Airtel Prepares Second Internet Breakout From Southern Nigeria via 2Africa Cable

Airtel Nigeria has set plans in motion to introduce a second internet breakout point from the southern region, a development expected to ease pressure on the country’s current routing system and strengthen national connectivity. The company revealed the update at a media roundtable in Lagos, describing the move as a major step toward improving network reliability for millions of users.

The new internet breakout will run through the 2Africa submarine cable system, with traffic routed from Kwa Ibo in Akwa Ibom State. For years, Nigeria’s internet ecosystem has depended almost entirely on a single breakout point in Lagos, leaving the country vulnerable whenever disruptions occur offshore or along the traditional landing route.

Airtel believes the new southern internet breakout will help create a faster and more secure alternative path for both northern and southern states, reducing the risk of service instability during outages or congestion.

During the session, Airtel Nigeria Chief Executive Officer, Dinesh Balsingh, said the improvements are anchored on the company’s expanding fibre network. “Over the last two years, we have invested with discipline and clarity to strengthen our network nationwide. Those investments are now translating into measurable improvements in performance, customer experience and reach, including in underserved and hard to reach communities,” he noted.

Fibre Expansion and 4G Boost Drive Airtel’s Broader Push

Airtel’s long-term strategy has revolved around consistent fibre expansion, especially after announcing plans last year to double its capital expenditure. The company said it is increasing its fibre footprint by 25%, with active rollout activities taking place across cities and state corridors.

The operator has also grown its network sites by 15.5% since December 2023. It added 2,242 new sites, bringing its nationwide total to nearly 16,711. More deployments are scheduled for 2026 as Airtel aims to strengthen both rural and urban coverage.

Capacity upgrades have intensified as well. In 2025 alone, the company completed major enhancements on 30% of its sites — more than 5,000 locations. According to Airtel, 99% of these sites now deliver high-speed 4G mobile broadband, placing it among Nigeria’s most widely available 4G networks.

The company’s 5G rollout is also accelerating. Airtel said it has doubled its active 5G sites in the last three months. The upgrade roadmap includes connecting the top 20 Nigerian cities to high-speed 5G over the next year, with a significant portion of the operator’s infrastructure in those locations already being prepared for transition.

Balsingh added that the network modernisation will further intensify in 2026 as data usage grows nationwide, stressing that industry leadership will depend on strategic long-term planning.

Nigeria’s digital services depend heavily on stable and well-distributed internet breakout points. The arrival of a second breakout from the South could help limit the effects of cable cuts, improve latency for businesses, and support emerging digital sectors across the country.