Mobile network expansion for Nigeria

Zimbabwean-based telecoms operator Econet Wireless Nigeria announced at the weekend that it was ready to embark on the next stage of its mobile phone network expansion plans in Nigeria. Econet rolled out its Global System of Mobile Communications (GSM) services in Nigeria last month after announcing a phased coverage plan for the entire 36 states.

“We offer effective coverage in Lagos, Abuja and Port Harcourt, and are on track to offer the same quality coverage in Uyo, Kaduna, Ibadan and Kano in the immediate future,” the company’s managing director Zachary Wazara was quoted as saying. “We were pleasantly surprised by the number of customers that came to subscribe to our services... the areas where we were the first to launch are buzzing hives of activity,” he said, without giving figures.

Wazara said the company had successfully launched an international gateway for its services. “The opening of the gateway gives all our customers the ability to make and receive international calls by dialling directly to more than 200 destinations worldwide,” he said. He added that this could be done without passing through the inefficient state-run operator NITEL with which it had an interconnectivity agreement.