Tag: Airtel

Airtel Africa has approved $500, 0000 as starting cash for a fellowship program it said will benefit 10 undergraduate students for their entire course duration of four years.

Under its Airtel Africa Foundation, it said the launch of ‘Airtel Africa Fellowship Program’ for the undergraduate students at IIT Madras Zanzibar, the first-ever foreign campus established by an IIT. The Fellowship is designed  to support deserving students from diverse socio-economic backgrounds enrolled in the Bachelor of Science in Data Science and Artificial Intelligence at the Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IITM) in Zanzibar.

Founded in 2024 with a vision to foster a prosperous Africa, the Airtel Africa Foundation is dedicated to advancing digital and financial inclusion across the continent along with key focus on education and environmental protection.

This Fellowship is the maiden initiative undertaken to enhance educational opportunities for meritorious students, especially from disadvantaged backgrounds, enrolled at IIT M Zanzibar. It is designed to support students from 14 African countries, which are namely Nigeria, Kenya, Malawi, Uganda, Zambia, Tanzania, Rwanda, DRC, Niger, Chad, Congo B, Gabon, Madagascar and Seychelles.

Recipients of this scholarship will be known as ‘Airtel Africa Fellows’. They will receive 100per cent of their college fees, that is. $12,000 as per the course fee structure of the Institute for a four-year program. Additionally, to cover the living expense cost, $500 will be given to all eligible students. This initiative will aspire to transform, shape lives and nurture future leaders who will contribute to technological innovation and economic growth of Africa.

Commenting on the initaitive, Zanzibar’s Minister of Education and Vocational Training, H.E. Ms Lela Mohamed Mussa said: “IITM Zanzibar is charting a wonderful path in technical education in the region. Providing access to this high quality education to students from Tanzania and the rest of the continent, who are topping the IITM Zanzibar screening and test processes, through financial assistance, is an important priority for us. We are thankful to this support from Airtel Africa Foundation, which will enhance our own efforts in this direction.”

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The Chairman of the Airtel Africa Foundation, Dr. Olusegun Ogunsanya said: “We are pleased to partner with IIT Madras Zanzibar to provide opportunities for young Africans to access quality education. This initiative aims to contribute towards creating a prosperous and sustainable continent. We look forward to creating even more opportunities not just in education, but also in financial and digital inclusion, and environmental protection”.

The Director of IIT Madras, Prof. V. Kamakoti said: “IIT Madras is committed to establishing a world class campus in Zanzibar. We are delighted that Airtel Africa Foundation is joining hands with us in this effort. We look forward to welcoming the second cohort of bright young students to the IITM Zanzibar campus this year. We are immensely grateful to Airtel Africa Foundation for providing financial assistance for these future global leaders.”

Airtel Nigeria has launched a new device called Airtel Smart Router, a 4G router capable of connecting up to 10 devices, with the additional benefit of offering a smart TV experience on a regular television set.

The Airtel Smart Router is programmed to leverage both wireless and Ethernet connections to provide users with a smart TV experience directly through their television screens. With embedded applications, users can effortlessly access popular entertainment streaming platforms such as Netflix, Hulu, and Showmax, dramatically elevating their viewing experience with personalised, immersive, and current content.

Commenting on the launch, Chief Commercial Officer, Airtel Nigeria, Femi Oshinlaja, said the new Smart Router represents a major leap forward in how people experience entertainment at home.

“With the Airtel smart routers, we can now deliver affordable and superior entertainment content from multiple streaming services to the home of many Nigerians without a non-smart TV set. By integrating advanced connectivity and a user-friendly interface, we are offering our customers the ability to unlock a world of digital content directly on their TVs,” he said.

This cutting-edge device will advance home entertainment technology, offering seamless connectivity and access to a wide range of digital content.

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In addition to the smart TV advantage, the Smart Router, which is SIM-based and 4G capable, can connect up to 10 other devices concurrently, allowing a mix of entertainment, security, work, or leisure devices all on the same internet subscription.

“Users can connect smart cams, smart doorbells, tablets, smartphones, laptops, and TV at the same time,” Oshinlaja noted.

