Uganda: Celtel Takes Over Nigeria’s Vmobile
CELTEL International has fully taken over control of Nigeria’s Vmobile and re-branded it into its famous red and yellow logo along with its brand promise of ‘Making Life Better.’
In a press statement issued recently, the Celtel International Group Chief Executive Officer, Mr Marten Pieters, said Nigeria is a very important market for any serious telecommunications operator in the world.
“Celtel has taken Nigeria seriously right from the days of the license auction. We also tried to acquire Nitel, when it was up for sale, but the more attractive option of buying into Vmobile proved too tantalising to be ignored,” he said.
Celtel’s success in Nigeria underscores the increasing competition among telecom players on the continent for more visibility and business as Africa continues to take leaps into the cyber world.
Re-branding Vmobile, the first mobile network to launch commercial services in Nigeria, follows the acquisition of a controlling stake in the company by Celtel.
The deal, worth $1.005 billion (Shs1.8 trillion), was concluded in May 2006. Officials said the Group plans to do an extensive rollout of the Celtel brand in Nigeria, with investments already hitting more than $700 million (Shs1.2 trillion) being spent to improve network coverage through the erection of 1,000 new base stations and bringing the latest mobile network products to our customers
Celtel offers telecommunications services with mobile licenses covering more than 400 million people, close to half of Africa’s population.
Celtel International is owned by MTC, a leading provider of mobile telecommunications in the Middle East and Africa.
It has more than 15 million customers and operates mobile cellular operations in 14 countries. These include Burkina Faso, Chad, DR Congo, Gabon, Kenya, Malawi, Niger, Sierra Leone, Tanzania, Uganda and Zambia among others.
Source- http://allafrica.com
Technorati : Africa, Celtel, MTC, Middle East, Mobile, Nigeria, Uganda, Vmobile
Ice Rocket : Africa, Celtel, MTC, Middle East, Mobile, Nigeria, Uganda, Vmobile
Nigeria: Celtel International Sets Foot in Nigeria
Celtel has unveiled its brand in Nigeria after acquiring Vmobile, one of the top telecom companies in the country, for $1.005b.
“The event is celebration of a new dawn in Nigeria’s telecommunications industry,” Gamaliel Onosode, the board chairman, said during the launch recently.
“The promise of making life better is a business philosophy practised by Celtel,” Onosode said in a statement.
Marten Pieters, the chief executive officer of Celtel International, said, “Nigeria is an important market for a serious telecommunications operator. Celtel has taken Nigeria seriously from the days of the licence auction. We also tried to acquire Nitel, but the more attractive option of Vmobile proved too tantalising to be ignored.”
Source- http://allafrica.com
Technorati : Celtel, Mobile, Nigeria
Ice Rocket : Celtel, Mobile, Nigeria
Mobile industry in Africa satisfying key consumer needs
While Western mobile companies scratch their heads about how to replicate or adapt the widespread adoption of mobile data services in Japan and Korea, Africa provides another example of how people respond to a great need not new technology. Currently WIZZIT Bank is providing a mobile banking initiative to fulfil the needs of the 14 million South Africans who have no proper access to banks or other financial services. Analysts estimate that up to 60% of the 22 million mobile phone owners would be without bank accounts or easy access to money transfer systems and that WIZZIT would provide these mobile consumers with a significant benefit in becoming economic citizens.
WIZZIT is essentially a new bank that provides its customers with the ability to carry out transfers, pay standing orders, top-up mobile phone credit and take out money. Security is via the usual four digit codes used by other banks and they have relationships with other banking chains allowing you to still do things the usual way. They already have what they call a “cult following” and have set up accounts for farmers to allow the mto send money home or to other family members much more easily.
This kind of banking operation has been made illegal in England and, looking at some of the details more carefully, it is clear that WIZZIT is, if anything, not a business model to follow in all its details, even if it suits the needs of its current target market. First of all, the bank carries out no credit checks, something obviously impossible for some of the citizens who have no credit to check. It takes only 2 minutes to set up an account and the service is also available to schoolchildren, which makes it universal and, to Western minds, inherently suspicious. Uniquely, WIZZIT has a policy to only employ unemployed people and uses them as salespeople to demonstrate and spread their knowledge of the service. You’d be hard pressed to find many people who could have faith in a bank in England or America who followed a similar policy.
