Celtel improves network in South West with N85b

LEADING telecommunications operator, Celtel Nigeria, has said its aggressive network development would gulp the sum of N85 billion in the South Western region of the country.

Disclosing this in Lagos, General Manager, South West region, Celtel Nigeria, Mr. Akin Braithwaite, said the telco has embarked on aggressive network infrastructure development within the South West region aimed at providing its customers with better quality of service and extending its services to more communities in the region.

Mr. Braithwaite also revealed that expansion is estimated to cost the company $65 million, about N85 billion in 2007, to improve network capacity, expand its network coverage, and bring more communities within its coverage map as well as grow its capacity to provide excellent customer care service.

Mr. Braithwaite, who disclosed this at the regional media roundtable by the telco, noted the impact of Celtel’s massive investment in the improvement of its network would be fully felt in the coming months.

He stressed that improvement and expansion have already been witnessed in several communities in the region.

According to him, the changes being envisaged include significant improvement in network availability, reliability, general service quality, product availability, and capacity to provide good customer care service to the company’s customers and expansion of coverage to more areas.

Additionally, Mr. Braithwaite said, Celtel’s latest investment has resulted in increase in the number of Base Stations in the regions; a growth rate of 12.14 per cent and a significant growth in number of communities covered so far and include Ogun, Oyo, Ondo, Kwara, Osun, and Ekiti States.

He said Celtel is currently building a new Master Switching Centre (MSS) with 3G compatibility for the region and a new backbone to link South South region through Benin City, stressing, “When fully operational the backbone will boost Celtel’s transmission capacity considerably, making it possible for customers to communicate.”

The Celtel official said the mobile operator is desirous to satisfy the communication needs of its customers. “We are determined to cover more communities and empower more Nigerians to communicate. We are also working on improving products and services distribution system with a view to making them readily available to our cherished customers.

“The level of human capital in the South West region has been improved to enable us serve our customers efficiently in line with Celtel’s regionalization policy. Our region is now better focused commercially, technically and operationally to accomplish the company’s target of rolling out service aggressively, becoming more customer-focused and cost competitive.

“Celtel is poised to becoming the flagship mobile operator in Nigeria, a network that constantly responsive to the yearnings of its customers. We have demonstrated this with the introduction of Unity Tariff with offer of free monthly SMS, special low midnight call rate, lower international call tariff, same flat rate for calls to all networks and lower SMS rate” he said.

In his address to the occasion, the Chief Operating Officer, Celtel, Mr. Lars Stork, said that the company’s parent company, the MTC Group, is investing massively in Nigeria to enable the mobile operator embark on the ambitious and aggressive network rollout to boost the robustness of its network.

Mr. Stork added that Celtel’s is committed to realising its objective of making life better for its customers, and giving the company the competitive edge in the market place.

The roundtable is part of a series of activities aimed at introducing the regional management team to the media in their respective regions.

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MTN blames poor service on vandalisation

Global System for Mobile communications (GSM) operator, MTN Nigeria Communications Limited, has blamed recent poor quality of services on its network to vandalisation of equipment across the country.

The Corporate Services Executive, MTN Nigeria, Mrs. Amina Oyagbola, who disclosed this, said the telco is concerned over the repeated vandalisation of its equipment and installations nationwide.

This, the telco also said, its mostly concerned because of the impact this have on the quality of services to its subscribers.

“We have had to contend with what appears to be a steady onslaught of malicious damage to our fibre optic cables in some parts of the country,” she said, stressing, “it’s extremely alarming”.

Mrs. Oyagbola explained that telecoms infrastructure have been installed across the country, at huge cost in terms of labor and capital, for the sole objective of providing a rich and improved bouquet of telecommunications services to the Nigerian people.

“It is disheartening and very concerning that unknown persons would set out to deliberately sabotage these installations and in the process disrupt services for millions of Nigerians,” she lamented.

Mrs. Oyagbola recalls that in the last week alone, “critical fiber optic cables have been maliciously destroyed across two of Nigeria’s major geo-political zones, creating serious problems for users of telecom services.”

These, she noted, include MTN customers and customers of other networks wishing to terminate calls on MTN’s network.

“It is noteworthy that the ICT equipment deployed by MTN at huge cost, services the entire telecoms industry and not just MTN,” Mrs. Oyagbola said.

