Globacom, Alcatel-Lucent in $600m network expansion deal
Jonah Iboma
Second National Operator, Globacom, has signed a deal worth $600m with telecommunications solution firm, Alcatel-Lucent for the expansion of its network.
Disclosing this on Wednesday in Lagos, Managing Director of Globacom, Mr. Mohammed Jameel, said the agreement would result in the expansion of the current capacity of the firm’s network to 30million from its current 13million.
Mohammed, who spoke during a visit of the Minister of Information and communications, Mr. Frank Nweke Jr. to the firm, said Globacom was also embarking on the rapid expansion to meet its target of increasing its subscriber base to 18milion by the end of the 2007 from the current 11million.
He said the investment was in line with firm’s decision to be the leading telecommunications firm in Nigeria adding that this informed the earlier investment of 285m on submarine optic fibre link between Nigeria and the United Kingdom.
Nweke, who had embarked on the current visit following the merger of the former information and communications ministries, commended Globacom for the impact it has had on the telecommunications sector since its entry into the industry.
He noted that since 2003 when Globacom entered the telecommunications market, the Nigerian market had not been the same. He said the federal Government was committed towards assisting firms such as Globacom, which have demonstrated the true potential of the Nigerian market towards making a success.
Jameel while explaining that the firm’s decision to continue to meet subscriber expectations also requested that leading GSM firms should be granted free third generation (3G) mobile licenses. According to him, the GSM firms including Globacom have already upgraded their networks to provide 3G services and were only waiting for licenses from the Nigerian Communications Commission.
Reacting to this, Nweke said the NCC would certainly take a decision on the matter but could not confirm the modalities that would be adopted. Under 3G, operators would be able to offer mobile video, a far more reliable mobile internet and many more services to subscribers.
The minister also confirmed that government would implement the merger of the National broadcasting Commission and the NCC.
Second National Operator, Globacom, has signed a deal worth $600m with telecommunications solution firm, Alcatel-Lucent for the expansion of its network.
Disclosing this on Wednesday in Lagos, Managing Director of Globacom, Mr. Mohammed Jameel, said the agreement would result in the expansion of the current capacity of the firm’s network to 30million from its current 13million.
Mohammed, who spoke during a visit of the Minister of Information and communications, Mr. Frank Nweke Jr. to the firm, said Globacom was also embarking on the rapid expansion to meet its target of increasing its subscriber base to 18milion by the end of the 2007 from the current 11million.
He said the investment was in line with firm’s decision to be the leading telecommunications firm in Nigeria adding that this informed the earlier investment of 285m on submarine optic fibre link between Nigeria and the United Kingdom.
Nweke, who had embarked on the current visit following the merger of the former information and communications ministries, commended Globacom for the impact it has had on the telecommunications sector since its entry into the industry.
He noted that since 2003 when Globacom entered the telecommunications market, the Nigerian market had not been the same. He said the federal Government was committed towards assisting firms such as Globacom, which have demonstrated the true potential of the Nigerian market towards making a success.
Jameel while explaining that the firm’s decision to continue to meet subscriber expectations also requested that leading GSM firms should be granted free third generation (3G) mobile licenses. According to him, the GSM firms including Globacom have already upgraded their networks to provide 3G services and were only waiting for licenses from the Nigerian Communications Commission.
Reacting to this, Nweke said the NCC would certainly take a decision on the matter but could not confirm the modalities that would be adopted. Under 3G, operators would be able to offer mobile video, a far more reliable mobile internet and many more services to subscribers.
The minister also confirmed that government would implement the merger of the National broadcasting Commission and the NCC.
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