It remains to be seen if this service can remain popular and secure but it fundamentally fulfils a glaring need for its customers. It is also just another example of how Africans in general are some of the highest users of WAP technology to access the internet, in particular using their mobiles to access world news sites such as the BBC. Poor fixed-line networks and the high cost of computers have made internet access far more more appealing on mobiles. Fast adoption of 3G Networks and the effciency of cellular network companies as opposed to the government-run telecoms companies have made WAP an internet standard in Nigeria and South Africa.
Again this model is unrepeatable in its details, given the high development and penetration of broadband in Western companies, whcih effectively raised the bar for mobile phones and cannibalised the potenital market. What is noticeable is that in both cases mobile phones have fulfilled needs otherwise uncatered for or under-provided through other media (Banking and News-provision respectively). It is this aspect of recognising useful gaps in the market that needs to be worked on by operators in developed economies, where data aservices are more likely to enhance or improve existing habits and behaviours rather than create new needs.
Once networks provide this kind of longed for service to their customers they are likely to see increased goodwill and loyalty that has previously eluded them. As an unlikely example of this relationship developing, witness the woman in Sierra Leone who named her new-born son “Celtel” after the local mobile operator that allowed her to contact a midwife in time to deliver her baby. Admittedly, this is unlikely to happen in Europe (“We’ve decided to call her “Orange”!”) but at least we can get to the stage where we don’t resent or ignore them.
Source- http://www.w2forum.com
Technorati : Africa, Cellular, Wireless
Ice Rocket : Africa, Cellular, Wireless
Nokia, Motorola to open plants in Nigeria
Lagos – Leading mobile phone manufacturers, Nokia and Motorola, would soon establish plants for the manufacturing and assembling of mobile phone handsets and other accessories in Nigeria.
The plants were to be established under a special partnership arrangement between the Nigerian government and the foreign investors, This Day reported.
This was disclosed during the 5th International Telecommunications Strategic Conference held at the International Conference Centre in Abuja.
The country’s minister of communications, Femi Anibaba, said the government realised the need to cultivate local content in the sector to ensure rapid growth in Nigeria and other African countries.
A Chinese firm, ZTE, has already established a hand terminal manufacturing plant in Abuja with an initial capacity to manufacture one thousand handsets per day.
Anibaba said the conference would serve as an important avenue to showcase Africa’s potentials in telecommunications and pave the way for foreign direct investments.
Meanwhile, Nigeria’s leading GSM operator, MTN, on Tuesday slashed its major airtime rate cut for its subscribers.
Source- http://www.businessinafrica.net
Technorati : Mobile, Motorola, Nigeria, Nokia
Ice Rocket : Mobile, Motorola, Nigeria, Nokia
Celtel to rebrand Nigeria’s Vmobile
Nigerian mobile operator Vmobile’s new 65 percent stakeholder, Celtel, is preparing to rebrand the company, reports This Day, citing Martens Pieters, group managing director of Netherlands-based Celtel. Pieters explained that the company is making a strong financial commitment to Nigeria with the backing of its shareholder, Kuwait’s MTC.
Source- http://www.telecompaper.com
Technorati : Celtel, Kuwait, MTC, Netherland, Nigeria
Ice Rocket : Celtel, Kuwait, MTC, Netherland, Nigeria
Nigeria’s Glo reaches 9 million users in three years
Nigeria
‘s Glo Mobile has grown its subscriber base to 9 million in the three years since its launch, Vanguard reports. The Globacom subsidiary is
Nigeria
‘s second-largest mobile operator after MTN. The company is celebrating its third anniversary with a package of new products and promotions. It has introduced Glo Xcite for entertainment, news and information content and Glo Caller Tones to replace monotonous default ring tones. Globacom COO Mohamed Jameel also said the fixed-line operation would start offering services to corporate customers using its fibre network by the end of the year.
Source- http://www.telecompaper.com
Technorati : Glo Mobile, MTN, Mobile, Nigeria
Ice Rocket : Glo Mobile, MTN, Mobile, Nigeria
Nigeria: A3&O Wireless Introduces Imate Phones
Provider of mobile and wireless technologies, A3&O Wireless has comfirmed its introduction of the distribution of iMate mobile products and accessories into the Nigeria market.
