Telecom
itel Unveils Flagship itel S23+ Smartphone in Nigeria

itel, Africa’s leading mobile phone brand, has unveiled its latest flagship smartphone, the itel S23+, in Nigeria.The event which was held on September 19th, 2023, at the Radisson Blu Anchorage Hotel, Victoria Island, Lagos was a three-pronged milestone event. It announced the itel S23+, itel’s first smartphone with an AMOLED 3D curved screen, 256 gigabytes of mega storage, 16 gigabytes of RAM, and a 36-month VIP warranty policy.
MTN, a leading Nigerian telecom operator, will be providing exclusive data bundles for itel S23+ users. itel has also joined forces with Google to deliver the best of Android, including essential Google apps pre-installed on the itel S23+, ensuring seamless connectivity and productivity for users.
Experience Visual Brilliance and an AMOLED 3D Curved Display
Central to the itel S23+ is its remarkable 6.78-inch big FHD+ AMOLED 3D curved screen, which takes visual excellence to new heights. The screen’s 59-degree curvature and impressive 93% ultra-high screen-to-body ratio create a mesmerizing visual experience that captivates the senses.
The itel S23+ has 99% DCI-P3 colour saturation, an improvement of 12% over its predecessor. This ensures that colours are vibrant, accurate, and true to life. This, combined with a high resolution of 1080×2400, delivers dynamic clarity and colourful details. Furthermore, the in-display fingerprint technology adds to both convenience and security. The Corning Gorilla Glass 5 on the screen provides a superior touch experience and safeguards against accidental drops.
Meet Aivana GPT: Your Seamless AI Assistant
Operating on the itel OS13 system, the itel S23+ has Aivana GPT, an AI and voice assistant that offers automated support and helps users perform tasks quickly and easily using voice commands. Aivana GPT’s capabilities cover WhatsApp, music, SMS, map navigation, weather, translation, and many more.
Unmatched Performance Combined with Ample Storage and a Big Battery
The itel S23+ redefines storage capabilities with up to 16GB of RAM and a substantial 256GB of internal storage. Its innovative Extended RAM technology leverages an additional 8GB from ROM, enabling smooth transitions between as many as 20 background apps. This guarantees seamless and efficient multitasking, even during resource-intensive activities.
Equipped with 18W Fast Charge and a powerful 5000mAh battery, itel S23+ ensures a long-lasting standby time and quick charging. With a full charge achievable in just 2 hours, users can stay connected without interruption.
Capture Cherished Moments With Enhanced AI Cameras
The itel S23+ features a 32MP AI Selfie lens accompanied by a remarkable 50MP Portrait Camera to capture moments in exquisite detail. With an F1.6 large aperture, the camera maximizes light intake, resulting in clear and vibrant photos even in low-light conditions. The revolutionary eye-tracking mode guarantees that no moment goes unnoticed, facilitating the capture of impeccable portraits. Moreover, the Portrait Lite feature takes your portrait photography to new heights, by offering a suite of personalized options to meticulously enhance every aspect of your photo, from skin tone to facial features and face shape.
As itel’s first premium curved screen smartphone, itel S23+ marks an exciting milestone in the pursuit of pushing technological boundaries, enhancing user satisfaction and bringing innovation to a wider range of users. itel’s commitment to customer satisfaction is evident in itel S23+’s offerings. The itel S23+ comes with an impressive 36-month warranty and 6-month free screen replacement, underscoring itel’s confidence in the product’s durability and branding services.
Speaking at the event, Oke Umurhohwo, Marketing Manager for itel Mobile (West Africa 1), says: “Our mission at itel has always been to bridge the digital divide by making innovative technology accessible and affordable to all. With the unveiling of the itel S23+ smartphone, we are taking a significant step towards transforming the lives of Nigerian consumers.”
The itel S23+ is now available at authorized itel retail stores nationwide and on Jumia, ensuring accessibility for consumers across Nigeria. With its competitive pricing and impressive features, the itel S23+ is poised to become the smartphone of choice for Nigerians seeking quality without compromise.
Telecom
MTN @ Swish Fusion Summit, Showcases 5G Rollout Strategy