He also disclosed that intending users can purchase the Smart Router online via https://airtel.com.ng/hbb-discover-new. “After purchasing the device at N25,000, unlimited data awaits customers for 30 days, and a 100per cent bonus for six months when they recharge the N10,000 – N15,000 bundle,” he said.

These bundles, he explained, could be purchased via Airtel.com.ng/HBB, *370#, bank apps, Quick teller, or any other airtime/data purchasing app

Airtel Telesonic, the wholesale arm of Airtel Africa, a provider of telecommunications, with a presence in 14 countries in Africa, is delighted at the weekend activated the 2Africa submarine cable system, marking a significant milestone in enhancing connectivity across the continent.

The initial phase of activation connects Kenya, Tanzania, and South Africa, heralding a new era of high-speed, reliable internet access. The 2Africa cable system is one of the largest subsea projects globally, designed to interconnect Africa, Europe, and Asia. This activation is part of a broader initiative to deliver faster and more resilient internet services, supporting the digital transformation across Africa.

Airtel Telesonic achieved this milestone with their partnership with Alcatel Submarine Networks, which is an industry leader in optical submarine networks deployed worldwide, with the ability to offer turn-key solutions utilising the latest technology, both in subsea infrastructure and transmission capacity.

ASN (Alcatel Submarine Networks) and AIRTEL showcase their collaborative efforts in this deployment, strengthening ASN’s renowned track record for efficiently meeting deployment schedules, with ASN implementing its latest cutting-edge SLTE platform (PSI-SUB) on the 2Africa subsea cable network. 

ASN PSI-SUB is an innovative platform that boasts a grid-less, modular, and colorless architecture, ready to seamlessly accommodate all next-generation transponders in a future-proof platform.

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Speaking on the partnership PD Sarma, CEO of Airtel Telesonic, expressed his enthusiasm about this achievement: “The activation of the 2Africa submarine cable is a monumental step in our mission to bridge the digital divide in Africa. Airtel is proud to launch the first phase of 2Africa cable system powered by the latest SLTE equipment from our partner. This project not only underscores our commitment to investing in advanced infrastructure but also our dedication to empowering communities with the tools they need to thrive in the digital age. This is a significant milestone underscoring the power of collaboration and innovation to bring the world’s longest Submarine cable system to Africa.”

Speaking on the partnership, ASN’s Chief Sales & Marketing Officer, Paul Gabla, said: “ASN is very pleased to support Airtel with our cutting-edge SLTE equipment on the 2Africa cable system. This partnership underscores our dedication to continuing the fast delivery of world-class SLTE technological solutions. This important milestone highlights the strength of collaboration and innovation in bringing advanced connectivity solutions to Africa through our partnership with Airtel”.

The 2Africa submarine cable is set to transform the digital landscape in Africa, providing unprecedented opportunities for connectivity and growth. As Airtel Africa continues to expand its network, the company remains committed to delivering innovative solutions that meet the evolving needs of its customers.

Airtel Africa yesterday said it has grown its customer base to 152.7 million across its 14 markets on the continent, adding that it has expanded the 4G network and reaching 70.7per cent of the population in these markets, marking a 4.9per cent increase since 2022/23

 According to its 2024 Sustainability Report, the telco said it introduced 5G services, now covering 4.14 per cent of customers, primarily in urban areas.

The report highlights Airtel Africa’s progress across its key sustainability targets, including support for its people and communities, promoting financial and digital inclusion, and initiatives to reduce the environmental impact of its operations.

Airtel Africa’s outgoing Group CEO, Segun Ogunsanya, said: “I’m very proud of the strides Airtel Africa has made in advancing our sustainability goals. While targets are vital to driving change, our mission is much bigger: to transform people’s lives through connectivity, products and services fostering digital and financial inclusion while unlocking the potential of the next generation.”

The report shared progress highlights for the company’s four sustainability pillars: ‘Our business’, ‘Our people’, ‘Our community’ and ‘Our environment’.

 It showed that Airtel Africa business continued to expand telecommunications services, supporting economic growth and development across the continent. Other key milestones include: attaining ISO 27001 and ISO 22301 certifications which demonstrate Airtel Africa’s compliance with international standards and commitment to data privacy and security.