The iMate models to be introduced are Jamin, KJam, and Jasjar and Smartflip with more to be introduced subsequently.
The Business Development Executive of the company, Adewonuola Ademulegun, who disclosed to THISDAY said that they are the authorised distributor of the iMate phones in Nigeria, said “The iMate brands are Personal Digital (PDA) phones or pocket personal computer. What makes the phones different from others is that they run on Microsoft windows mobile. The Microsoft Windows Mobile technology combines the technical elements of cellular technology with the basic business requirements of mobile PC platforms into a single device. It narrows the barrier between the phone and the PDA as it allows the user a single point of contact back into their standalone PC or notebook”
She explained that the phones could be used to check Contacts Calendar, Book meetings, use of SMS Messenger, Tasks & Voice Notes, MS word, MS power point and Excel.
According to Ademulegun, another special feature called ActiveSync which enables one to synchronize your global contact, calendar, task etc. from the PC or laptop to the phone and vice versa. It helps you to save your data and provides a back up in your computer in case of theft.
Ademulegun also explained “You can access your mails anywhere, anytime and keep your office on the run. the technology allows one to send and receive message. One does not have to go on-line. Whenever new mail is received in your inbox, the message is automatically available to read on your iMate phones.
GPRS and EDGE support make for speedy data connections, and the phone can act as a GSM data modem, with both Bluetooth and USB connectivity. The device has everything a computer has, she added.
Having tested the phones, she comfirmed that they are standard phones with a lot of memories, features and the battery live is fantastic, continuing, she said they do the same thing regardless of the service.
iMate has added chic, sleek and sexy to the already astounding range of features in its Smartphone range with the new iMate Smartflip. The Smartflip is the perfect balance between business functionality and lifestyle applications – a feature-rich Smartphone with a unique combination of striking good looks and remarkable functionality.
Incorporating the latest mobile design and cutting edge features, the K-JAM model should consign many business devices into the dustbin as it provides wide range business solution.
The I-mate JASJAR, a stunning device with a feature set that is world class. Propel to new heights with fast data speeds using the 3G capability and dazzling screen you can pivot into space.
I-mate JAMIN is built from the ground up to serve the complex needs of busy individuals.
Whatever model one chooses, the iMate series offers end-to-end mobile solutions that are quite unique in the telecommunications industry.
She disclosed that the A3&O as a Wireless technology and experts are looking for ways to build the applications to utilise the technology that the phones has in order to make it useful and make life easier every sector.
Ademulegun stated that devices like the iMate are now moving out of the era of being the technologically advanced toys for senior managers and engineers, and entering the mainstream of business applications, a trend evidenced by strong and steady growth in demand in other parts of Africa. A3&O Wireless, with an experienced team of application developers and several successful ventures, is positioned to support businesses entering into mobile applications.
She said she has no doubt in Nigeria that the phones is going to pick up as the technology gets more and more advanced.
As long as the business people have access to the product, the sky is the limit for the product. It is not just about the looks but it is what the phone can offer and that is our selling point, she concluded.
I-mate smart phones are available at retail stores of PC outlet and Daxtech Nigeria Ltd.
Source- http://allafrica.com
Glo Mobile increases bonus on N500 e-PIN
Second National Operator, Glo Mobile, says it is offering subscribers 15% instant recharge bonus on its electronic Personal Identification Number (PIN) recharge, otherwise called Glo e-PIN. In the new offer which will end on September 30, 2006, Glo Classic subscribers will enjoy 15% or N75 instant bonus each time they recharge their accounts with N500
Glo e-PIN. Until now, bonus on Glo N500 e-PIN was 10% while the bonus airtime on the N500 physical recharge card remains 10%.
The Glo e-PIN is a 14-digit recharge number loaded unto CDs for dealers who in turn retail them to end users either via SMS or by printing them out. It is another recharge option to the conventional recharge cards.
Besides the N500 e-PIN denomination on which the 15% instant bonus is offered, Glo e-PIN is also available in N1,000, N2,000, N3,000 and N5,000 denominations with instant bonus airtime ranging from 15% to 40%.