MTN Nigeria Communications Plc has joined other professionals across media, technology, and business gathered in Lagos for the Swish Fusion Tech and Media Summit.
Themed ‘Africa: Big Wins & New Breaks’, the summit drew thousands of attendees and featured more than 40 speakers exploring the intersection of innovation, regulation, and economic growth across the continent.
Among the sessions, MTN Nigeria presented a detailed look at the company’s ongoing 5G deployment efforts and its role in shaping enterprise infrastructure.
Njideka Jack, senior manager for Partnerships in MTN’s Enterprise Business Division, shared details of the investments, reiterating the company’s commitment to delivering high-quality 5G-powered services.
The company’s 5G rollout timeline began in 2022 with license acquisition from the Nigerian Communications Commission. In 2023, MTN moved into pilot testing and infrastructure investment.
By 2024, coverage had expanded to key cities and business hubs.
The company now plans to extend access to more underserved areas throughout 2025 while deepening collaboration with OEMs and regulators.
Beyond the rollout itself, Jack also spoke on the potential of private 5G networks for Nigerian enterprises.
With the ability to offer secure, high-speed, low-latency connectivity, these networks are increasingly being adopted in manufacturing, healthcare, education, and logistics sectors.
The summit’s broader agenda reflected a similar sense of urgency around Africa’s digital future.
Panels and breakout sessions tackled topics ranging from mobile-first product design and regulatory frameworks to the rise of AI in content creation and the realities of funding early-stage tech ventures on the continent.
Speakers from companies like Jumia, Stears and local startups provided perspectives on both the barriers and breakthroughs in building scalable African solutions.
The sessions also sparked conversations about how African businesses are adapting to consumer behaviour shifts and infrastructure limitations.
Telecom
PAT Taps Osi as CEO

Pan African Towers (PAT), a Nigerian infrastructure provider serving 9mobile and Spectranet, has appointed Echezona Osi as chief executive officer.

Echezona Osi
Adefolarin Ogunsanya, company’s, board chairman, explained in a statement that Osi would succeed Oladipo Badru, whose tenure lasted nine months in acting CEO position. Osi has more than 28 years of experience in the telecommunications sector across various regions of Africa.
Prior to his appointment as CEO, he had served as the head of network deployment at Airtel Nigeria, operations director and chief technical information officer at MIC Tanzania, chief technology officer roles at IPT PowerTech Nigeria, Rhino Niger Networks and Biswal Nigeria.
He obtained a degree in electrical/ electronic engineering from the University of Benin and a postgraduate diploma in data science and business analytics from the University of Texas.
Telecom
NCC Introduces N10m Licence Fee for Bulk SMS Service

Companies sending bulk international text messages, also known as Application-to-Person (A2P) messages, will now have apply for a licence that costs N10 million.
This is part of new rules introduced by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) aimed at cleaning up the system, fighting fraud, blocking spam messages and stopping money from leaving the country unchecked.
These A2P messages are the kind customers get from banks, online stores, hospitals and political campaigns, automated texts sent from apps to their phones.
According to the commission, the bulk international text message system has been poorly regulated, allowing misuse and invasion of privacy.
“The International SMS Service Ecosystem in Nigeria has not been fully brought under regulatory control. It has been observed that the excessive use of the Short Message Service has led to fraud, spam and illegal activities,” the NCC said.
The regulator warned that without action, the problem would worsen as more people use mobile phones and digital services.
To solve this, the NCC is creating a central platform, or gateway, through which all international bulk text messages must pass through.
The agency said this would help to monitor messages in real time, ensure proper fees are paid, and make sure the money stays in Nigeria where it can contribute to the economy.
As part of the incoming change, service providers must follow strict rules, including strong data protection, spam filters, and message encryption.
Also, they must also work with local mobile networks and make sure all messages come from a verified sender
The NCC warned that any message without a proper sender ID will be blocked and not delivered to users.
To protect users from unwanted texts, the new rules say companies must get clear permission before sending any promotional content.
The rule also says people must also be able to choose whether they want to receive such messages or not.
Companies are now required to keep records of all messages for at least six months and must clearly state all charges involved.
The NCC said fees for help requests, cancellations, or service info must be transparent and not include hidden charges.
The commission will issue licences to several providers to encourage healthy competition but may limit new licences if needed.
Only companies that show they can stop fraud and safely deliver messages will be allowed to operate. They must also regularly report their message traffic and finances to the NCC.
It warned that any company that breaks the rules risks getting fined, suspended, or having its licence revoked.
Offences like charging illegal tariffs, ignoring security rules, or avoiding taxes will be punished, the NCC said.
The commission added that the new rules follow the Nigerian Data Protection Act 2023 and support the federal government’s goal of strengthening cybersecurity and controlling Nigeria’s digital space.
The framework will also be reviewed from time to time to keep up with new technology and market trends.
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