Airtel Nigeria plans to double its capital expenditure in 2025 to accelerate the rollout of 5G services and expand mobile coverage in underserved rural areas, the country’s second-largest telecoms operator said.

The increased spending will fund a major network upgrade, including the deployment of new sites, expansion of its fibre-optic backbone, and enhancement of existing infrastructure with high-capacity radios. Airtel also plans to leverage the 2Africa submarine cable to boost data capacity across its network.

“Our decision to double our investment reflects our deep commitment to Nigeria’s future,” said Airtel Nigeria CEO Dinesh Balsingh in an emailed statement to Saturday PUNCH on Friday.

Airtel Nigeria, a subsidiary of India’s Bharti Airtel, currently serves 57.67 million subscribers, second only to MTN Nigeria. The company is also working to deepen customer trust following a 50 per cent tariff hike earlier this year.

“As a company that views Nigeria as home, we are investing in transformative infrastructure that will deliver unmatched value to our customers and make connectivity an everyday reality for more Nigerians,” Balsingh said.

Airtel launched its 5G network in January 2023, initially in Lagos, Ogun, Abuja, and Rivers states. It uses the 3.5GHz spectrum for faster speeds and lower latency, supported by the 2600MHz spectrum for increased capacity and improved user experience.

As part of its broader strategy, Airtel is building a state-of-the-art data centre in Lagos under its Nxtra by Airtel brand. Located in Eko Atlantic, the facility broke ground in early 2024 and is expected to become Nigeria’s largest upon completion.

The network upgrade aligns with a landmark agreement signed on March 26, 2025, between Airtel Africa and MTN Group to share infrastructure across Africa. The deal aims to cut deployment costs, extend rural coverage, and improve service quality.

Despite growth, large parts of Nigeria, especially rural regions, still lack access to reliable internet due to limited infrastructure, affordability challenges, and low digital literacy. Closing this gap is critical to achieving inclusive economic growth.

Across the industry, Nigerian telecom operators have placed equipment orders worth over $1bn with Chinese manufacturers to upgrade networks in 2025. The investment marks a return to heavy spending after years of financial pressure, though the gear has yet to arrive or clear customs.