With the e-PIN recharge option, Glo Mobile subscribers have two modes of recharging their phones, Ehimen stated. They are the physical recharge cards and the Glo e-PIN.
For the distributors, the e-PINs offer considerable savings in warehousing and logistics costs.
Globacom says it will continue to live up to its rating as a truly Nigerian brand that is sensitive to the challenges and needs of its subscribers by putting options at their disposal.
Electronic commerce is sweeping through the country and Globacom is playing an active part in these sweeping reforms through the introduction of Mobile Banking, Glo Direct, Glo Internet service, Blackberry and Glo e-PINs.
…asPort Harcourt winners of promo get cars, generators and cash
Glo Mobile subscribers who emerged winners in the Port Harcourt and Owerri regional draws of the Glo Jumbo promotion have been presented with their prizes.
The lucky subscribers received their prizes at a combined presentation ceremony held at the Presidential Hotel, Port Harcourt. Six subscribers according to Glo, won Kia Picanto cars while another 6 won 5KVA generating sets at the Port Harcourt draw. At the Owerri event, 5 people won Kia Picanto cars, with 5 subscribers also winning generating sets. 50 subscribers won cash prizes of N25,000 in each of the two draws held last month.
The draws are part of the Glo Jumbo promotion in which N.5 billion worth of prizes including 180 cars, 180 5KVA generators, cash prizes and airtime are to be won in 180 days.
33-year-old Mobile Police Corporal, Adozi Solomon, a car winner in Port Harcourt, expressed appreciation to Globacom for uplifting him. “At first, I didn’t believe this was real. Even as I got here, I still had doubts, until the car keys were handed over to me. Now, I am a living testimony,” the policeman declared.
Another car winner, Vincent Osa, who works with an oil services company in Port Harcourt said: Glo has made me a car owner. I did not expect to be a car winner at this time, not to talk of a brand new car. Today, I testify that Globacom is real.”
Speaking at the presentation, the chairman of Emoha Local Government Area, Emeka Woke, expressed delight at being part of what he described as “a history making event.” He said, “Glo is empowering Nigerians in a very commendable way. It has brought a revolution in the telecommunication sector. Kudos to you.”
Chief Nweke Anucha, Chairman of Omuma Local Government Area, who was also a guest at the ceremony stated that Glo was continuously bringing telecoms services closer to people. “The network has helped us in developing our area. People now communicate with ease. I congratulate you on the transparency of the promotion,” he added.
Globacom’s Regional Manager for Port Harcourt, Sam Edohor, had in his welcome remarks acknowledged the support of the people of the region.
“We appreciate the goodwill and tremendous support we have enjoyed from Nigerians these past three years. The Glo Jumbo promo is one way of thanking our subscribers for their patronage,” Edohor said, adding that Globacom’s commitment to providing world class telecommunication services and improving the quality of life of Nigerians remained unwavering
Source- http://www.vanguardngr.com
Technorati : Glo Mobile, Mobile
Ice Rocket : Glo Mobile, Mobile
Nigeria: MTN Wins Best Mobile Operator of the Year Award
MTN Nigeria Communications Limited has emerged the Best Mobile Operator of the Year 2005 at the Nigerian Telecoms Awards ceremony.
MTN Nigeria won in the best operator category by beating Vmobile and Globacom.
Expressing delight with this new recognition, Mrs Amina Oyagbola, MTN Corporate Services Executive, described the Best Mobile Operator of the Year award as “exhilarating.”
She added that the recent Award is a confirmation of the influence of the telecoms giant in the sector and its massive impact in the lives of its teeming customers.
She disclosed that MTN opened the year 2006 with the Best CSR Company of the year at the 11th THISDAY Awards held in Lagos. That was immediately followed by a highly acclaimed international award – the Best Use of Phone in the Community, which its Rural Telephone Project won at the 3GSM World Congress in Barcelona, Spain.
Since it launched its operation in Nigeria five years ago, MTN Nigeria according to Oyabgola has won a string of awards and endorsements including THISDAY award for Brand of the Year, 2002 and 2004 and CSR Company of the Year 2005, Brand of the Year at the 2005 Nigerian Telecoms award as well as the City People Award for Excellence.
