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| N. I. G. E. R. I. A
N. E. T. W. O. R. K |
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| Nigerian
Senate Commends Etisalat |
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The Nigerian
Senate Committee on Communications recently embarked on
a facility tour of the Etisalat Nigeria headquarters,
Data and Call Centre in Lagos aimed at assessing the level
of progress made so far and the quality of service offered
by the telecommunications giant.
Addressing the press at the end of the facility tour,
chairman of the Senate Committee on Communications, Senator
Sylvester Anyanwu commended Etisalat for its commitment
to the country's economic development through the company's
massive investment in the |
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nation's telecoms sector.
Senator Anyanwu who was accompanied by other members of the
committee on the visit noted that Etisalat's commitment apparently
manifested in the advanced technology it has deployed for its
services, and implored other GSM service providers to ensure
that subscribers get value for their money by offering innovative
and tariff friendly services.
He said in spite of challenges posed by poor quality of service,
the country has made tremendous success in the area of voice
and added that greater emphasis would now be placed on the development
of the data aspect of the country's telecoms especially as it
affects rural Nigeria.
He congratulated Etisalat for coming into Nigeria's telecom
family and urged the company to come with good ideas and innovations
that will drive tariff low as this was one area his committee
has greater responsibility to perform for the Nigerian people.
“I want to see Etisalat come out with new innovations
that will help drive the industry. I truly believe that Etisalat
is on the right track. I equally believe that this will challenge
other providers to do better,” he said.
Senator Anyanwu wondered why governments at various levels were
not providing telecom operators with sites for their base stations
and cell sites. In addition, he decried the imposition of multiple
taxation on operators and pledged that his committee was going
to work together with states and local government authorities
with the aim of finding a lasting solution to the problems.
The Senator commended Etisalat for the bold initiatives it has
taken so far in its Corporate Social Responsibility programmes
especially in the area of education and said it was worth emulating.
Earlier at the press conference, Chief Executive Officer of
Etisalat Nigeria, Mr. Steve Evans re-assured of the company's
commitment to the growth of the Nigerian economy through the
provision of world-class telecommunication services aimed at
bringing quality of service to the Nigerian consumer.
“Etisalat is desirous of making meaningful contributions
that will impact the Nigerian economy positively. Our strong
belief in the Nigerian economy and its enormous growth potentials
is evident in the investment made in the provision of quality
GSM service to our customers,” he said.
Evans noted that Etisalat was open to maintaining cordial and
mutually beneficial relationships with all stakeholders to its
business particularly the various arms of government.
According to him, “Etisalat is committed to partnering
with all arms of government to actualise its set goals and we
sincerely appreciate your visit. As a responsible and responsive
corporate organisation, our activities are executed in an ethical
and accountable manner”
In highlighting some of the company's achievements since it
commenced business in the country, the Etisalat CEO said his
company had introduced very innovative products, and services
to the Nigerian market aimed at making the Nigerian telecoms
consumer enjoy modern telecom services as is obtainable in some
advanced economies.
Some of the innovative products and services include Homezone,
sand Missed Calls Notification. These services he said are quite
novel to the Nigerian market and have set Etisalat apart as
the best network for outstanding value added products and services.
“Etisalat is committed to providing world-class telecommunications
services to prospective customers in fulfillment of our mandate
in Nigeria and in line with our operating standards in over
17 other countries,” Evans assured.
Etisalat today is numbered amongst the largest operators in
the world boasting of subsidiaries and investments in 18 countries,
and has a record figure of more than 74 million subscribers
in its growing global operations.
Other members of the Senate Committee on Communications on the
facility tour include Senators Joseph Akaagerger, Patricia Akwashika
and Bala Mohammed. |
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| MTN
Reaffirms Commitment To Nigeria's Development |
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MTN, one of
Nigeria's leading telecommunications companies has reaffirmed its
commitment to playing a role in driving socio- economic growth and
development in Nigeria.
According to Ahmad Farroukh, the company's chief executive officer,
“one of our key objectives when we launched our operation
in 2001 was to use telecommunications as a platform to unleash Nigeria's
strong potential for development”.