Further, she expressed immense concern at what appears to be an attempt to short-circuit the gains made so far by the nation in the telecommunications sector and appealed to the Federal Government for assistance in this respect.

While assuring customers and other stakeholders that the telco is reinforcing its private security network across the country especially in the areas that house critical infrastructure, Mrs. Oyagbola appealed to the Nigerians to keep a vigilant over telecom and other infrastructure in their localities.

“Such infrastructure, including base stations, switches and transmission cables, are for the collective benefit of the country and should be seen as such,” she said.

Mrs. Oyagbola equally urged citizens to inform the security agencies promptly if they see any equipment being tampered with, just as she pledged that MTN would continue to strive to provide Nigeria with world-class telecommunications services.

“In circumstances where our installations are damaged, we will strive to ensure that services are restored in the shortest possible time,” she reassured.

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Celtel introduces free weekend calls

The Global System for Mobile communications (GSM) operator, Celtel Nigeria, Wednesday, has introduced free weekend calls on the network.

Head, Public Relations, Events and Sponsorship at Celtel Nigeria, Mr. Emeka Oparah, informed that the new offer gives the company’s loyal pre-paid customers an opportunity to make free on-net calls on Sundays only.

According to him, the latest offer avails subscribers who recharge their phones with a minimum of N500 within a week, that is, between Monday and Saturday, to get 60 free minutes to make on-net calls on the Sunday of that particular week, while those who recharged N1000 within the same period will attract 120 free minutes.

Mr. Oparah also said that the offer, which commences immediately, is open to existing and new pre-paid customers, just as cumulative recharges will also qualify for the free minutes.

He said that this is another innovative way of delighting Celtel subscribers in the country.

“The new offer is a perfect, innovative complement to our existing offers including the trail-blazing Unity Tariff and the 10 million free minutes currently on offer,” Oparah said.

“As with the introduction of Unity Tariff; the country’s first ever Flat Tariff Plan which gives phone users the opportunity to call all networks at the same rate, the free weekend calls offer is yet another first by any GSM company in Nigeria,” he said.

He emphasised that it’s indeed yet another clear demonstration of commitment to brand philosophy of ‘Making Life Better’ for its subscribers”.

“Coming less than three months after the commencement of Unity Tariff the free weekend calls offer strongly underscores our commitment to providing unique and valuable products and services to our customers and Nigerians as a whole,” he said.

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The Palms to host ICT Extravaganza

PLANS have been advanced for the Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Extravaganza, at the popular ‘The Palms Shopping Centre, Lekki, Lagos on Saturday, this week.

This is the first of its kind in Nigeria that the western-styled shopping centre, has to organise the extravaganza to mark this year’s ‘Father’s Day.”

Sources at The Palms, informed Business Champion that from July, 15 through 17, the latest electronic and Information Technology (IT) gadgets would be on display for visitors to the centre to see, feel, enjoy and eventually make purchases at discounted prices.

Business Champion also gathered that the shops participating in the exhibition include PC Outlet, Buyright, Nokia, Lighthouse, Vision and Soul, and Woodstock Electronics.

Whereas PC Outlet, one of the official distributors of Acer and Apple products in Nigeria, promises visitors at the show with stocks of 60G ipods, Microsoft Vista ready laptops, the latest sound technology bars from BOSE, the tiniest but most efficient flash drives and a host of other innovative I.T products, LightHouse plans to showcase its lamp and lightings, just as it has in stock latest in elegant, trendy and exceptionally different styles of lamps, fittings, chandeliers and switches all at very affordable prices.

For those planning to visit Vision and Soul during the show, they would be treated to what the firm called an ultra modern electronics store, representing world class electronics brands, such as Pioneer, Nakamichi, Harman/Kardon, JBL, Mafco and Monster.

Business Champion was informed that Vision & Soul also retails top quality electronic products such as Plasma and Liquid Crystal Display (LCD) screens, home theatre, Digital Video Display (DVD), DVD recorders, multimedia speakers, car stereo and accessories, components and cables that come with warranty and after sales service on all its products.

As well, Nokia said its set to dazzle guests with new highly affordable handsets such as the latest Nokia N95, which doubles as a smartphone and comes with a 5 mega pixel camera, and operates on the Symbian Open Source (OS) software, eye catching accessories, and a customer service.

