Each year at World Space Business Week, Novaspace, a merger of Euroconsult and SpaceTec Partners, award the most forward-thinking businesses and innovations contributing to the future of the global space sector.

The Universal Broadband Award recognizes those committed to helping transform the lives of underserved communities.

Together, Avanti and IHS Nigeria have been helping improve the connectivity landscape across Nigeria, bringing broadband connectivity to rural communities nationwide, where the cost of traditional telecommunications networks can leave millions behind.

IHS Nigeria already has a strong footprint in Nigeria, operating over 16,000 towers across the country.

To help extend this reach, Avanti has been supplying the physical, transport and network layer for the transmission of cellular backhaul traffic to and from cellular towers, back to the core network of mobile network operators.

The partnership has delivered fast, cost-effective and reliable 3G and 4G connectivity to 700 rural sites across Nigeria, directly benefitting more than 3.5 million people.

Mohamad Darwish, CEO, IHS Nigeria, said, “We are deeply honored to receive this award, recognizing our commitment to innovation and social responsibility in expanding global connectivity. As one of the largest independent tower companies globally, IHS Towers is dedicated to helping bridge the digital divide, particularly in Nigeria, where we operate more than 16,000 towers. IHS Nigeria’s partnership with Avanti Communications has been pivotal in bringing broadband connectivity as well as delivering sustainable, reliable, and cost-effective solutions to rural areas. Together, we are striving to help transform lives by enabling digital inclusion, job creation, and driving socio-economic development across underserved and unserved communities.”

Kyle Whitehill, CEO at Avanti, said, “The mission to provide cost-effective, reliable, and sustainable internet solutions is more than a professional endeavour; it is a mission we each carry personally at Avanti. Access to the internet is not a luxury, it is a necessity. It opens doors to education, healthcare, economic opportunities, and global connectivity. For too long, the remote and hard-to-reach regions of Africa have been left in the dark, disconnected from the boundless potential connectivity brings.”

IHS Towers won in three categories of the awards emerging as the ‘Telecom Infrastructure Company of the Year’, ‘Best Sustainable Tower Company of the Year’ and ‘Tower Team of the Year (IHS Management Team)’, cementing the company’s leadership in the space.

IHS Towers was founded in Nigeria more than 20 years ago, with operations today in 11 countries, across Africa, Middle East and Latin America and offices across 5 continents.

IHS Towers listed on the New York Stock Exchange in October 2021 – the first company, we believe, founded in Nigeria to achieve such a feat.

IHS Nigeria is the largest of IHS Towers’ operational markets where it owns over 16,000 towers and provides services across 6 product offerings. Through its services, IHS Nigeria provides connectivity across the country and indirectly employs over 40,000 Nigerian citizens.

IHS Nigeria is an employer of choice and through its 4 sustainability pillars, provides support for hundreds of thousands of Nigerians.

Now in its 7th edition, the TIA (formerly, Nigeria Tech Innovation and Telecom Awards) has grown to become the most esteemed award event in the ICT industry, to celebrate organisations, individuals and the private sector for distinguishing themselves over the course of each year. It brings industry members together to celebrate their achievements among their peers.

The award also celebrates individuals at the forefront of digitization with innovative products and services within the ICT sector.

“We are here to celebrate the brilliance, ingenuity and incredible impact of the tech industry in Nigeria. If you look through every sector, if you have not infused technology in your business process, then you are lagging behind”, Akin Naphtal, Chief Executive Officer at InstinctWave, said in his welcome address.

According to Akin Naphtal, Nigeria has witnessed an exponential rise in tech startups in recent years, with over 125 active tech hubs and incubators according to the World Startups report. “I think it’s quite worth it to reward and recognise those pushing the frontier of the sector.

Naphtal said further that the TIA has grown beyond being a mere industry award, to a rather unique time with a fine blend of entertainment, peer networking for industry experts to celebrate outstanding performances and unique opportunities for stakeholders to network, entertain their clients and reinforce relationships with partners.

“TIA has become a symbol of excellence that marks leadership, quality and innovations from a broad range of organisations in the ICT sector”.

Other big winners on the night were Medallion Datacentre, Avanti Communications, Huawei, Broadbase Communications, and Reliance Info Systems.

Femi Isaac Olatunji, lead consultant, Offset, emerged as the Tech PR Consultant of the year, while Ikechukwu Nnamani, the chief executive officer of Medallion Communication limited won the TIA Datacentre Lifetime Achievement award.