is also implementing what it calls the Qualcomm Reference Design (QRD), a corporate social investment drive aimed at increasing youth app innovation in the region.
“What we do with the QRD is to fund projects that enable ICT education, innovation and research. This way, we try to encourage innovation among young graduates and budding entrepreneurs to increase their intellectual capabilities. We want to encourage these young persons and promote adoption of smartphones in designs. It is also a vehicle to encourage local app development,” he stated.
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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