Telecom
Singularity Investments Invests in Mobile Advertising Start-Up, Sliide Airtime

Singularity Investments announces today that it has invested an undisclosed sum into Sliide Airtime, a mobile advertising technology start-up that gives consumers free airtime in return for engaging with news and branded content delivered to the lock screen of their mobile devices.
This investment further confirms Singularity’s commitment to the Nigerian telecoms market and follows last month’s investment in Lagos-based corporate market intelligence startup, Asoko Insight.
Singularity Investments Principal Issam Darwish said: “Sliide has an innovative business model that enables operators and consumer brands to achieve sustainable customer engagement in competitive environments, while enhancing the value of the mobile experience for their customers. We believe that, by combining the innovative ideas and skills of the Sliide team with our expertise in scaling pan-African businesses, the Sliide platform is just the first of the company’s disruptive mobile-based products that will add tremendous value to the mobile ecosystem across Africa.”
Sliide Airtime launched Africa’s first lock screen content delivery platform in Nigeria in March.
The platform provides users with a new way of accessing content from their mobile devices, while simultaneously earning free airtime. After entering information about their interests, users receive personalised content as soon as they wake their phone, including news and entertainment handpicked from local and international media sources as well as branded and sponsored content.
Sliide Airtime provides advertisers with a new and unique platform to reach consumers through their most prized and most frequently used device – the mobile.
Furthermore, Sliide Airtime enables mobile network operators to benefit from shared advertising revenues, as well as increased user engagement and time spent online.
The Sliide Airtime Android app can be downloaded from the Google Play Store or directly from the website.
Sliide Airtime has partnered with a variety of organisations to deliver branded content, including Google, Facebook’s Audience Network, and Twinpine, the largest mobile advertising network in Africa and part of Africa’s leading digital media business, Terragon Group
Corbyn Munnik, CEO and co-founder of Sliide Airtime, said “The response to our launch in Nigeria was phenomenal and exceeded expectations. Our business model has proven successful, and we welcome Singularity’s involvement as we continue to grow the company.”
Sliide Airtime will be using the Singularity investment to expand its operations in Nigeria, while a further funding round is planned for later this year to finance expansion into South Africa, Ghana and Kenya.
According to the GSMA’s Digital Inclusion and the Role of Mobile in Nigeria report published in October 2015, mobile connectivity in the country now reaches more than 83 million unique subscribers, or 45% of Nigeria’s population.
However “Affordability is a concern for many Nigerians, particularly those with lower incomes. The cost of using a mobile phone represents around 5% of personal income in Nigeria, which significantly exceeds the cost in many other developing countries.”
Africa Market Outlook, published by Ovum, a research company, in November 2015, says that “Nigeria has the largest mobile market on the continent in terms of subscriptions with 139.3 million subscriptions at the end of 2014.”
Sliide Airtime is a privately-held technology company with offices in Lagos and London. Its content delivery platform is changing the way people interact with their phones by subsidising their airtime.
The team brings years of experience in the mobile, software, and advertising industries, along with a company-wide entrepreneurial spirit.
Sliide believes that, with services like WhatsApp, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and Eskimi all growing in popularity in Nigeria, there is an increasing need to find new ways to help Nigerians afford internet access.
The Sliide Airtime service gives consumers the ability to earn free airtime, whilst also keeping up-to-date with all their favorite news and gist.
Singularity Investments is a private investment vehicle led by one of Africa’s most prominent and successful entrepreneurs, Issam Darwish, Founder, CEO and Executive Vice Chairman of IHS Towers.
Singularity’s business strategy involves investing in technology, media and telecommunications companies, with a special focus on early and growth stage disruptive technologies.
It has a highly experienced board and management team that has a proven track record in Africa and North America.
Telecom
Airtel Launches AI Spam Alert in Nigeria

Airtel, one of Africa’s leading telecommunications providers, has launched a groundbreaking Artificial Intelligence (AI)-driven Spam Alert Service in Nigeria, aimed at tackling the growing issues of spam messages and fraud.
Speaking at the launch event held in Lagos, Dinesh Balsingh, Managing Director of Airtel Nigeria, revealed that the innovative service will be rolled out across Airtel’s 14-country footprint.
Notably, Airtel subscribers in Nigeria can access the service at no additional cost.
The AI-powered solution detects and alerts users in real-time about suspected spam SMS, safeguarding them from potential fraud and cyber threats.
Highlighting the company’s commitment to technology-driven customer solutions, Balsingh said, “this is a game changer for the telecoms industry in Africa and as we move forward, we will continue to address customer challenges through proactive tech-driven solutions.”
The service is built on a proprietary dual-layer protection system that analyses over 250 parameters, including sender behavior, SMS frequency, and target location patterns.
Capable of filtering over 1.5 billion messages within two milliseconds, it also features a centralised database of blacklisted URLs to warn users about suspicious links.
“With the launch of this AI-powered Spam Alert Service, Airtel Africa has reaffirmed its commitment to delivering innovative solutions that enhance customer experience, safety, and digital inclusion across the continent.
“As Airtel continues to expand its footprint, it is expected that this pioneering solution will set a new standard for the telecoms industry in Africa.
“Also, as the digital landscape continues to evolve, Airtel Africa remains at the forefront, pushing boundaries and shaping the future of telecommunications in Africa,” said Balsingh.
He emphasised that as Airtel continues to expand, the pioneering solution will set new benchmarks for Africa’s telecom industry.
The initiative has received commendation from key stakeholders, including Dr. Bosun Tijani, minister of Communications, Innovation, and Digital Economy.
Dr. Tijani lauded Airtel’s efforts in boosting Nigeria’s technology ecosystem, particularly through solutions that enhance online security and foster digital inclusion.
Similarly, Dr. Aminu Maida, executive vice chairman of the Nigerian Communications Commission, hailed the service as a major step in addressing the security challenges faced by telecom subscribers.
As the digital landscape evolves, Airtel Africa continues to push the boundaries of innovation, shaping the future of telecommunications across the continent.
Telecom
NCC, ALTON, LASIMRA Engage to Strengthen Telecom Infrastructure in Lagos