Relatively, the management of Buyright, also informed that as another shop known its stocks of technological gadget at very affordable prices, is set to continue the trend with offer of Personal Digital Assistant (PDA) phone with Television, Global Packet Radio Service (GPRS) cum Universal Serial Bus (USB), phone modems, Internet routers, gold Media Players (MP3), wristwatches, sound pods, and the diminutive Roboacto.

In addition, the Business Champion gathered that WoodStock Electronics, an independent custom electronics design and installation company, specialises on providing solution for residential and commercial audio-visual systems, as well as offers support for some best international brands.

The Palms Mall, managed by Broll Property Services Ltd, is the Nigerian subsidiary of Broll Property Group (PTY) Limited of South Africa.

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Changing lives with Yello’ Love

Features of the week:

MTN Nigeria Communications Limited, recently concluded its Yello Love Bug promo and has commenced presentation to winners. REMMY NWEKE reports that the telco is changing lives of Nigerians with this initiative.

Introduction:

Penultimate Sunday, the morning sun began to emerge like a beautiful bride, few hours later the rain began to fall in what observers at the presentation ceremony of the brand Toyota Corolla cars to some winners of the MTN’s Yello Love Bug promotion, tagged ‘showers of blessing’.

The venue was the popular Protea Kuramo Waters, Victoria Island, Lagos, where winners and well wishers especially life partners defied the rain fall and trooped out to receive their prizes after spending a wonderful moment at the resort.

Although the telecommunications giant and Third Generation (3G) compliant telco, MTN Nigeria, in the bid to keep up and sustain its subscriber-base, appreciated them by introducing the Yello Love Bug promo in commemoration of this year’s Valentine’s Day, which was precisely held on February 14, of which the love emanating thereof, changed some subscriber’s lives.

Remarkable is that till date, MTN has lived up to its promise giving the two presentations so far made with regard to this promo. While the first presentation took place at Protea, the second was held at The Palms, Lekki, Lagos, just as each of the 14 winners that emerged were packaged to include a N100,000 wardrobe makeover and lunch during their special weekend preceding the presentations, would go home with Toyota cars to wrap it up.

While the star prize winner gets BMW 1 series in addition to a weeklong trip to Paris with a partner and the sum of $3,500 for a change of wardrobe.

The journey so far:

The General Manager, Consumer Marketing at MTN Nigeria, Mr. Ikechukwu Kalu, while speaking recently at the last draw in Lagos, disclosed that the promo witnessed tremendous participation of about 93 million subscribers.

The winners, he said are being led by star prize winner and an Akure-based civil servant, Mr. Biodun Ogunwoya, who would soon ride home with BMW 1 series wagon car. That is, after he had expended a week-long trip with his partner to Paris.

MTN decision to present some of them with their brand new cars, is in fulfilment of the telcoms promise, recalling 72 subscribers on the network, won N100,000 each at various electronic draws for the promotion as well as four journalists, 10 other subscribers benefited by having a weekend trip to any resort in the country for two in addition to their ownership of new Toyota Corolla cars respectively, whereas additional four cars were added after the promo was shifted by few weeks based on its impressive outing.

“The MTN Y’ello Love bug promo was a Valentine campaign launched by the telco to avail its subscribers the opportunity to win BMW 1 series, a trip to Paris for two plus $3,500 cash, 10 customers won weekend trip to a resort in Nigeria in addition to a Toyota Corolla and N100,000 for wardrobe make over,” he asserted.

Another 50 customers, he said, went home with N100,000 each, 100 customers were treated to a special Valentine’s day dinner with free hotel accommodation, yet another 5000 subscribers won N5,000 airtime each and 500 customers won exquisite hamper for the season.

The coming of MTN:

MTN Nigeria prides itself as a leading cellular telecommunications company, which launched its GSM operation on May 16, 2001 in the country.

Since its commercial launch in August 2001, MTN has steadily deployed its services nationwide covering over 223 cities and towns, more than 10,000 villages and communities and a growing number of highways across the country, spanning the 36 states of the Nigeria and the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.

Many of these villages and communities are being connected to the world of telecommunications for the first time ever.