The company has also chalked up a Gold Award for Creativity and Quality of Service Delivery at the Nigerian Information Technology & Telecom Awards, NITTA 2002 and the Microsoft Award for doing the most to drive up the standards of IT services delivery in Nigeria.
In 2004, MTN was voted the Best Voice Calling Marketer of the Year at the Marketing Leaders Awards, and a Leadership Award 2004 from Card Technology Africa. The company also picked up other distinguished awards such as Most Media Friendly GSM Operator in Nigeria, Nigeria’s Most Respected Company Award as well as the Nigerian Society of Engineers award.
According to Oyagbola, “This is yet another endorsement of our continuous efforts to provide excellent service to our customers.”
Thanking the organisers for the honour, Oyagbola assured that the company was determined to uphold the confidence reposed in it by the Nigerian public. “We shall not rest on our oars. We committed to excellence and innovation” she enthused.
Over the past five years, MTN Nigeria has sustained its position as a telecoms behemoth with innovative product and marketing delivery resulting in a soaring subscriber base. MTN Nigeria, through the MTN Foundation has also earned an enviable track record of impactful social investment and community service.In a related development,Demola Elesho ,Chief Executive Officer of pioneer wireless telecommunications company, MTSFirst, emerged winner of the coveted “Best Telecom Personality” of the year award at the Nigerian Telecom Awards category..
According to organizers of the award, the choice of Eleso was informed by the remarkable rebirth of MTS and the re-positioning of the company as a major contender in the fast growing and highly competitive telecommunications industry in the country. “What Dem Eleso has accomplished with the MTS brand is simply an extra-ordinary feat and we are extremely impressed by the turn-around of the company within an incredibly short period of time.”
In his reaction at the event, Eleso dedicated the award to the resilience, hardwork, determination and support of the entire MTS staff, management, shareholders and directors of the company. He also expressed his gratitude to the organizers for the recognition extended to him and the entire MTS brand. According to Eleso “in spite of its many challenges, MTS has re-emerged to take its rightful position as a pioneer in the telecommunications industry and will continually deploy the imperative strategies aimed at actualizing its corporate objective “To be the local telecoms champion providing our customers with simple, dependable and affordable services”.
To many industry watchers, Eleso’s award is a major milestone that bears the trademark of the expertise of an emerging telecommunications icon.
Highly resourceful and forward-looking, it was the Eleso led management team’s business strategy that set off MTS on an aggressive expansion coverage to Abeokuta, Ibadan, Abuja, Port Harcourt while improving services in Lagos with over 12 additional base stations.
By sharpening the company’s marketing strategy, Eleso also increased the MTS market share. Today, the brand enjoys significant awareness and visibility which has culminated in the stimulation and sustainability of customer loyalty.
Eleso’s strings of successes however predates his appointment with MTS. Mr. Network as he is fondly called by the media, it was he who supervised and saw to the successful implementation of Y’ello Bahn, a mega backbone which earned his former employers a competing edge in the industry.
Other nominees in the category were Sifiso Dabengwa, former CEO of MTN and Chief Ezekiel Fatoye, CEO, Multilinks Telecommunications Limited. The very colorful event was chaired by Nigeria’s former military leader, Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar (rtd). Also in attendance were other top government functionaries like the Minister of Communications, Chief Cornelius Adebayo, Governor Gbenga Daniel of Ogunstate, Governor Saminu Turaki of Jigawa and the Executive Vice Chairman of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Engr. Ernest Ndukwe.
Source- http://allafrica.com/stories/200608240145.html
MTN Nigeria Communications Limited has emerged the Best Mobile Operator of the Year 2005 at the Nigerian Telecoms Awards ceremony.
MTN Nigeria won in the best operator category by beating Vmobile and Globacom.
Expressing delight with this new recognition, Mrs Amina Oyagbola, MTN Corporate Services Executive, described the Best Mobile Operator of the Year award as “exhilarating.”
She added that the recent Award is a confirmation of the influence of the telecoms giant in the sector and its massive impact in the lives of its teeming customers.
