ESDIAC Global Systems, a telecommunications technology company, has launched a mobile application offering local and international calls, electronic SIM (eSIM) services, airtime and data top-ups, as well as business communication solutions.

The company said the platform was designed to make telecommunications services more affordable and accessible, particularly for Nigerians who make international calls and travellers seeking mobile connectivity abroad.

Speaking at the product unveiling, the founder and Chief Executive Officer of ESDIAC Global Systems, Austin Ugbebor, said the platform offered international calls at ₦13 per minute, a rate he described as significantly lower than those charged by some major telecommunications providers.

He said the application was developed to provide an alternative for individuals and businesses seeking affordable ways to communicate across borders, adding that new users in Nigeria would receive one unit of calling credit to test the service.

According to Ugbebor, the platform’s pricing model eliminates certain charges associated with other international calling services, including connection fees and monthly deductions on unused account balances.

He said the company would investigate complaints involving missing credits or incorrect deductions and reimburse affected customers where claims were justified. However, he noted that future tariff adjustments could be influenced by regulatory directives, adding that the company would comply with applicable telecommunications regulations.

Explaining the technology, the company said ESDIAC operated as an app-to-phone platform, allowing users to call people who did not have the application or an internet-connected smartphone. This, it said, distinguishes the service from internet-based messaging applications that generally require both parties to use the same platform.

The eSIM service is designed to help travellers access mobile connectivity without purchasing a physical SIM card in every destination. The application also offers airtime and data top-ups and communication tools for businesses.

Ugbebor said ESDIAC had partnered with major mobile network operators for subscriber authentication while maintaining its own communications infrastructure.

Addressing concerns about data privacy and cybersecurity, he said the company was committed to complying with relevant data protection and telecommunications regulations. He added that subscribers’ information would not be shared with other organisations without appropriate authorisation, while access to call records would be subject to applicable legal requirements.

The company’s legal representative, Aja, said ESDIAC was registered in Nigeria in 2015 and established to make communication services more accessible and affordable. Citing the Nigeria Data Protection Act 2023, he said the company was required to protect subscribers’ personal information, including when it was handled by third-party service providers and partners.

During the interactive session, participants raised concerns about tariff stability, customer compensation, data security, local data storage requirements and service reliability amid persistent connectivity challenges.

In response to questions about data localisation, the company said it had taken steps to host Nigerian users’ data locally in line with applicable requirements, while maintaining support from its United States-based operations. Ugbebor acknowledged that meeting data localisation requirements could increase operating costs for start-ups seeking to enter the telecommunications market.

He also disclosed that the company was exploring additional features, including video calling, but had yet to introduce the service as it continued to assess how best to implement it within its technology and pricing model.

The company said it planned to expand its business communication services through a platform that would allow organisations to manage calls using a single business number. It also plans to deploy automated conversational agents capable of making calls and scheduling appointments.

Its technical team said ESDIAC was seeking partnerships with businesses, media organisations and other stakeholders to expand its reach. The company’s referral programme allows participants to earn commissions based on their partnership levels and the activities of users they onboard.

Representatives of the Nigerian Television Authority and Zenith Bank expressed interest in exploring engagement with the company. An NTA representative said the organisation was willing to engage with ESDIAC, while a Zenith Bank representative said the bank remained open to supporting viable business ideas and technology-driven enterprises.

Speaking at the event, the Special Adviser to the President on Economic Affairs, Dr Tope Fasua, described ESDIAC as a potentially useful development in Nigeria’s telecommunications market.

Fasua recounted his experience purchasing an eSIM at Abuja airport for a trip to Bangkok. He said the service worked in London but failed to provide the expected connectivity in Bangkok. He described ESDIAC’s pricing and communication offerings as promising but said he intended to test the service himself.

The company said its application was first released in 2016, while its Nigerian registration dates to 2015. It described the latest version as an upgraded platform developed through years of technical work and testing, adding that it would continue to improve the service based on customer feedback as it seeks to expand in Nigeria and other markets.