In the winners’ world:

Obviously the excited winners in the Yello Love Bug promo, were unanimous in declaring that MTN Nigeria has been the best customer-friendly brand.

These praises, according to some of them were not unexpected as they declared that MTN is the leading communications company, hence it’s living up to the customer-centric nature of a good leader expected in this sector, whilst moving its customers ahead always.

The first presentation took place on Sunday, May 26, while the second batch was held on June 2, 2007, where various set of winners were handed over the keys to their cars, at a brief ceremony.

A winner and member of the Kebbi State House of Assembly, Alhaji Sani Wara, was full of praises to God for His immense blessing, and said he began to believe the promo when he followed the directive from MTN, to visit the telcos website and eventually saw his number.

This came as a businessman and one of the winners, Alhaji Bala Danladi from Minna, Niger State, told newsmen after receiving his car keys that the event would forever remain indelible in his mind as it marked the realisation of his dream of visiting Lagos.

“I have never been to Lagos all my life. So you can see my surprise when I was called to come down to Lagos. I thank MTN for the car and this wonderful experience too,” he declared.

For a Benin city-based businessman, Mr. Courage Osayi, who was overwhelmed with joy, beamed with smiles alongside his fiancée, Ms Favour David, the weekend sponsored trip and treat at Grand Kuramo Waters was accomplishment of thier forthcoming wedding plans.

“I have never experienced this kind of treatment before. It was like a trip to paradise because MTN has played a big role in my planned marriage by organising a honeymoon for us before the real thing. They even gave us a brand new car for the wedding,” he said.

Mr. Osayi expressed gratitude to MTN for giving his life a big lift, stressing that himself as a living proof, would be heading to his base, Benin city, to assume the position of MTN goodnews evangelist and how much the company could go in touching the lives of its loyal customers.

Yet another winner, Miss Vivian Okoro, a youth corper, currently serving in Abuja, described her emergence as an act of God, noting that the recent theft of her mobile phone turned out to be a big blessing.

“I just started using MTN in January this year when my mobile phone was stolen. My boyfriend then replaced it but rather gave me an MTN Subscribers Identification Module (SIM),” she said,thus, she was very sceptical on getting the news that GSM line has won a car and accompanied fortune.

Reacting to her three-day stay in Grand Kuramo Waters Resort, Ms Okoro, commended MTN for the ‘royal’ treatment accorded her, adding, “See how MTN has turned me into a Princess; from the wardrobe makeover to the brand new car, the company has transformed me for the better.”

Equally for a caterpillar driver, Mr Sharafadeen Jogunola, MTN is God’s vehicle for the transformation of his life. While applauding the telco, Mr. Jogunola said that MTN has rewritten his life story; from rags to riches.

“I never imagined myself owning a car for now. But as you can see, when big men ride in their cars, I will also cruise in mine because MTN has made me a ‘big man’ and shown that the promo is real,” he asserted excitedly.

Commenting at the presentation, MTN Corporate Services Executive, Mrs Amina Oyagbola, congratulated all the winners for making MTN their network of choice.

“MTN is a socially responsible company which has continued to touch the lives of its customers in very many ways and Y’ello Love Bug promo is one of such programmes it has put in place to reward these customers for their unflinching patronage,” Mrs. Oyagbola noted, stressing that MTN is currently investing several billions of Naira into infrastructural expansion of its network, and described the recent commencement of 3G services by the company as a proof of this as well as consolidation of its market leadership.

Additionally, GM Consumer Marketing, Mr. Kalu, pointed out that the promo was coherent with MTN’s policy of placing high premium on its subscribers, and described the presentation as another promise fulfilled and leadership delivered.

“We promised our loyal customers a mind-blowing Valentine’s celebration and the presentation of these cars have shown that we have delivered completely and totally, which is a mark of responsible leadership,” Mr. Kalu said.

He reiterated the telco’s commitment toward providing unmatched service quality to its subscribers so as to move them ahead everywhere they go, just as MTN would soon present additional two brand new cars to winners at a ceremony to be held at its Ikoyi office.

Champion Infotel gathered that though the redemption billed to end before this month of June runs off, would see MTN giving out a total of 15 brand new cars and N100,000 to scores of customers, the truth is that despite every odd brought about by lack of infrastructure, a telecom operator like MTN is ready for the impending 3G competition.

