Airtel Nigeria CEO: AI, IoT, Intelligent Platforms Will Define Nigeria’s Next Growth Phase
Digitnomics 
By Nonye Ngoka
Airtel Nigeria’s Chief Executive Officer, Dinesh Balsingh, has urged Nigerian businesses to embrace intelligent technology platforms as a catalyst for innovation, enterprise productivity and sustainable economic growth.
Speaking at the Lagos Business School (LBS) Breakfast Club, themed “From Telco to Techno,” Balsingh said the telecommunications industry is undergoing a fundamental transformation, evolving from a provider of connectivity services into an enabler of enterprise technology and digital innovation.
According to him, while earlier generations of telecom services focused on voice, internet access and mobile broadband, the next phase of growth will be powered by artificial intelligence (AI), the Internet of Things (IoT), satellite communications and integrated digital platforms.
“The role of telecommunications has fundamentally changed. Businesses are no longer asking only for connectivity; they want solutions that improve productivity, strengthen security and accelerate digital transformation. That is the journey Airtel is leading. We are evolving from a telecommunications company into a technology partner that helps organisations unlock growth and create long-term value,” he said.
Balsingh noted that business value is increasingly determined by technology-driven outcomes rather than the amount of data consumed. He identified AI-powered customer protection, industry-specific digital solutions, IoT ecosystems and hybrid satellite-terrestrial networks as some of the technologies reshaping enterprise operations and expanding digital access to underserved communities.
“Technology should do more than connect people. It should protect them, simplify operations and help businesses make better decisions. Investments are now focused on building smarter, more resilient digital infrastructure that supports organisations across every sector of the economy,” he added.
He explained that industries including retail, healthcare, education, manufacturing, government and oil and gas are increasingly adopting integrated digital solutions that combine connectivity with cloud computing, intelligent networking, surveillance technologies, automation and advanced data analytics.
Balsingh further challenged business leaders to reassess their digital transformation strategies, stressing that competitiveness over the next decade will depend on building organisations that are connected, intelligent, secure and resilient.
“The organisations that will lead the next decade are those that invest today in intelligent digital infrastructure. Our customers are no longer buying connectivity alone. They are investing in productivity, intelligence and digital transformation,” he said.
The session also featured Christian Ebeke, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) Resident Representative for Nigeria, and formed part of the Lagos Business School Breakfast Club, a forum that convenes business executives and industry leaders to discuss emerging trends shaping enterprise development and economic growth.
Airtel Nigeria said its participation reflects its broader strategy of supporting Nigeria’s digital economy by delivering innovative enterprise technologies that improve operational efficiency, strengthen business resilience and create new opportunities for growth.
