Airtel Nigeria Telesonic Limited, a fibre service unit of the number two mobile network operator (MNO), Airtel Nigeria, has been granted three telecoms licences, Technology Times can confirm.
The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has granted the National Long Distance; Internet Service Provider (ISP) and Sales & Installation Major licences to Airtel Nigeria Telesonic Limited, according to the latest market updates released on Friday by the telecoms regulator.
In the first instance, the 20-year National Long Distance licence issued to Airtel Nigeria Telesonic by NCC spans July 1, 2024 to June 30, 2044 while the five-year Internet Service Provider and Sales & Installation Major licences both run from July 1, 2024 to June 30, 2029.
NCC’s licensing indicates that a National Long Distance licensee is “A telecommunications operator that is licensed by the Commission to construct, own and operate transmission networks for carrying long distance telecommunications services such as voice, data and video within Nigeria.”
NCC’s licensing indicates that a National Long Distance licensee is “A telecommunications operator that is licensed by the Commission to construct, own and operate transmission networks for carrying long distance telecommunications services such as voice, data and video within Nigeria.”
Airtel Nigeria Telesonic fuses ground fibre and undersea cables ‘to meet wholesale data demand’
According to the Airtel Nigeria Telesonic company document seen by Technology Times, “The principal activity of the company is to carry on business as manufacturers, importers, exporters, distributors and sellers of all types of fibre optic systems and networks, including cables and equipment used in telecommunication network, multi-channel video communication, data network and all other forms of communication and electronic, medical or industrial applications.”
Airtel Nigeria Telesonic’s local licensing advances the promise by Airtel Africa, the continent’s unit of the telecoms group owned by the Indian telecoms giant, Bharti Airtel, to expand the footprint across its operating markets on the continent.
Airtel Africa had in February 2024 announced the launch of Airtel Africa Telesonic Limited as its fibre bandwidth service unit, that leverages ground fibre assets and submarine cable systems to meet the growing demand for wholesale data across Africa, “by offering comprehensive terrestrial fibre and submarine cable solutions.”
“Plans are underway to establish local entities in key markets where Airtel Africa operates to oversee all fibre assets and manage the operational aspects of the wholesale business,” Mr Emeka Oparah Vice-President Communications and CSR says in the statement announcing the Airtel Africa Telesonic debut.
Airtel Africa says the coming of Telesonic will have a long-term positive impact across Africa by improving the quality of life for communities and boosting national economies.
Telesonic, the telecoms group says, which currently has an extensive fibre network across Africa, has also invested in the 2Africa submarine cable system expected to become the most comprehensive submarine cable across the continent and the Middle East region.
According to Oparah, “2Africa is the largest submarine cable interconnecting 33 countries in Africa, the Middle East and Europe. This ambitious project aims to provide customers with a seamless connectivity between Africa and Europe. It is also set to positively impact communities by enhancing connectivity in key sectors such as education and healthcare, fostering improved access and efficiency.”
Telesonic, the Airtel Africa VP explains, “will offer products such as national and international leased line, dedicated internet access, IP and IP transit services and multiprotocol label switching (MPLS) services through its network of over 75,000 kilometres of terrestrial fibre across Airtel Africa’s 14 markets.”
Airtel Africa CEO sees fibre unlocking home broadband, enterprise opportunities
Mr Sunil Taldar, Airtel Africa CEO, says the telecoms group is optimistic about the telecoms market opportunities across the continent, particularly fibre, where it hopes to tap home broadband and enterprises business stakes.
The Airtel Africa CEO, who dropped this hint at the company’s Q1 2025 presentation in July this year, says that the telecoms group will remain invested in unlocking local market opportunities across its operating markets in Africa, particularly Nigeria.
The recent activation of 2Africa submarine cable, the Airtel Africa CEO adds, “which combined with our 77,000 km fibre footprint across the continent, enables us to unlock significant potential for future growth. And we have this opportunity to leverage Airtel Africa’s relationship with its corporate clients, and to offer reliable, resilient capacity to our enterprise segment at a scale across the continent and accelerate our growth on the B2B 3 segment. Fibre, B2B, and data centre continues, is a very large future growth opportunity that we’ll be focusing on.”
“I also want to take a moment to talk through the positive outlook for further growth opportunities across our markets, in particular in the fibre, which is the home broadband business, and also the enterprise business. Data centre, I see a big opportunity due to increasing internet penetration, rapid adoption of cloud computing, and soaring demand for digital services. I see this as a big future growth opportunity,” Taldar says.
The recent activation of 2Africa submarine cable, the Airtel Africa CEO adds, “which combined with our 77,000 km fibre footprint across the continent, enables us to unlock significant potential for future growth. And we have this opportunity to leverage Airtel Africa’s relationship with its corporate clients, and to offer reliable, resilient capacity to our enterprise segment at a scale across the continent and accelerate our growth on the B2B 3 segment. Fibre, B2B, and data centre continues, is a very large future growth opportunity that we’ll be focusing on.”
According to him, “as we announced earlier this year, we have broken ground in Lagos as we commence the construction of a data centre in Nigeria, with plans advancing for another significant data centre in Kenya. On average, both will be 40 megawatt hyperscale design facilities, as we become increasingly optimistic on the opportunity this business offers. Not only is our offering about tapping the shortfall in capacity, but it’s also offering high density, secure, and scalable integrated solutions to global hyperscalers, government and enterprise segment. We will leverage, as I said, our relationship with Nxtra business India to draw on its considerable expertise and relationship with hyperscale players who will be looking to expand across the African continent. And also leverage on a relationship with the India business to understand some of the best practices on setting up our go-to-market to service our B2B customers, especially in the large enterprise segment, and also in the SME and the SMB segment. These are just some of the opportunities that reflects my optimism for the year ahead.”
