Telecom
Globacom, Zinox, Phase 3 Emerge Sponsors of Wafict 2010
Telecommunications gaint, Globacom has emerged as the most distinguished sponsor of the West African Information Communications Technology (Wafict) Congress 2010. Globacom clinched the highest category, Platinum, thereby maintaining a feat it achieved last year when sponsored Wafict in the same category.
With this, the high calibre speakers, delegates and guests to the Congress and its sister W.Afri.Tel Exhibition both of which are holding simultaneously from June 1 – 3, 2010 at the ultra-modern Expo Centre of the Eko Hotels and Suites, Lagos, would be treated to the splendour and grand orange green and white colours of the operator.
By this action, Globacom has once more exhibited its commitment to the growth and leadership role of the Nigerian sector for the West Africa sub-region and indeed the company’s and that of its Chairman, Dr. Mike Adenuga Jnr’s own vision to build Africa’s biggest and best telecommunications company.
Wafict Congress 2010 is organised by Africa’s foremost ICT magazine, IT & Telecom Digest, which is also the sole Nigeria Agent for W.Afri.Tel. as earlier announced, the Wafict Congress 2010 is expected to attract some of the most sophisticated line up of international speakers and participants from across the sub-region and other parts of the world. Wafict 2010 is being co-hosted with the London, UK-based Commonwealth Telecommunications Organisation (CTO).
This year’s event is further strengthened with the collaborative arrangement between IT & Telecom Digest and the Commonwealth Telecommunications Organisation (CTO) and it promises to be a first of its kind three-day discussion and interactive sessions on the theme: Moving West Africa Forward: Policy and Technology Imperatives – Trends, Potentials & Challenges.
Globacom tells a story about the African dream seeing that the company joined the race in Africa’s leading telecom market two years behind the first licensees had begun operations, and determined to make the difference, it launched out with innovative and life changing products and pricing method that has since then altered the face of the telecom industry not only in Nigeria but in the entire Black race; and it continues to sustain this tempo.
And to confirm this pan Africanist vision of its founder, Globacom has since deployed its services into other West African countries and is presently in the Republic of Benin, in Ghana and has commenced plans to change the face of competition in Cote d’Ivoire. And this drive is further given impetus with the company’s launch of its Glo 1 submarine cable system which is a first in the world by a private company.
Following on the steps of Globacom are two other Nigerian leading ICT companies and pride of Africa in their own sphere – Zinox Technologies, which is the Gold sponsor and Phase 3 Telecoms as Bronze category sponsor.
Zinox Technologies Limited, Nigeria’s IT identity and manufacturers of Nigeria’s First Internationally Certified Branded Computers, is presently rated the largest IT group in sub-Saharan African and its computer is rated the second largest selling computer brand in Nigeria (IDC Rating) and is the largest partner for both Intel and Microsoft in Sub Saharan Africa.
Recently, Zinox Computers launched a most robust E -Learning suite in Africa and rated number one by World e-Library with over 750,000 books, the company has been the promoter of Digital Knowledge Democracy Project across Africa, among other pioneering efforts at knowledge promotion.
Zinox recently deployed e -learning suite with 100 laptops and internet facility in each of the select 120 secondary schools in Nigeria in a major national e- project sponsored by the Universal Service Provision Fund, USPF.
Its Chairman, Chief Leo-Stan Ekeh, who is very passionate about ICT penetration, usage and uptake in Africa, was said to have welcome the opportunity to be a part of Wafict Congress 2010, promising to make a formal statement before the event. “We will storm Wafict and W.Afri.Tel this year, and I can assure you the story will never be the same again,” he was said to have briefly hinted.
On the other hand, Bronze category sponsor and leading provider of transmission and IP services Phase 3 in less than its six years in operation has proven that with a strong vision and passion, a Nigerian company can bring the West Africa sub-region under one umbrella, especially in the development of enduring ICT infrastructure.
Hence, Phase 3 under the direction of its chief executive, Mr. Stanley Jegede, has expanded its network to cover the Republic of Benin and Togo thus making its network the longest and first regional terrestrial fibre network provider, linking Nigeria to the Republic of Benin and Togo, with potential for connections to Ghana and Burkina Faso from Togo.
This infrastructure targets existing regional telecommunication service providers currently operating in these countries, as well as the transmission needs of operators who plan to interconnect with operators in Togo and Benin. This also positions Phase3 as the infrastructure provider for the distribution of broadband services to various locations in these countries.
