Airtel Opens Network Data to Customers on My Airtel App

Airtel Nigeria has launched Airtel Open Network on the My Airtel Africa App, giving subscribers a view of nearby network sites, coverage and service performance. The feature shows existing 4G and 5G sites, locations undergoing upgrades and planned installations within a 500-metre radius of the customer.

The platform was unveiled over the weekend at an event in Lagos attended by industry stakeholders, including the Executive Vice Chairman of the Nigerian Communications Commission, Dr Aminu Maida. Airtel said Nigeria is the first of its 14 operating markets across Africa to introduce the consumer-facing network transparency initiative.

What subscribers can see

On the app, customers can check nearby 4G and 5G network sites, facilities under upgrade and planned network installations within 500 metres of their location. They can also report network challenges and send feedback directly to Airtel.

Airtel Nigeria Chief Executive Officer Dinesh Balsingh said the initiative was designed to improve customer confidence by making network information easier to access. He said subscribers deserve to understand the infrastructure supporting their connectivity and have a direct channel to report service challenges.

Balsingh said the platform turns technical network information into simpler details that customers can understand and use when assessing connectivity in their areas. He added that feedback from subscribers would help Airtel identify locations needing improvements in coverage, capacity and network reliability.

NCC backs transparency

Maida welcomed the initiative and said accessible network information could complement the commission’s efforts to improve telecommunications service quality and consumer confidence. He said the NCC would continue to assess operators’ service quality based on evidence and established industry standards.

Maida also urged telecommunications companies to improve their services beyond minimum regulatory requirements and address persistent network challenges.

Airtel clarified that the Open Network platform does not guarantee uninterrupted connectivity or automatically resolve service problems. The company said factors such as building structures, indoor coverage, mobile phone specifications and network congestion could affect the quality of service experienced by individual subscribers.

Balsingh said the platform was mainly intended to improve access to information and give customers a clearer way to report service problems. Airtel said it would continue investing in network infrastructure and use customer feedback to guide engineering upgrades in areas that need attention.

Awareness campaign ahead

The launch will be followed by a nationwide awareness campaign, with demonstrations and user guides distributed through digital platforms, retail outlets and traditional media. Airtel said the campaign is expected to help its tens of millions of subscribers understand how to access and use the new feature.

For subscribers, the feature creates a direct feedback channel and gives them more information before they assess connectivity in their area. Airtel says the tool does not replace network investment or guarantee service, so its value will depend on how quickly reported problems lead to upgrades.