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GSM IN NIGERIA…..TEN YEARS AFTER!!!

Nigeria joined other nations of the world in 2001 with Telecommunication giants MTN and ECONET WIRELESS (now Airtel) can we proudly say that our level of communication and development has improved as a nation?

The use of cellular phones have soared and mostly replaced the unrealistic services of the Nigerian Telecommunications Limited (NITEL). I can remember very vividly that phones like NOKIA 3310, TRIUM SONY, ERICSON etc were hotcakes, while SIM cards were sold for quite a fortune (N20,000 –N30,000) calls within the GSM networks and to other CDMAs (STARCOMMS, RELTEL, MULTILINKS) providers’ costs N50 ‘per minute’

But with the grand launch of GLOBACOM in August 2003, the ‘per second billing system’ was introduced and subscribers then had the choice between ‘per second and per minute billing system’. The then existing GSM providers (MTN and VMOBILE (now Airtel)) followed suite so as to retain their subscriber base. And also joining the GSM operators December 2009 is ETISALAT which also came with mouth watering packages and other valued added services.

Well, with the invent of smart phones with 2G, EDGE and 3G technologies such as Blackberry, Andriod, iphones, HTC, windows Mobile, tablet PCs and the likes, there has been easy access to information. Now millions of Nigerians can browse the internet, check emails, access social network site such as FACEBOOK and TWITTER, read Newspapers and Magazines online with the various GSM operators providing internet access to do so

There is a saying that goes thus “Rome was not built in a day” can we categorically say we have made so  much  progress in building the Rome in question (Telecoms Industry) with recurrent Network failures, unsatisfactory internet services and other value added services, expensive and ‘unreliable promos’?

I would not end this article without stating some of the benefits and advantages of  the advent of GSM in Nigeria. Some of which are

  1. Easy communication amongst individual without restriction in geographical locations
  2. Job opportunities
  3. Easier access to information
  4. Mobile technology etc

Dear reader, ten years down the line, can we boldly say that Nigeria Telecommunications industry under the watchful eye of the NIGERIA COMMUNICATION COMMISSION (NCC) be rated amongst the best in the world?

Kindly share some of the advantages of GSM in Nigeria so far and steps you think should be taken to improve the services provided by the GSM operators

You can also follow me on twitter @lammyng

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5 responses to “GSM IN NIGERIA…..TEN YEARS AFTER!!!”

  1. Omojuwa Avatar
    Omojuwa

    GSM service has not been the best you’d expect but it has saved us a great deal of things. I believe the traffic issues we often complain of would have been worse and we are all more connected than ever. My concern is the fact that we still have just 4 major players in a massive market like ours…this is unacceptable.

    Reply
  2. Kolawole Avatar
    Kolawole

    Nice write didn’t know u’ve got this skill in you and back to topic i think we’ve not really faired badly and it should surely get better

    Reply
  3. Victor Job Avatar
    Victor Job

    Commendable Lammy. Thank God for the progress so far. I know these communication companies face alot of challenges such as power and other related issues,despite these challenges the industry should improve on the quality of its network both on GSM and internet services and the NCC should do their work effectively cos their monitoring and sanction is relatively low. Thanks

    Reply
  4. phronesismide Avatar
    phronesismide

    Thanks guys..i reallly think we have not paid much attention to the telecomms industry..just like @omojuwa said the GSM operators are reaping us off.. And i strongly believe that the status-quo must change. We are paying too much for littlr services rendered #shikena

    Reply
  5. St John Avatar
    St John

    The nation is not yet there in the Telecom industry,thuogh the variances in service delivery and patronage in the sector speaks volume of impact of open/competitive market on subscribers,however,this could be applied to other sectors of the nations economy to break exploitative monopoly.Meanwhile,the nations progress in the industry is not too poor but emphasis should be henceforth laid on qualitative service delivery,reasonable tarrif and uptodate technologies from the telecom industries.NCC must be allive to its statutory responsibilities.

    Reply

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