Nigeria’s telecommunications sector, which revolutionized the economy since its liberalisation in 2001, currently faces severe operational challenges that threaten the stability of the nation’s digital infrastructure. Gbenga Adebayo, chairman of the Association of Licensed Telecommunications Operators of Nigeria, highlighted that rampant vandalism, fibre cuts, high energy costs, and inconsistent regulatory policies are hindering service delivery. While industry leaders acknowledge the government’s designation of telecom assets as Critical National Information Infrastructure, they emphasize that maintaining a resilient digital economy now requires a unified approach to security and investment beyond mere regulatory fines.

Africa’s data center capacity has exceeded 500 MW, with an additional 890 MW currently in the development pipeline to meet rising demand for AI and cloud computing. South Africa remains the market leader, commanding over 60% of existing capacity, while investment is increasingly diversifying into Nigeria, Kenya, Egypt, and other regional hubs. Separately, the luxury hospitality sector is undergoing a major expansion, with 105 hotel projects and nearly 20,000 rooms in the works across the continent. Egypt leads this development surge, particularly in Cairo, which hosts the largest concentration of high-end hotel projects in Africa.

Lanre Adisa, President of the Association of Advertising Agencies of Nigeria (AAAN), has cautioned companies against replacing creative agencies with Artificial Intelligence. Speaking ahead of the upcoming AAAN annual conference in Lagos, Adisa emphasized that while AI is a powerful tool for efficiency, it lacks the human intuition and strategic thinking required to effectively differentiate brands.

The conference, themed "AdVolution: The end of advertising as we know it and how to win what comes next," is scheduled for July 23–24. It aims to address industry challenges, including the talent gap and the evolution of marketing communications in a creator-driven economy. To enhance professional capabilities, the association is partnering with the Red and Yellow School in South Africa to provide world-class training for industry practitioners. Adisa urged agencies to move beyond traditional models and view AI as a supplement to, rather than a replacement for, human expertise.

The West Africa Telecommunications Regulators Assembly (WATRA) is spearheading a regional strategy to implement global standards for submarine cable resilience. This initiative follows the severe internet outages in March 2024 that significantly disrupted financial services, business operations, and government functions across West Africa.

Working alongside international bodies like the ITU and ICPC, WATRA aims to address regional vulnerabilities exposed by the reliance on limited undersea cable infrastructure. Key proposals include enhancing coordination among governments and operators, accelerating emergency repair permits, and improving network redundancy. WATRA highlights that building regional resilience is critical to protecting West Africa’s growing $150 billion digital economy, as any cable failure now poses a systemic risk to trade and financial stability.

Airtel Africa has officially become the most valuable company on the Nigerian Exchange (NGX), with its market capitalisation surpassing N21.8 trillion. The telecommunications firm experienced a significant surge, adding roughly N3.8 trillion to its value in less than two weeks. This rally, which saw shares hit a new 52-week high of N5,801.40, represents a 156 percent year-to-date gain for the stock. Analysts attribute the growth to strong financial performance—highlighted by a 210 percent increase in earnings per share—and a recent ownership restructuring that saw Bharti Airtel increase its direct stake in the company to 79.04 percent.