Airtel Nigeria has expanded its retail network to more than 200,000 customer touchpoints and over 4,000 exclusive shops across the country to improve customer access to its services amid growing demand for digital connectivity.
The telecom operator said the expansion will make services such as SIM registration, airtime and data purchases, device sales, customer support and other digital offerings more accessible through partner stores, neighbourhood agents and channel partners.
According to the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), the telecommunications and information services sector contributed ₦18.47 trillion to Nigeria’s real Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in 2025, accounting for 8.34 percent of the economy and ranking as the fourth-largest contributor of the country.
Data from the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) also shows that active mobile subscriptions reached 188 million in April 2026, while broadband subscriptions surpassed 120 million for the first time.
Airtel remains Nigeria’s second-largest mobile network operator with 64.7 million subscribers, accounting for about 34.4 percent of the market, behind MTN.
Airtel Nigeria Chief Executive Officer, Dinesh Balsingh, said the company is strengthening its retail presence to bring services closer to customers;
“Telecommunications goes beyond physical infrastructure. It is important that we are able to reach people where they live and work. That is why we continue to invest in a strong retail and distribution ecosystem that enables us to bring Airtel closer to our customers while delivering a consistent, high-quality experience wherever they are” – Balsingh, Airtel Nigeria CEO
The company’s Director of Sales and Distribution, Joypratip Sengupta, said the expanded network combines efficient logistics, strong partnerships and community engagement to ensure customers can easily access Airtel services nationwide.
Airtel said the expanded retail ecosystem will also support thousands of distributors, retailers and small business owners across Nigeria, creating more economic opportunities throughout its sales and service network.
The company added that it will continue investing in digital innovation and service delivery to meet the growing demand for mobile and broadband services across the country.
