GLO MARKS 23 AS DATA RESHAPES TELECOMS COMPETITION

Globacom is marking its 23rd anniversary as Nigeria’s telecommunications industry undergoes a major shift, with rising demand for mobile internet making data, network quality, and digital services increasingly central to competition.

The company, which received its digital mobile licence in 2003, has grown alongside Nigeria’s telecoms industry as mobile connectivity has expanded from primarily voice services to become an important part of commerce, entertainment, communication, and access to digital services.

Globacom unveiled its anniversary campaign, themed “Never Settle For Less,” at its headquarters in Victoria Island, Lagos, highlighting its focus on digital services and improved customer experience.

Recent figures from the Nigerian Communications Commission showed that Nigeria’s internet subscriber base increased by about 2.67 million in May to approximately 157 million.

Globacom accounted for about 1.2 million of the increase, taking its internet subscriber base from roughly 15.5 million to 16.8 million during the month. Airtel Nigeria added about 1.07 million subscribers, while MTN Nigeria recorded an increase of about 383,000.

Speaking at the anniversary event, Globacom’s Head of Web 1 Sales, Uche Ogwuda, said digital services were becoming increasingly important in transforming lives and helping consumers and businesses pursue their ambitions.

As part of the anniversary activities, Glo introduced an upgraded Glo Café self-service application, featuring Gloria, an artificial intelligence-powered voice and text assistant designed to respond to customer enquiries and identify relevant offers.

The company said Gloria supports English, Yoruba, Igbo, Hausa, French, and Spanish.

Globacom also unveiled new and upgraded data and tariff offerings, including Magic Data Bundles and an enhanced Talkmasta plan, as operators compete to attract customers in a market increasingly driven by mobile internet consumption.

The company said its network investments had also focused on improving data capacity through expanded spectrum holdings in the 1800MHz and 2600MHz bands and the deployment of carrier aggregation.

The anniversary highlights the transformation of Nigeria’s telecoms sector since the introduction of GSM services, with competition now increasingly centred on internet access, network capacity, digital products, and customer experience.

For Globacom, its 23rd year marks another phase in its evolution as it seeks to strengthen its position in Nigeria’s increasingly data-driven telecommunications market.