“In providing telecommunications services to over 25 million
active subscribers,” he said, “the MTN operation has
registered an impact that clearly underscores the wide-ranging economic
multiplier nature of investment in telecommunications. The multidimensional
impact of our over $5 billion investment in our network rollout
includes job creation and the empowerment of thousands of small
and medium businesses”.
“Today”, said Farroukh, “In addition to over 5000
base stations, MTN have put in place a 5,411 kilometre fibre optic
transmission backbone, which is the longest private infrastructure
of its kind in Africa. The fibre optics 'super highway' is the catalyst
for an ICT revolution which will impact the whole of sub-Saharan
Africa.”
He also revealed that in recognition of customer demand in the busiest
commercial hubs of the country, MTN is also erecting metropolitan
'self healing' fibre rings across major cities like Lagos, Abuja,
Port Harcourt, Kano and Ibadan. The effect of the metropolitan network
would be a dramatic improvement in the quality of service and increased
robustness of the network in those areas.
Speaking on quality of service, Farroukh said that in 2008 the company
achieved an average monthly build rate of 120 base stations, a feat
that has remained unsurpassed in Nigeria and indeed the rest of
Africa. “We will continuously redouble our efforts to ensure
that the growing needs of our country, for quality voice and data
services are met in a most satisfactory manner”.
The company plans to invest over N180 billion on its network rollout
in 2009. In 2008, it invested approximately N137 billion representing
more than 30% of the CAPEX budget allocation for the entire MTN
Group which has a footprint in 21 countries in Africa and the Middle
East.
Farroukh also stated that the company would continue to make the
necessary investments in telecommunications infrastructure as well
as in all levels of government through the payment of tax. He explained
the importance that the company attaches to timely payment of its
taxes in order to discharge its own civic responsibilities and to
ensure that government receives the necessary resources to meet
their own statutory obligations for the common good.
MTN paid approximately N151Billion in VAT and other levies to various
agencies of Government during the period of its pioneer status from
2001-6.
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| Glo
Commended For Consumer-Centric Services |
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Nigeria's communications
regulator, the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has
commended Globacom for its roaming services which it described
as the best in the telecommunications market in Nigeria.
Head of Consumer Affairs' Bureau of the commission, Lolia Emakpore
noted that Globacom had well-packaged roaming services even
for Pre-Paid users on its network. “It was the first network
that made roaming available for its pre-paid users as well as
post-paid users and it also avails consumers of information
on these |
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| services,”
she stated. Globacom has over 240 roaming agreements in 145 countries
of the world.
She was speaking at the commission's Consumers' Outreach entitled
'Information must be apt to be effective' held recently in Ile Ife,
Osun State.
Emakpore expressed happiness about Globacom's effective information
system for its subscribers, adding that the network's account balance
information to consumers was explicit and kept customers abreast
of their expenditure as well as bonuses on the network.
Earlier, President of the Computer Association of Nigeria, Alhaji
Tajudeen Ejalonibu had expressed gratitude to Globacom for “liberating
Nigerians from the stranglehold of other telecommunications service
providers who insisted that Per Second Billing was impossible”.
He also commended the network's Customer Relations system. “Globacom
is truly alive to the yearnings, the desires and complaints of its
teeming subscribers,” he added.
NCC's Executive Commissioner, Licensing and Consumer Affairs, Engr.
Stephen Bello, said the NCC had mandated all service providers to
have customer care centres in major towns of the nation for easy
accessibility to customers.
Globacom has over 40 such outlets spread across Nigeria.
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| Wireless
Is Nigeria’s Option To Broadband, Says Ndukwe |
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Chief
Executive Officer of the Nigerian Communications Commission,
Engr. Ernest Ndukwe has said Nigeria's option to realizing
ubiquitous broadband penetration across the country within
a reasonable period of time can only be predicated on the
deployment of broadband services over wireless infrastructure.
Ndukwe who spoke at a CEO Agenda Summit organized by the Economist
Magazine of London at the Eko Hotel, Lagos said that Nigeria
does not have the luxury that other countries had in huge
investments in fixed line infrastructure, but not withstanding,
the nation cannot afford to move in a different direction
from where the world is going.