Like Alhaji Sani and Danladi charged the telco, this good step should be sustained.

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ITU unveils online strategies to curb cyber crime

Global Information and Communication Technology (ICT) regulator, the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), at the weekend, unveiled new online strategies for combating cyber crimes.

The new strategies developed as an online tool, ITU said, is to keep track of crucial ICT security standards work through a single access point.

Champion Infotel investigations showed that ITU launched ICT Security Standards Roadmap as a follow up to the announcement by the global regulator of its Global Cyber Security Agenda (GCSA).

According to the ITU Secretary-General, Dr Hamadoun Touré, the agenda is an ambitious two-year plan to curb cyber crime, between 2007 and 2009.

He also said that for the first time, ICT security vendors, service providers, developers, researchers and the public will now have security standards at their fingertips, with one common user interface.

The guide called the ICT Security Standards Roadmap brings together information about existing standards and work in progress by the world’s key standards developers.

“It is a collaborative effort between ITU, the European Network and Security Information Agency (ENISA) and the Network and Information Security Steering Group (NISSG),” he said.

Dr. Touré also noted that enhancing security in cyberspace is a matter of critical concern in an increasingly networked society.

He stressed that crimes on the Internet alone have led to losses estimated at several billion dollars, both from online theft and from costs related to fixing networks that have been the victim of cyber attack.

He pointed out that cyber crime takes several forms; from breaching network security, financial fraud, and invasion of privacy and identity theft to virus attacks or spam.

Equally speaking on the standards, Director, ITU’s Telecommunication Standardization Bureau, Mr. Malcolm Johnson, said that there has never been a greater incentive to revitalize the order and trust in the stability and reliability of communications systems, and standardization in security design for networks, adding, its a key prerequisite.

“Standards-development bodies have a unique ability to address security vulnerabilities in ICT by bringing together all players,” he said.

Mr. Johnson also said ITU has been supportive of publications and development of many important security recommendations, as well as behind many open discussions on providing security guidelines to protocol authors and identifying threats and vulnerabilities.

In addition, the guide provides information for potential users of security standards and other stakeholders to gain an understanding of what standards are available or under development as well as the key organizations that are working in these areas.

Mr. Johnson pointed out that this web-based tool also lists standards-development organizations and the security standards they publish.

“Acting as a central tracking facility, its not only enabling identification of standards and related activities, but also fosters coordination among standardization bodies, reducing duplication of effort and making it easier to identify existing gaps,” he said.

Equally, the guide, would afford development on an ongoing basis to enhance its scope and include other standard-development organizations, even as its organized in five sections.

These include ICT standards development organizations and their work, approved ICT security standards, security standards under development, future needs and proposed new security standards, and best practices, just as the standards are in a searchable database format with links to their sources.

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Intercontinental to launch Prepaid MasterCards

LEADING financial institution in the country, the Intercontinental Bank Plc, has concluded plans to launch its Prepaid MasterCard into the nation’s electronic payment solution market.

Disclosing this in a chat with newsmen at the corporate headquarters of the bank in Victoria Island Lagos, the Executive Assistant to the Group Chief Executive, Intercontinental Bank Plc, Mr. Soji Janyo, said the bank would soon be going public with some of its latest in stock.

One of this offers, he said, is the Prepaid MasterCard, a product developed in response to the yearning of teeming banking community, especially for those who travel abroad at short intervals and is the first of its kind in the nation’s banking history.

Highlighting the benefits of the Prepaid MasterCard, the Group Executive, Intercontinental Direct Card Services, Mrs. Uchenna Okwodu, said that it currently comes in two denominations, namely the $100 and $200 cards respectively.

She also said that this could be acquired over the counter at any of the bank’s branches nationwide at additional cost of $25.

Mrs. Okwodu added that it could be obtained without necessarily having an account with the bank, just as it would avail users the opportunity of making payment anywhere in the world, even as it is reloadable.

This prepaid MasterCard, she pointed out, is very good for Nigerians and those studying abroad, hence their guardians could reload their card at intervals without hassles.

“Intercontinental is the first bank to introduce this in order to make its customer feel at home and better as well at ease in moving around, mostly when they have to make purchase abroad,” she said.

