Vitel Wireless has expanded its entry into Nigeria’s telecom market with the launch of a non-expiring data service, a move the company says is aimed at addressing long-standing consumer concerns around data loss and pricing fairness.
Tagged ‘Data Wey No Dey Expire’, the product allows subscribers to retain purchased data until it is fully consumed, eliminating the time restrictions that typically apply to internet bundles in the country.
Speaking at the official launch in Lagos, the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Vitel Wireless, Engr. Kenneth Emeka Nwabueze, said the initiative was designed to deliver greater flexibility and value to Nigerians already facing economic pressure.
He said the company’s position is that once users pay for data, they should be able to use it at their convenience, without the risk of losing unused balances to expiry timelines.
Nwabueze criticised conventional data pricing models, describing many of them as confusing and restrictive. He pointed specifically to bundles that require usage within limited time windows, including late-night periods, arguing that such offerings are impractical for many Nigerians.
“Forget the high bundles. Look at the daily bundles. Notice that all the networks are almost at the same price on the daily bundles. The reason for that is that that is the true cost of the data. The bigger bundles are gimmicks that are meant to confuse Nigerians,” he said.
According to him, Nigeria’s operating environment makes non-expiring data particularly relevant. He cited challenges such as inconsistent electricity supply, which can prevent users from accessing the internet for days, as well as unexpected personal or financial constraints that may limit usage within fixed validity periods.
Mr Nwabueze noted that under such circumstances, expiring data results in avoidable losses for consumers who have already paid for the service.
“So if you look at what we’re doing, we’re focussing on bringing real innovation. We thank our friends at MTN that agreed with us that we can reuse their cell towers. So that really means that Vitel Wireless is one of the largest networks in the environment.
We have more coverage than most of other networks, other than MTN, because we are actually leveraging the MTN cell towers across Nigeria,” Nwabueze added.
The Vitel Wireless boss also used the opportunity to highlight broader concerns around fairness in subscription-based services, drawing comparisons with other sectors where consumers have raised similar issues about time-bound access despite incomplete usage.
As part of its market entry strategy, the company announced the distribution of free eSIMs to prospective users. This, he said, allows customers to try the service alongside their existing mobile lines without the need to switch networks entirely.
He noted that most modern smartphones now support eSIM functionality, making adoption easier for a growing segment of the population.
Beyond the non-expiring data proposition, Nwabueze outlined the company’s innovation-driven roadmap, revealing plans to introduce specialised data bundles tailored for specific platforms such as WhatsApp, YouTube and Netflix. These bundles, he said, will also operate without expiry limits.
He added that Vitel Wireless is also working on new device-related offerings, including a proposed “X Phone,” which is expected to further reduce the cost of connectivity for users.
In addition, the company showcased its location awareness technology, which enables users to access their location details in emergency situations. Nwabueze described the feature as one of the innovations the company is bringing into the African telecom space.
Vitel Wireless operates as a Mobile Virtual Network Operator, leveraging existing telecom infrastructure to deliver its services. Nwabueze explained that this model allows the company to focus less on building physical towers and more on research, innovation and cost reduction for consumers.
He added that by utilising existing network infrastructure, the company is able to achieve broad coverage across Nigeria while accelerating time to market.
The company also acknowledged the role of the Nigerian Communications Commission in enabling the rollout, noting that regulatory approval was critical given the novelty of the non-expiring data model in the Nigerian market.
Nwabueze said Vitel Wireless remains committed to introducing solutions that reflect the realities of Nigerian consumers, adding that the company’s focus will be on innovation and delivering measurable value.