Phase3’s aerial infrastructure in Nigeria is deployed on the 330kV and 132kV high voltage lines; whilst aerial infrastructure in Togo and Benin are deployed on 161kV high voltage lines.
Reacting to these developmenst, Editor-in-Chief of IT & Telecom Digest, Mr. Mkpe Abang, applauded Globacom’s dedication and steadfast loyalty to national programmes which has further elevated the national pride. He pointed out that Globacom’s entry into the Nigerian telecommunications industry has not only altered the rate of growth of the industry but it has created and continue to create a new culture of patriotism.
According to Abang, this “company has continued to demonstrate its foresightedness, passion for the Nigerian dream and has made of no value the often talked about daunting challenges in doing business in the sub-region.”
He goes further to describe the three companies that have so far taken up sponsorship of WAFICT as: “These are companies that believe, like our magazine, that an African can be the best in the world in spite of the often unfavourable categorizations of the continent as a backward continent. Consistently, companies like these have given us hope to continue to attract the best in the world into our economy and that is what development and growth entails.”
He expressed the organisers’ appreciation of these three even as he was optimistic that more companies which have shown interest in the programme would join the train before the commencement of the events.
The London Internet Exchange (LINX) announced today that it will extend its partnership with Digital Realty to West Africa, welcoming the data centre provider to its new interconnection fabric, LINX Accra.
Digital Realty is nearing completion of its new facility in Accra, ACR2. A modern data centre strategically positioned near multiple submarine landing cable stations in Accra’s downtown area.
Ghana is one of Africa’s most internationally connected countries, thanks to the presence of these six undersea cable systems. As a result, the country’s digital landscape has grown dramatically in recent years.
LINX Accra was announced in late 2024 and is anticipated to launch in the coming weeks.
LINX stated that a new internet exchange point (IXP) for Ghana will provide future-proof and scalable solutions to propel the digital ecosystem forward.
The new IXP will be LINX’s third facility in Africa since the opening of LINX Nairobi in 2023, marking an important milestone in the company’s overall strategy in Africa.
Nurani Nimpuno, head of global engagement for LINX commented: “We are excited to be embarking on this new journey with Digital Realty in Ghana. We have strong relations with our partners across our LINX hubs in the UK, US and Kenya so I’m confident this extension of the relationship will be a success.”
Digital Realty has been a key access point for LINX’s interconnection solutions in London and also in North Virginia, US for several years.
More recently, LINX launched their first steps into Africa with LINX Nairobi in November 2023 and LINX Mombasa in February of this year, both working closely with iColo: A Digital Realty Company.
Joseph Koranteng, managing director of Digital Realty in Ghana, commented: “We’re pleased to be welcoming LINX to our new data centre in Ghana, a key milestone as we continue to strengthen interconnection across Africa.
“As demand for low-latency connectivity grows, this collaboration will play a critical role in helping to shape the region’s digital future by enabling greater access, resilience, and integration with the global internet fabric.”
Telecom
Moniepoint Clinches Two IBSi Awards for Leadership in Corporate Banking and Digital Wallet Services
Moniepoint Inc, Africa’s leading fintech platform, has been named a Category Winner in two prestigious categories — Corporate Banking and Digital Wallets — at the IBS Intelligence (IBSi) Digital Banking Awards 2025.
The accolades recognize Moniepoint’s significant impact in advancing financial inclusion and operational efficiency through its innovative digital banking initiatives across the continent.
Moniepoint earned dual recognition with the Corporate Banking award for its end-to-end digital platform empowering SMEs across emerging markets through simplified working capital access and streamlined payment processes, while also being honored in the Digital Wallets category for its scalable wallet infrastructure that enables millions to seamlessly transact, save, and manage finances—both innovations supporting broader financial inclusion and economic empowerment goals.
The IBSi Awards jury highlighted Moniepoint’s achievement in delivering measurable business impact, its ability to scale efficiently, and its pioneering approach to integrating local market needs with cutting-edge financial technology.
The IBSi Digital Banking Awards recognize technology implementations and innovation across digital banking units worldwide. This year, more than 110 submissions from over 30 countries were evaluated.
The IBSi Digital Banking Awards celebrate the most innovative and impactful technology implementation projects in the global banking sector.