She disclosed that MTN opened the year 2006 with the Best CSR Company of the year at the 11th THISDAY Awards held in Lagos. That was immediately followed by a highly acclaimed international award – the Best Use of Phone in the Community, which its Rural Telephone Project won at the 3GSM World Congress in Barcelona, Spain.
Since it launched its operation in Nigeria five years ago, MTN Nigeria according to Oyabgola has won a string of awards and endorsements including THISDAY award for Brand of the Year, 2002 and 2004 and CSR Company of the Year 2005, Brand of the Year at the 2005 Nigerian Telecoms award as well as the City People Award for Excellence.
The company has also chalked up a Gold Award for Creativity and Quality of Service Delivery at the Nigerian Information Technology & Telecom Awards, NITTA 2002 and the Microsoft Award for doing the most to drive up the standards of IT services delivery in Nigeria.
In 2004, MTN was voted the Best Voice Calling Marketer of the Year at the Marketing Leaders Awards, and a Leadership Award 2004 from Card Technology Africa. The company also picked up other distinguished awards such as Most Media Friendly GSM Operator in Nigeria, Nigeria’s Most Respected Company Award as well as the Nigerian Society of Engineers award.
According to Oyagbola, “This is yet another endorsement of our continuous efforts to provide excellent service to our customers.”
Thanking the organisers for the honour, Oyagbola assured that the company was determined to uphold the confidence reposed in it by the Nigerian public. “We shall not rest on our oars. We committed to excellence and innovation” she enthused.
Over the past five years, MTN Nigeria has sustained its position as a telecoms behemoth with innovative product and marketing delivery resulting in a soaring subscriber base. MTN Nigeria, through the MTN Foundation has also earned an enviable track record of impactful social investment and community service.In a related development,Demola Elesho ,Chief Executive Officer of pioneer wireless telecommunications company, MTSFirst, emerged winner of the coveted “Best Telecom Personality” of the year award at the Nigerian Telecom Awards category..
According to organizers of the award, the choice of Eleso was informed by the remarkable rebirth of MTS and the re-positioning of the company as a major contender in the fast growing and highly competitive telecommunications industry in the country. “What Dem Eleso has accomplished with the MTS brand is simply an extra-ordinary feat and we are extremely impressed by the turn-around of the company within an incredibly short period of time.”
In his reaction at the event, Eleso dedicated the award to the resilience, hardwork, determination and support of the entire MTS staff, management, shareholders and directors of the company. He also expressed his gratitude to the organizers for the recognition extended to him and the entire MTS brand. According to Eleso “in spite of its many challenges, MTS has re-emerged to take its rightful position as a pioneer in the telecommunications industry and will continually deploy the imperative strategies aimed at actualizing its corporate objective “To be the local telecoms champion providing our customers with simple, dependable and affordable services”.
To many industry watchers, Eleso’s award is a major milestone that bears the trademark of the expertise of an emerging telecommunications icon.
Highly resourceful and forward-looking, it was the Eleso led management team’s business strategy that set off MTS on an aggressive expansion coverage to Abeokuta, Ibadan, Abuja, Port Harcourt while improving services in Lagos with over 12 additional base stations.
By sharpening the company’s marketing strategy, Eleso also increased the MTS market share. Today, the brand enjoys significant awareness and visibility which has culminated in the stimulation and sustainability of customer loyalty.
Eleso’s strings of successes however predates his appointment with MTS. Mr. Network as he is fondly called by the media, it was he who supervised and saw to the successful implementation of Y’ello Bahn, a mega backbone which earned his former employers a competing edge in the industry.
Other nominees in the category were Sifiso Dabengwa, former CEO of MTN and Chief Ezekiel Fatoye, CEO, Multilinks Telecommunications Limited. The very colorful event was chaired by Nigeria’s former military leader, Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar (rtd). Also in attendance were other top government functionaries like the Minister of Communications, Chief Cornelius Adebayo, Governor Gbenga Daniel of Ogunstate, Governor Saminu Turaki of Jigawa and the Executive Vice Chairman of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Engr. Ernest Ndukwe.
Source- http://allafrica.com
Technorati : MTN, Nigeria, Nokia
Ice Rocket : MTN, Nigeria, Nokia
