Table of Contents
Key Points
- Globacom, Wave5 to pilot public Wi-Fi in Lagos, targeting 200,000 users in markets and transit hubs under a shared-revenue infrastructure deal.
- Users to pay N500 ($0.326) daily for access; model could generate $7.2 million in recurring annual revenue, Wave5 says.
- Globacom expands digital footprint with rural coverage and tech hubs as it deepens connectivity push across Nigeria.
Globacom, the telecommunications company founded by Nigerian billionaire Mike Adenuga, has entered into a new partnership with Wave5 Wireless to roll out public Wi-Fi in parts of Lagos. The pilot project is aimed at reducing mobile network congestion and improving internet access in busy areas of the city.
Glo, Wave5 target 200,000 users
In a joint statement released on Sunday, both companies said the service will be delivered using a Build-Operate-Revenue Share model, allowing Glo’s 3G and 4G traffic to be offloaded onto Wave5’s Wi-Fi infrastructure. The pilot phase will cover locations like Tejuosho and Arena markets, as well as 15 LAMATA bus shelters across Lagos. Together, these locations are expected to serve more than 200,000 mobile users.
Wave5 said users will be able to access the service for a daily fee starting at N500 ($0.326), which covers roughly three hours of usage and can be used across 200 days a year. That model, they added, could generate about $7.2 million in recurring annual revenue.
“This partnership redefines connectivity in Nigeria,” said Biola Akinyemi, Wave5’s Chief Technology Officer and Co-Founder. “We listened to everyday users who struggle with poor network coverage, and we’re using this collaboration with Glo to help ease those frustrations while opening doors to more digital services.”
Globacom extends rural mobile coverage
Wave5’s founder and CEO, Ayọ̀wándé Adálémọ, said the move isn’t just about better data speeds. “Our mission has always been to close Nigeria’s digital gap,” he said. “We’re not only improving internet access, we’re also supporting small businesses and helping people stay connected.”
The company said the project also serves as a test case for its neutral-host model, where multiple telecoms can share the same infrastructure. To support future growth, Wave5 is currently raising $3 million to scale the initiative across Nigeria and other countries in sub-Saharan Africa. The company sees this as an attractive opportunity for investors, especially with Glo’s involvement and a proven recurring revenue model.
For Globacom, this latest initiative adds to a growing list of strategic efforts to widen its reach and improve service quality. In May, the company extended mobile coverage to Kura, a rural settlement near Abuja. The move, in partnership with Chinese tech giant Huawei, brought mobile connectivity to about 12,000 residents—many for the first time. Within just two days of the network going live, users had already streamed over 81 gigabytes of data and made more than 13,000 minutes of calls. The LTE network held up well, with speeds of up to 5.0 Mbps.
Bridging gaps with digital access
Glo has also been expanding its retail and digital footprint. Earlier this year, it opened a new Gloworld store in Maiduguri, a city in northeast Nigeria that has faced years of conflict and underinvestment. The store is part of Glo’s broader push to improve customer service and network access in underserved areas.
In Lagos, Glo launched its first digital innovation hub and plans to open more centers in Port Harcourt, Ibadan, and Abuja. These hubs aim to support young tech entrepreneurs, offering training and workspaces that could help drive job creation in the country’s growing digital economy.
Adenuga’s oil venture marks milestone
Beyond telecoms, Adenuga’s business interests remain deeply rooted in Nigeria’s energy sector. His company, Conoil Producing, recently celebrated a major milestone with the export of a new crude oil blend named Obodo.
The medium-sweet crude, officially launched in April 2025, is produced under a joint effort with the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) and drilled from the onshore OML 150 block. The oil is produced by Continental Oil & Gas Limited, which operates as part of the Conoil Producing group and manages six oil blocks across the Niger Delta.