The NCC boss told participants at the Summit that the Commission's
conscious efforts towards promoting broadband infrastructure
in Nigeria began in 2007 when it declared 2008 as the year
of broadband, which is the reason for the introduction of
the State Accelerated Broadband Initiative, SABI, designed
to take broadband infrastructure to all the state capitals
and major urban centres across the 36 states of the Federation.
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“In
Nigeria, we believe it has to be over wireless. Doing it over
the wire may not be possible if we must meet the world at the
critical point of deployment of this important infrastructure
of development”, he said.
Ndukwe said with the current pace of deployment of latest in
telecom infrastructure in Nigeria, the country may be one of
the first adopters of the Long-Term Evolution, LTE, technology
because of the potentials of the mobile broadband services,
which is already being deployed today.
While reiterating that broadband is already available in Nigeria
in some cities |
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| while
the Commission is using initiatives such as the Digital Appreciation
Project, DAP, and Community Communication Centres, CCC, to provide
broadband services to a larger group of people, Ndukwe said it is
heart-warming that few years ago, Nigeria was worried about lack
of optics fibre infrastructure but today, she has plenty of this
on ground which provides the nation with the basic foundation for
broadband.
He said the fact that Nigeria has some international credit card
companies like Visa, MasterCard, and a host of others is because
they found the environment attractive and conducive because of available
infrastructure.
Ndukwe advised those who are advocating for operating companies
to concentrate services in few urban centres so as to achieve 100
per cent quality of service at the expense of the rural areas to
forget the idea.
“We want the 64 Million subscribers on the network to enjoy
80% quality of service rather than get only 20 Million of them in
urban centres enjoying 100 per cent of that quality.
“Those who said they cannot live with a situation where all
Nigerians have access to phones and want us to restrict services
so that they get 100% quality should drop their phones so that we
give it to many more Nigerians who want services and wait till we
attain 100%”, he said.
The NCC boss dismissed insinuations that many Nigerians carry multiple
phones because of the current quality of services, and insisted
that many were carrying such phones even when the quality of services
was no issue and that one phone can serve anybody who really wants
to use it.
According to him, people carry these phones for many other reasons
including the fact that some may want to enjoy some tariffs offered
in the different networks.
He discountenanced comparisms with other developed parts of the
world reminding his listeners that in Nigeria, as different as she
is from those countries, rely only on mobile phone for everything
including home, office and mobility while in those other countries,
there are fixed line at home and office while mobile phones are
used sparingly.
“In the case of Nigeria, it is 90 % mobile which also puts
a lot of pressure on the network infrastructure”.
Ndukwe also reminded those comparing Nigeria with countries like
UK to note that UK has more than 40,000 base stations against Nigeria's
less than 15,000 base stations.
“This tells you that there are still a lot of black spots
within the Nigerian network that will need to be covered with base
station infrastructure.
“Please note that base station is not such that you say, let
there be base station, and there will be base station. It costs
money and time and we have to learn to be a bit patient because
we have a huge geographical land mass to cover”, he said.
He said however that nobody should loose money on account of drop
calls or the billing systems of the service providers adding that
the Commission will sanction any operator for billing a subscriber
for services which he did not use.
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NCC
Inaugurates ICAF For Telecom Consumers |
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| In reaffirmation
of its belief on the consumer as the ultimate king, the Nigerian
Communications Commission, NCC, recently in Abuja, stepped up its
telecom consumer protection initiatives with the inauguration of
a 12-man Industry consumer Advisory Forum, ICAF, headed by the Director
General of the Consumer Protection Council, Mrs. Ifeyinwa Umenyi.
The committee is to review the general consumer code of practice
regulations by the Commission as well as facilitate consumer protection,
information and educational programmes.
NCC Chairman, Alhaji Ahmed Joda who presided over the inauguration
ceremony, said the Commission is fully determined to ensure that
the interest of telecoms consumers in the country are protected,
and urged ICAF to work assiduously to complement various efforts
of the commission in this direction.
Chief Executive Officer of the NCC, Engr. Ernest Ndukwe, in his
keynote address said, “ICAF initiative is very much in keeping
with the focus of the NCC, which remains that as a regulator, we
ensure that the interest of the consumer is at all times protected.