According to her, before now, getting any electronic payment card takes up to five days, but with technology available to the bank and its partner, MasterCard, this prepaid product was developed and could be acquired in matters of few hours.

“All that is required is for the customer to fill our form, submit passport photograph with identification,” Mrs. Okwodu said.

She noted that the bank has two other denominations, namely $1000 and $2000, which would require nametag on the card and could take about three days to actualise.

She further disclosed that the bank as the leading financial institution in the country, has so far issued over 20,000 MasterCards.

Mrs. Okwodu explained that each prepaid card issued is registered at the branch of issue and head office card centre, and “only minimal personal information would be requested as required by MasterCard ‘Know Your Customer’ (KYC) theory.”

She advised that users should always have in mind some of the salient questions about their cards, so as to enable them answer correctly at point of emergency.

Equally speaking, the Card Service Operations Officers at Intercontinental Direct, Mrs. Gina Anyanwu accompanied by Mr. Kayode Sorinwa, assured that plans have been completed to ensure that this product is available nationwide, stressing that there is a plan with MasterCard to handle emergency Prepaid cards in the case of theft to enable such user to still complete his or her purchase on time and get home.

She however, cautioned that in the case of any rejection, it could be attributed to sites and assured Nigerian users of the latest product that the bank has all it takes to ensure they enjoy the product to the fullest.

Mr. John D. Omachonu of the Corporate Affairs department, also informed Champion Infotel that the official launch date has been fixed for Friday, June 22 in Lagos.

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Will free net calls save MTSFirst?

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Market Intelligence:

Last week, the pioneer Mobile Telecommunications Service (MTS) otherwise known as MTSFirst announced the introduction of free network calls for all range of subscribers.

This, Champion Infotel gathered was in the bid to save the network and regain its glory amidst stiff competition, due to depleting subscriber base.

The initiative tagged MTS Unlimited Tariff Plan, is a customer-centric according to company sources and is to enable the telco meet the telephony needs of a wider-spectrum of potential and existing subscribers on the network as part of its new corporate direction and strategy to increase the company’s market share.

The telco also said “the offer kicked off on Monday, May 21, 2007, and is available to all standard pre-paid subscribers between the hours of 7 p.m and 6.59 p.m, Monday through Friday.

Even, subscribers could also enjoy a special weekend marathon treat that gives them free on-net calls between 7p.m on Friday and 11.59p.m on Sunday.

This, the new management of the company said, was introduced strictly on the dictates of sound corporate governance and high ethical standard.

Additionally, the telco said it places greater premium on customer-centric initiatives and cost-competitiveness in the application of world-class telecommunications service delivery in the country.

MTS also announced an unbeatable slash in the prices of a wide range of handheld and desk-top phones on its network to suit the demands of both low-end and upwardly mobile individuals as well as meet the telephony requirements of various corporate organizations.

Industry analysts see this action as a saving step for the network, unfortunately, every thing seems to be heading to the opposite for the telco, who not long ago relaunched its services and logo, yet, in what observers described as ‘Tsunami exit’ of its top management staff at a go.

One aspect of the effect of enmass exodus of its top officials must have resulted in the poor services thereby thrusting the management of the telco in hands of ‘faceless’ group of personnel, yet to be proclaimed months after the exodus.

For instance, MTSFirst services are nothing to talk home about as subscribers have continued to lament increased poor services.

A case in point has been the telco’s Internet value added service, which has immensely depreciated.

Recent reports have it that MTSFirst night browsing leaves less to be desired on daily basis, as the customers, especially those who subscribed for evening till midnight lose an average of two hours either trying to connect, waiting to be connected or precisely cannot connect, because, according to sources at MTS, “there is likelihood that we have many subscribers at this area.”

But even if the reality is the increase in the number of subscribers in a given area, experts contended that nothing stops the company from improving on their infrastructural capacity to focus on that area.

The Consumer Protection Agency of the Federal Government should wake up to its responsibility, by coming up with an initiative to save subscribers from falling prey of drowning telcos, even as industry-based non-governmental organisations, and the Consumer Affairs Bureau of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), should take this issue seriously before it gets out of hand of becoming insolvent.

