By Modupe Gbadeyanka

Interswitch has reaffirmed its commitment to nurturing innovation through its participation as a platinum sponsor of the InnovateAI Conference for the second consecutive year to reaffirm its dedication to leveraging Artificial Intelligence (AI) to enhance the nation’s digital payment ecosystem.

This year’s event is scheduled for February 21, 2025, at Landmark Event Centre, Lagos, with the theme Scaling AI Adoption in Nigeria: Catalysing Cross-Sectoral Innovation and Fostering Inclusive Growth.

Organised by AI-in-Nigeria, a company focused on localising and scaling AI across Nigeria, the summit is expected to attract over 3,000 participants, including AI enthusiasts, industry leaders, scholars, and innovators from Nigeria and across the world.

Intending participants have been urged to register for free at events.aiinnigeria.com/ to book a space for a transformative experience.

The conference is designed to promote knowledge sharing and showcase cutting-edge developments and will feature keynote addresses by thought leaders, who will explore strategies for scaling AI adoption across sectors such as fintech, financial services, public services, and oil and gas.

Panel discussions will examine the critical interplay between data, talent, and computing; the foundational elements for sustainable AI-driven innovation in Nigeria.

The event will also feature AI product demonstrations to highlight transformative solutions and practical applications, showcasing the potential of artificial intelligence to address real-world challenges and drive inclusive growth.

Speaking on the sponsorship, the Chief Data and AI Officer for Interswitch, Oluwadamilare Akinwunmi, said, “Interswitch is excited to sponsor the InnovateAI Conference for the second consecutive year.

“We recognise the transformative power of artificial intelligence in shaping Nigeria’s industries and the need for platforms like this to advance its adoption.

“Through our continued collaboration with stakeholders, we aim to spark insightful conversations, build new partnerships, and drive AI-powered solutions that will redefine the future of payments, commerce, and beyond.”

By Modupe Gbadeyanka

A significant step has been taken by a leading provider of telecommunications and mobile money services, Airtel Africa Plc, to engage customers on how to enhance their digital experience by making the most of their data bundles.

The telco intends to allow customers to make informed decisions about their data usage habits, and to achieve this, it has engaged the services of three top artists on the continent to promote better data usage.

The artists are Simi from Nigeria, Fally Ipupa from the Democratic Republic of Congo, and Diamond Platnumz from Tanzania,

They have collaborated with the company to create a special song to provide customers with practical tips and tools that will help them to maximise their data for everyday use, from browsing the internet to streaming and accessing essential apps.

The partnership is part of the ongoing #SmartaWithData campaign that promotes education on better data usage and management.

It aims to rally Airtel Africa’s customers to GET smarter data settings, SET smarter data speeds, and GO #SmartaWithData for a more rewarding digital experience.

The edutainment campaign is currently active on the Airtel network in Kenya, Nigeria, Uganda, Tanzania, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Zambia, and Malawi to its young customers aged 18-35 years.

The #SmartaWithData campaign by Airtel Africa offers tips to help customers make smarter use of their data, while also encouraging them to join in and share their tips.

Customers can access all data bundles easily via USSD, Airtel Lite or the MyAirtel App.

“Our goal with this campaign is to ensure that our customers get the most out of Airtel data bundles, thereby enhancing their online experience. In collaborating with these artists, who our customers love and engage with on a daily basis, ensures that they are aware of these data hacks, and they can seamlessly adopt usage and management of their data through clear messages that resonate with them.

“At Airtel Africa, our priority is to create exceptional customer experiences with our products and services. We hope that through this edutainment campaign, delivered through authentic internationally acclaimed African artists, our customers will be empowered and have rewarding online experiences, whether for business or leisure,” the Chief Marketing and Sales Officer at Airtel Africa, Rohit Marwha, said.

By Adedapo Adesanya

The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has renewed and extended the validity of the 800MHz spectrum band licences given to MTN Nigeria Plc to boost its mobile broadband and voice communication service offerings.

The 800 MHz band is ideal for 4G LTE (Long-Term Evolution) networks, delivering high-speed internet services as its low-frequency range allows signals to travel long distances and penetrate buildings better, ensuring wider coverage, especially in rural or hard-to-reach areas in the country.

The first 800MHz spectrum licence (Channel 1) has been renewed for 10 years, effective from January 1, 2025, to December 31, 2034.

The second 800MHz spectrum licence (Channel 2), initially set to expire on December 31, 2030, has been extended by four years, bringing its new expiration date with Channel 1 to December 31, 2034.

This harmonisation of licence tenures ensures that both spectrum licences will now expire concurrently, streamlining future renewals and enhancing operational efficiency.

Commenting on the transactions, MTN Nigeria CEO, Mr Karl Toriola said: “We are pleased with the successful renewal and harmonisation of our 800MHz spectrum licences, which lay a solid foundation for the ongoing delivery of 4G services to our customers.

“This enables us to continue to meet the demand for data and is integral to our broader strategy for enhancing connectivity.”

MTN has the largest market share in the Nigerian telecommunications sector in terms of customer base.

The development comes amid the industry regulator’s approval of the 50 per cent tariff increase for telecom operators in the country, the first since 2013.

The 50 per cent call was lower than the 100 per cent recommended by operators and service providers in the telco industry.

Mr Toriola, who was one of the most vocal proponents for the hike, warned that the review was necessary to sustain the sector and contribute more to economic development.