Glo at 23: The 23 Reasons to Celebrate- Prof. Tayo Popoola – THISDAYLIVE

Twenty-three years in telecommunications is no small feat. In a rapidly evolving industry,
staying relevant for over two decades requires constant adaptation alongside the people you
serve. Since launching in 2003, Globacom has evolved from early GSM days into the era of
smartphones, digital payments, and high-speed internet. Along the way, Glo shaped Nigerian
communication through groundbreaking innovation, infrastructure investment, cultural and
sports partnerships, and entertainment platforms; making its 23-year milestone a story worth
looking back on.
When Globacom launched in 2003, it entered the Nigerian telecommunications sector as the
country’s first fully indigenous mobile operator. By stepping into a market previously
dominated by foreign entities, Glo immediately disrupted established practices and proved
that a Nigerian brand could operate at the highest international standards.
In its early days, the operator fundamentally changed how Nigerians paid for phone calls. By
introducing per-second billing; a model existing providers insisted was impossible—Glo
democratized mobile access overnight, saving everyday subscribers substantial amounts of
money on shorter conversations and forcing an industry-wide tariff reset.
Taking control of its backbone infrastructure, Globacom commissioned the monumental Glo-
1 undersea fiber-optic cable in 2009. Spanning 9,800 kilometers to link Nigeria directly to the
United Kingdom, this giant leap significantly enhanced data capacity, reduced bandwidth
costs, and laid a resilient foundation for West Africa’s digital economy.
To keep pace with the modern digital age, Glo launched its nationwide 4G LTE network in

2016. This massive deployment delivered…