MTN and Airtel have jointly announced a substantial investment nearing $400 million (₦613.8 billion) to expand into cloud computing and artificial intelligence infrastructure tailored for Nigerian startups.
The initiative aims to challenge the dominance of global players like AWS, Google Cloud, and Microsoft Azure by providing locally priced, high-performance tech services.
Unlike standard foreign services that charge in naira but convert from dollars, MTN and Airtel will offer direct naira pricing, addressing one of the most significant cost burdens—exchange-rate volatility—that has burdened Nigerian startups since the naira’s sharp devaluation from ₦471 to ₦1,534 per dollar by August 14, 2025.
Key highlights of their strategy include:
Full-stack infrastructure control: Both telcos own the entire technology stack—from hardware infrastructure to service delivery—giving them a competitive advantage in affordability and performance.
MTN’s cloud ambition: Since unveiling a Tier IV data center in June 2024, MTN has outlined plans to provide scalable cloud and AI-grade services with flexibility and efficiency to accelerate digitalisation across enterprises.
Airtel’s hyperscale push: Airtel is investing in high-density, GPU-ready infrastructure in a hyperscale data center designed for intensive AI workloads.
This initiative aligns with forecasts showing that Nigeria’s cloud computing market will grow to $1.03 billion in 2025, with potential expansion to $3.28 billion by 2030.
Why It Matters:
Stopping capital flight: By keeping spending local, startups can avoid hefty dollar expenses, allowing the tech economy to reinvest domestically.
Boosting accessibility: With faster latency and naira-based billing, these services could become more accessible to local businesses.
Strengthening infrastructure: The move supports Nigeria’s ambition to build homegrown tech infrastructure, underpinning innovation, sovereignty, and job creation.