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 Airtel Africa said it is committed to creating a working environment where all employees can achieve their full potential. In the area, it said its key milestones include: increasing workforce and leadership diversity, with 35.4per cent of new or open leadership roles filled by women, raising the representation of women in senior management to 22.per cent up from 19.5per cent the previous year; enhancing diversity and inclusion and advancing female talent through the ‘Women for technology’ programme which benefitted 54 high performing women and resulted in a 21per cent increase in internal promotions from this group as of 31 March 2024; and investing $1.2m in training and development programme

 Airtel Africa is transforming the lives of individuals, families and communities across Africa by building opportunities for better futures. Key milestones include: driving financial inclusion for unbanked populations by growing Airtel Money’s customer base to 38 million people. This is particularly significant for the financial inclusion of women in Africa, who make up 38per cent of Airtel Money’s customers; advancing digital learning across Africa through the five-year $57m partnership with UNICEF, connecting almost 1,200 schools to the internet and providing free access to online educational platforms to thousands of students in 2023/24

 Our environment: Airtel Africa is working to address and minimise the impact of the company’s operations on the environment. Key milestones include publishing the ‘Journey towards a net zero future’ in May 2023 which outlines the scenarios for the reduction of scope 1 and 2 emissions while setting out a near-term target to reduce emissions intensity by 62per cent from March 2022 baseline; announcing the scope 3 strategy in November 2023 which sets out the partners and suppliers’ engagement programme (PSEP) to further advance our engagement with the supply chain; and launching our new multi-million data centre business, Nxtra by Airtel, in December 2023 and commencing construction of one of Africa’s largest data centres in Lagos, Nigeria, which will incorporate modern energy efficiencies to complement the ongoing work on reducing carbon emissions across existing sites

Airtel Africa Plc, a telecommunications firm with a presence in 14 African countries, has posted a $549million occasioned by significant currency devaluations in Nigeria, Malawi, Zambia, and Kenya, according to the company’s financial statements for the year ended March 31, 2024.

The Naira was devalued in June 2024 while the Malawian kwacha suffered devaluation in November last year.

In its full-year report released yesterday, the telco said its reported revenue declined by 5.3 per cent to $4.98 billion, primarily due to the Naira’s devaluation.

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“Loss after tax of $89million during the year ended March 31, 2024 was primarily impacted by the $549million net of tax impact of the exceptional derivative and foreign exchange losses.

“Nigerian constant currency revenue growth accelerated to 34.2 per cent in Q4’24 despite the challenging backdrop,” it said.

Airtel Africa acknowledged the negative impact of currency fluctuations on business growth across the continent. Last quarter, the telco’s profits plunged by almost 99 per cent—recording $2 million in profits compared with the $523 million it made in 2022—due to currency devaluation.

Airtel Africa yesterday said its Nxtra data centre in Victoria Island, Lagos, will provide over 250 jobs to Nigerians and help boost the economy.

During the ground-breaking of the data centre, Group Chief Executive Officer, Airtel Africa, Segun Ogunsanya, said the Nxtra project marked a significant milestone in the company’s journey and is a cornerstone of the organization’s growth strategy, with a particular focus on Nigeria, its largest market.

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“We strongly believe that the establishment of NXtra Data Centres will enhance data sovereignty, security, and preservation within the continent, reflecting our commitment to make Nigeria a major hub for access to digital services as we propel Africa towards a sustainable and inclusive digital age.”

Airtel Africa has launched Airtel Ads, Africa’s first integrated Demand-Side Platform (DSP) aimed at empowering advertisers and agencies to efficiently manage, purchase, and optimize digital ad inventory across multiple ad exchanges in real-time.

Powered by Intent.ai, Airtel Ads is designed for media agencies and businesses, streamlining the process of purchasing advertising space. This feature enables advertisers to make informed ad placement decisions by combining various tools and functionalities within a single platform and offers a comprehensive solution for digital advertising management.

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The platform will leverage Airtel Africa’s extensive customer base of more than 150 million customers, utilizing data from both telecommunications services and mobile wallets.