Nigerian mobile telecoms operators, Globacom and MTN, are making progress towards rolling out and upgrading their respective network capabilities, to provide 3G services in the West African country.
The operators were awarded 3G licences last month by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), for a fee of $150 million each, according to the NCC Web site. Aside from Globacom and MTN, Alheri Engineering and Celtel Nigeria were also successful recipients of 3G operating licences.
Tayo Asiru, marketing manager at Globacom, says after successfully launching a 3G trial platform in August 2006, Globacom will commercially launch an improved 3G network in Abuja, Lagos and Port Harcourt. The service will be extended to the regions in and around Ibadan and Benin, he adds.
The company recently signed with telecoms service providers Alcatel-Lucent to roll out a network based on UMTS/HSDPA technology, which will provide Globacom subscribers with mobile broadband and triple-play services in selected cities.
MTN Nigeria has also started upgrading its network to cater for 3G services, explains an MTN press release. The telecoms provider embarked on a $650 million network expansion and upgrade project earlier this year to make way for a 3G-compliant environment.
Celtel Nigeria was also testing the 3G network platform, which was launched in November 2006.
Asiru believes the 3G services will benefit the commercial sector of the country, adding value to the Nigerian economy. "Nigeria's progress in offering 3G capabilities is important for encouraging further growth within the market."
Nigeria is the third country in Africa, after SA and Mauritius, to award 3G spectrum licences. Vodacom Tanzania and MTC Namibia have, however, launched HSDPA services.
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