“At the NCC, we have been very active in safeguarding the
interests of the consumer, whether by facilitating investments,
ensuring national spread, facilitating rural access, licensing new
operators, holding consumer outreach programmes and consumer parliament
sessions, ensuring service availability, affordable and quality
service, the consumer is the target beneficiary.
“Whether in facilitating number portability, establishing
call centres, providing computers and Internet facilities in schools,
ensuring that operators deal promptly with consumer queries and
requirements, protecting them from unfair practices by service providers,
developing NCC contact centres and supporting advocacy groups, it
is all aimed at ensuring that the consumers enjoy better services”,
he said.
Ndukwe noted that ICAF will act in advisory capacity, and will make
recommendations to the Commission regarding the interests and concerns
of the consumer of ICT products and services, the interests and
concerns of physically challenged and the elderly, ensure that consumers
are protected from unfair practices and facilitate the review of
the Consumer Code of Practice Regulations 2007 as well as make recommendations
on all issues to the Commission.
Members of the forum he said were selected based on their expertise
and wealth of knowledge in their areas of specialization. He listed
the specializations to include consumer advocacy groups, the challenged
groups, service provision, specialized user groups, community representation,
and the academia among others.
The ICAF membership includes the President of the Nigerian Society
of Engineers, Engr. Kashim Alli, President of Nigerian Medical Association,
Dr. Prosper Ikechukwu Igboeli, President of the Nigerian Bar Association,
Chief Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, President and Chairman of Council of
Nigerian Institute of Management, Sir Peter A. Edeoghon.
Others are the National Disabled Empowerment Forum, NADEF President,
Dr. Chris Nwanoro; President of the Association of Telecommunications
Companies of Nigeria, ATCON, Dr. Emmanuel Ekuwem, President of the
Association of Licensed Telecom Operators of Nigeria, ALTON, Engr.
Gbenga Adebayo, President of Consumer Awareness Organization, Dr.
Mrs. Felecia Monye, and President of Consumer Right Project, Mrs.
Alero Edu.
Chairperson of the Forum, Mrs. Umenyi, commended the Commission
for the foresight in setting up the forum with its kind of diverse
representation that will make its recommendations worthwhile. He
enjoined the members to be committed to the project while assuring
the Commission of the committee's desire to deliver on its charter.
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Visafone
Launches Free Night Calls, Promo |
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| Visafone,
one of Nigeria's leading CDMA operators, is again set to touch the
lives of its teeming subscribers with the unending joy of communications
following the unveiling of its latest product, Visa Chill.
Visa Chill is a new package offering Visafone subscribers the opportunity
to make free midnight calls between the hours of 12am and 4.30am
every day.
Visa Chill is the latest in an impressive list of “firsts”
that the company has rolled out since inception. By being the first
CDMA operator to launch free midnight calls for its subscribers,
Visafone has once again demonstrated the pioneering spirit that
has consistently drawn praise and accolades from analysts and industry
experts over the last 12 months.
To migrate to Visa Chill, all subscribers have to do is dial a short
code (*444*116#). An SMS confirmation will be received if the migration
is successful. Subscribers are expected to use a minimum of N60
daily in order to be able to enjoy the free midnight calls.
In addition to Visa Chill the company has also unveiled a brand
new promo, “Visafone Fortunes”, less than two months
after the grand finale of its widely acclaimed '12 cars in 12 weeks'
bonanza.
In the new promo, which will run for 8 weeks (from 17th of February
to the 17th of April 2009), 100 subscribers will stand the chance
to win N100, 000 each. There will be four draws during that period,
at which the winners will be selected.
Existing subscribers will need to recharge a minimum of N500.00
in a week to qualify for the draws while new subscribers need only
to buy and activate a new Visafone handset and line.
It will be recalled that Visafone launched commercial operations
on February 22, 2008 in 12 states and over 100 cities. The company
has since grown its coverage area to 22 states and over 170 cities
in the last 12 months in fulfillment of its promise to provide Nigerians
with a veritable “passport to reach the world.”
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