The Lagos State Infrastructure Maintenance & Regulatory Agency (LASIMRA) recently embarked on a historic working visit to the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) Headquarters in Abuja.
The LASIMRA delegation was led by its Chief Executive Officer, Prince Oyekanmi Elegushi, alongside members of the senior management team.
The delegation was warmly received by the Executive Vice Chairman of the NCC, Dr. Aminu Maida, and the Commission’s management team. The visit marked a significant milestone in strengthening collaboration between LASIMRA and NCC towards improving the telecommunications sector in Lagos State.
The meeting was further enriched by the presence of representatives from the Association of Licensed Telecommunications Operators of Nigeria (ALTON), including the Chairman, Engr. Gbenga Adebayo, and the Publicity Secretary, Mr. Damian Udeh.
Discussions focused on addressing critical issues affecting the industry, with particular emphasis on the security and protection of telecom infrastructure.
LASIMRA reiterated the need for effective oversight and safeguarding of these essential assets under the jurisdiction of the Lagos State Government.
A key highlight of the meeting was the Tower Enumeration Project—a comprehensive audit initiative aimed at identifying all distressing communication infrastructure across Lagos.
LASIMRA also raised concerns about damages to public infrastructure caused by some operators during fibre deployment and reaffirmed its commitment to enforcing appropriate penalties to preserve public assets.
The parties agreed on the importance of a unified strategy involving NCC, LASIMRA and other stakeholders to bring order to the sector, improve connectivity, and ensure widespread access to high-quality telecommunications services across Lagos.
LASIMRA expresses its sincere appreciation to the NCC for its support and collaboration. Together, we remain committed to building a more connected, secure, and digitally inclusive Lagos.
Telecom
NANS Issues Fresh Protest Notice over Telecom Tariff Hike

National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has condemned the recent increase in tariffs by telecommunications companies in Nigeria, threatening to embark on a nationwide protest to compel a reversal.
In a statement jointly signed on Thursday in Abuja by Comrade Anzaku Shedrack Ovye, national secretary-general, NANS and Comrade Samson Ajasa Adeyemi, the student body gave the Federal Government and telecommunications companies a 72-hour ultimatum to reverse the tariff increase.
The students warned that upon the expiration of the ultimatum, students across the country would be mobilized for a series of street protests nationwide to ensure a reversal.
They argued that the arbitrary action of telecommunications companies has further exacerbated the financial burden on millions of Nigerians, particularly students and youths, who are among the dominant end-users of their services.
The statement read in part:
“This decision, which has led to a significant rise in the cost of calls, data, and other communication services, is both unjustifiable and insensitive, given the prevailing economic challenges faced by the populace.
“NANS views this development as a blatant disregard for the welfare of Nigerian citizens and an affront to the principles of affordability and accessibility that should govern the telecommunications sector.
“This administration is committed to promoting the welfare of Nigerian students; hence, it will vehemently oppose any tendency that does not align with this vision.
“NANS is deeply concerned about the adverse impact this tariff hike will have on students, many of whom rely heavily on affordable telecommunications services for academic research, virtual learning, and staying connected with their families.
“Therefore, it is worrisome to comprehend the justifications for these increments, as NANS considers this action a direct threat to the security of Nigerian students and an attempt to further impede their ability to navigate their academic endeavors, maintain familial connections, and secure legitimate personal incomes, particularly for independent students responsible for their upkeep.
“We hereby issue a 72-hour ultimatum to telecommunications companies, the Honourable Minister for Innovation, Digital and Blue Economy, Dr. Bosun Tijani, and the Nigerian Communications Commission to reverse this tariff increase and provide a clear roadmap for ensuring affordable telecommunications services for all Nigerians.
“Failure to comply with this ultimatum will leave NANS with no choice but to mobilize students across the nation for a series of peaceful protests to demand justice, accountability, and a comprehensive audit of activities in the telecommunications sector,” NANS stated.
The leadership of NANS maintained that as student representatives, they would not stand idly by while the rights and welfare of Nigerian students, which they have vowed to protect, are trampled upon by greed, “corporate capitalism,” and regulatory complicity.
NANS also called on the Federal Government to intervene promptly and decisively to address this issue.
Additionally, they urged telecommunications companies to prioritize the interests of their customers over profit margins and to engage in meaningful dialogue with stakeholders to find sustainable solutions rather than inflict further hardship on Nigerians who are already struggling economically.
“As the voice of Nigerian students, NANS remains committed to advocating for policies and actions that promote equity, fairness, and the overall well-being of all Nigerians.
“We will continue to hold all parties and duty-bearers accountable to ensure that the rights of students and citizens are protected,” the statement added.
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