Nigerian MVNO startup, Zegtel, to invest $21.8m to bridge digital divide

Advertisements

Zegtel, a mobile virtual network operator (MVNO) in Nigeria, is placing a significant wager to increase mobile coverage in the nation.

The startup in a release seen by News.ng said that it will invest $21.8 million over the following five years to increase access to mobile networks, especially for underprivileged groups.

Zegtel is the telecom affiliate of Bicontinental group that provides telecom services to telcos in Africa, Mideast and Latin America.

According to the company’s widely circulated statement, the goal of this investment is to close the digital divide and provide millions of Nigerians without access to telecom services with reasonably priced connectivity.

According to a remark from Zegtel executive chairman Professor Victor Izegbu, “Subscribers in other developed markets enjoy an extensive array of value-added services on their mobile networks.”

Regretfully, the majority of Nigerian subscribers are only exposed to the most basic voice and data offerings. Zegtel’s product line is poised to alter that perception.

According to the telco, the goal of this investment is to close the digital divide and provide millions of Nigerians without access to telecom services with reasonably priced connectivity.

“We believe that access to reliable telecoms is a basic human right in today’s interconnected world. Our $21.8 million investment is a testament to our dedication to bridging the digital divide and ensuring that every Nigerian has the opportunity to connect, communicate, and thrive,” Izegbu noted.

The MVNO’s bold ambition is being announced at a time when Nigeria, along with many other emerging nations in Africa, is trying to expand access to telecom services and upgrade its digital infrastructure, especially its underwater cables.

Mobile operator in South Africa, Telkom, has announced that it has sold its tower company, Swiftnet, to Towerco Bidco Proprietary Limited, a group of equity investors headed and managed by Actis.