Mobitel targets September roll-out

•Plans 40,000 fixed lines

Still in the euphoria of its latest 2.3 Gega Hertz (GHz) license, the returnee Mobitel Nigeria Limited, has awarded various contracts worth over $37 million (about N5.4 billion) to hasten its targeted roll out of 40,000 fixed lines by September this year.

Sources close to the company, informed ITRealms Online in Lagos, last weekend, that the telco has concluded plans to hit the market with 40,000 fixed lines, which it would offer alongside 1,400 free minutes on voice for each of its subscribers.

According to our sources, all efforts are geared towards going to the market on or before September 2009, just as Mobitel may have invested over $300 million till date.

ITRealms Online reliably gathered that Mobitel which expended over $100 million to return to the active table in the industry, is expected to engage some 600 staff.

Equally, it was gathered that out of the $37 million contracts awarded so far, VocalTec got $6 million for the first phase of a cutting-edge Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) platform, Alvarion of Isreal got $8 million for the first phase roll-out of 50 base stations in four main cities.

Also, Mobitel said it has awarded Main One Technologies the sum of $23 million for 2.5 Gega bit for a five year deal, just as co-location infrastructure providers, IHS and Helios Towers, have been signed on, while a forth night ago, the telco signed on Phase3 for its national transmission, even as Gateway Communications was given some contracts too.

Mobitel, a pioneering provider of telecommunications services in Nigeria is wholly acquired by a consortium led by Omni Ventures in 2008 and offers fixed and wireless voice, data and value-added services focusing on small-to-medium enterprises (SMEs) and high-end consumers across the country.

Mobitel maintains nationwide frequency spectrum allocations and a set of licenses that could be converted into a unified access service license. Powered by leading-edge WiMAX technology and a rigorously engineered network enabling the delivery of high-quality, cost-effective solutions, Mobitel provides a tailored service offering through an innovative sales-channel and customer-care strategy.

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