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AlphaTech exhibits customisation @ W.AfriTel-07

Emerging telecommunications Value Added Service (VAS) provider, Alpha Technologies, at the weekend, took its customisation solution to the just ended West African International Telecommunications exhibition (W.Afri.Tel) 2007, held in Lagos.

Addressing newsmen at the AlphaTech stand, the managing director, Mrs. Maggie Peters, said that the vision of the company is to offer Nigerians and telecom subscribers at large, real value for their money especially for those whose business revolve around the telecommunication sector, by deploying what she called SMAT numbers.

As said by her, with the SMAT numbers telecom subscribers would have the opportunity of personalising their business name or individual names.

She cited an instance that her company could provision a given telephone number to read alongside the customer’s name, such as 0700-KinkyFlowers or 0800-Zedonoil and 0700-Oladimeji among others.

Mrs. Peters also said that Alpha Technologies, licensed by the industry regulator, Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) on 0700 and 0800 as non-toll free service and toll free service lines respectively, has the software to enable this service on all mobile devices and is compatible with every network operator in the country.

The service, which is available for both fixed and mobile lines, she said, could be subscribed to through getting of the SMAT subscription form or SMAT electronic cards available at all the Guaranty Trust Bank and First Inland Bank branches nationwide.

She explained that activation steps for SMAT involves scratching off the silver foil on SMAT card to reveal the security code numbers, following which the subscription would be confirmed and that the services come in three categories, namely SMAT sole, SMAT biz and SMAT corp.

Annual subscription, she said, for individual users on SMAT is N15,000, even as it has an attached SMAT fax which costs N25,000 annually.

On the SMAT biz, Mrs Peters informed that it’s a package for Small and Medium sized enterprises, while the SMAT Corp is focused on corporate organizations.

She further said that SMAT Biz cost N25,000 for entry level, any additional number on this category attracts N15,000 per line and subject to maximum of three lines.

“The SMAT number package for corporate organisation cost N50,000, which entitles the subscriber to two phone lines,” she said, noting that any additional lines attract N20,000 and subject to maximum of 18 phone lines.

Implemented of any of categories, Mrs. Peters said, could be on 0700 and 0800 respectively, stressing that with the toll free service lines recipients of calls pay for it, such as customer care services.

“With the recipient paying for the cost of the call made to him or her provides the customers a faster and easier means to reach him and it helps to make their businesses more accessible,” she said.

This would also encourage troubleshooting of customer’s problems more easily and encourage customers to call them.

She listed the benefits of toll free services, for instance, to include enhancing customer services by providing customers a no-change means of reaching the service provider, means of business development and source of feedback from customers, broadens market reach, especially sales while driving market for the organisation among others.

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eNNOVATE-07 expo gets August date

The nation’s Information and Communications Technology (ICT) sector has been set aglow as the annual eNNOVATE Expo date has been announced.

Champion Infotel recalls that eNNOVATE, Nigeria’s premier technology and value added services expo which made its debut in 2005 and organized by the communications consultancy firm, XLR8 Ltd, has been a platform for popularising value added technology solutions.

In addition, it has become a platform for education of potential users of ICT tools to better their lives.

Project Manager for eNNOVATE 2007, Mr. Adewole Ojo, disclosed to Champion Infotel that all is now set for the event scheduled to hold next month, August 16 through 18 at the Musical Society of Nigeria (MUSON) Centre, Onikan-Lagos.

He said that since its debut over two years ago, “eNNOVATE has witnessed the participation of leading international technology-driven organizations including DHL, Nokia, MTN, Mtel, Hewlett Packard, Starcomms, IBM, Accelon, and many more, even as it has personal participation of Nigeria’s minister of communications and key officials of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC).”

According to him, this year’s theme, would examine issues around the impending migration of Nigeria’s telecom networks to Third Generation (3G).

He also said that already lined up as sponsor of eNNOVATE 2007 is DHL, the world’s leading international expedited logistics operator, emphasising, “DHL has a wide international reach and spread which it continues to coordinate to global acclaim by deploying the very latest in technological tools and applications.”

Equally on queue and billed to sponsor eNNOVATE 2007 is Cisco, the world’s leading provider of networking for the Internet, noting that Cisco has within a little over two decades grown to a global entity with offices scattered around worldwide.

He recollected that Cisco operates a network academy programme with an objective to train and impart ICT skills.

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