Airtel Nigeria has introduced a new digital platform that allows subscribers to monitor network coverage, check signal strength and access information about service performance as part of efforts to improve transparency and customer confidence.
The platform, known as Airtel Open Network, is integrated into the My Airtel Africa mobile application and provides users with information about network infrastructure and ongoing improvement projects in their locations.
The service was unveiled on Friday, October 30, 2026, in Lagos, at an event attended by industry stakeholders, media representatives and corporate executives, including the Executive Vice Chairman of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Dr Aminu Maida.
With the launch, Nigeria becomes the first of Airtel Africa’s 14 operating markets to introduce the consumer-facing network transparency feature.
According to the company, the platform is available to all Airtel subscribers through the My Airtel Africa app. It uses visual indicators to display nearby 4G and 5G network sites, locations where infrastructure upgrades are ongoing and sites scheduled for future deployment.
The feature allows subscribers to view network infrastructure within a 500-metre radius of their location. Users can also submit feedback directly to Airtel through the application when they experience connectivity problems.
Speaking at the launch, Airtel Nigeria Chief Executive Officer, Dinesh Balsingh, said the initiative was designed to give customers better access to information about the network services they use.
He explained that making network information more accessible would help subscribers understand coverage conditions, identify ongoing improvements and communicate service challenges more effectively.
Balsingh added that the platform converts complex technical network information into simpler insights that customers can easily understand and use.
He stressed that the initiative was not intended to make subscribers interpret complicated technical data but to provide them with clearer information to support their connectivity decisions.
In his remarks, NCC Executive Vice Chairman, Dr Aminu Maida, welcomed the initiative, describing it as a development that could complement the commission’s efforts to improve telecommunications service delivery and consumer protection.
Maida, however, maintained that the regulator would continue to assess operators’ service quality based on established industry standards and evidence.
He urged telecommunications companies to continue improving their services beyond minimum regulatory requirements, particularly in addressing persistent network challenges.
Airtel Nigeria said the Open Network platform also creates a structured feedback system through which subscriber complaints can inform decisions on network upgrades and infrastructure deployment.
The company explained that feedback from customers would be considered alongside its infrastructure investments to identify areas requiring improvements in coverage, capacity and network reliability.
However, Airtel cautioned that the availability of a network coverage indicator does not guarantee uninterrupted connectivity in every situation.
It noted that factors such as building structures, indoor signal penetration, mobile device specifications and network congestion could affect individual users’ experiences.
Balsingh clarified that the platform would not automatically resolve network problems or directly improve signal performance, but would provide customers with better information and a direct channel to report concerns.
He maintained that sustained investment in telecommunications infrastructure remained essential to improving service quality, while transparency would help strengthen the relationship between the company and its subscribers.
Following the launch, Airtel Nigeria announced plans to begin a nationwide awareness campaign, with practical demonstrations and user guides to be distributed through digital platforms, retail outlets and traditional media.
The campaign is expected to familiarise millions of subscribers with the new feature and encourage wider use of the platform.