This year’s competition recognised outstanding achievements among digital-only banks, neo-challenger banks, and the technology partners driving digital transformation worldwide.
“We are thrilled to be recognised in two highly competitive categories,” said Tosin Eniolorunda, CEO of Moniepoint. “These awards validate our mission to power the dreams of African businesses and individuals by building technology that works for everyday realities.
“Whether it’s helping SMEs grow or enabling simple, fast, and secure transactions for millions, we remain committed to delivering impactful solutions.”
“These recognitions from IBS Intelligence reflect the hard work of our teams and partners, and the deep trust our users place in Moniepoint,” Eniolorunda added.
“We look forward to continuing to innovate and scale inclusive digital financial services that shape the future of banking across Africa.”
Nikhil Gokhale, Director of Research and Digital Properties at IBS intelligence, said, “Over the years, we’ve witnessed a remarkable transformation in the digital banking space — from the rise of nimble neobanks to the digital reinvention of traditional institutions.
“The IBSi Digital Banking Awards honour this evolution by recognising technology-led excellence across the global banking landscape.
“Now in its fifth edition, the awards continue to recognise banks that are redefining the digital banking landscape through bold strategy, customer-centric thinking, driving innovation, inclusion and meaningful impact.”
This award complements and validates Moniepoint market leadership having been listed for three years in a row in the CB Insights annual Fintech 100, a list of the 100 most promising private fintech companies in the world and described as high-momentum companies shaping the future of financial services as well as being ranked by the Financial Times as one of Africa’s fastest-growing companies for two consecutive years.
Moniepoint Inc. powers over 10 million businesses and individuals with access to seamless payments, banking, credit, and business management tools since 2019. As Nigeria’s largest merchant acquirer, it powers most of the country’s Point of Sale (POS) transactions while operating profitably.
Processing over 1 billion transactions monthly, with total payments volume exceeding $22 billion, Moniepoint enables businesses to digitize their operations and thrive in Africa’s rapidly evolving economy.
UK-headquartered IBS Intelligence (IBSi) is the world’s only pure-play Financial Technology (traditional and new-age) research, advisory, and media firm, with a global coverage, and a 360° portfolio of intelligence offerings.
For over 30 years, IBSi’s expert teams have delivered independent, in-depth, actionable insights, with a laser focus on everything Financial Technology, to the global banking, consulting, technology, and institutional investor world.
Dr. Aminu Maida, executive vice chairman and chief executive officer of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), has declared the presentation of the Regulatory Impact Assessment (RIA) Report on eight key subsidiary legislations a turning point in the Commission’s regulatory framework.
Speaking at a high-level Stakeholder Engagement Forum in Abuja, Dr. Maida noted that the comprehensive RIA, conducted in 2024, embodies the NCC’s renewed commitment to transparent, participatory, and consumer-focused rulemaking.
“This innovation in our legislative process not only enhances accountability but also recalibrates our focus areas—consumers, licensees, and government policy alignment,” Dr. Maida stated.
The NCC boss emphasized that the RIA’s three-pronged focus aimed to assess regulatory performance across:
* Consumer impact, especially with regard to quality of experience (QoE)
* Market adaptability, with respect to competition, resource utilization, and market entry
* Policy alignment, ensuring legislations support overarching governmental objectives
He urged stakeholders to rigorously engage with the RIA findings to enhance regulatory outcomes and ensure market sustainability.
In her opening remarks, Head of Legal & Regulatory Services at the NCC, Mrs. Chizua Whyte, described the RIA as “an evolutionary step in our rulemaking journey,” adding that the extensive stakeholder contributions had strengthened the report’s validity.
“With emerging technologies and policy priorities, we needed to reassess our legal instruments. This RIA was both introspective and outward-looking,” Mrs. Whyte said.
Key areas assessed include licensing, SIM registration, subscriber management, enforcement procedures, spectrum trading, and infrastructure sharing.
Mrs. Whyte revealed that feedback from industry players was instrumental in identifying regulatory redundancies, clarifying legal obligations, and shaping future reforms.
The Legal Department, she noted, is already aligning next-phase reforms with the RIA’s recommendations to strengthen investor confidence and foster innovation across Nigeria’s telecom landscape.
The forum concluded with a call for continued stakeholder participation in shaping the Commission’s evolving legislative environment.
For the NCC, the RIA initiative signals a new era of smarter regulation—balancing flexibility, compliance, and consumer trust.
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