Helios, Multi-Links enter deal on network management

Infrastructure sharing and services provider, Helios Towers Nigeria (HTN) and Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) operator, Multi-links Telkom Nigeria, have entered a multimillion deal on full network management.

The contract recently signed in Lagos, would avail HTN the benefit of managing the network infrastructure of Multi-Links Telkom in the country. Multi-Links became a wholly owned subsidiary of Telkom South Africa in January 2009.

Head, Marketing & Corporate Communications at HTN, Mr. Myke Ofili who confirmed this to ITRealms Online said that the new chief executive of Multi-Links Telkom Nigeria, Mr. Jeffrey Hedberg and his counterpart at HTN, Mr. Fazal Hussain endorsed the contract.

Commenting on the deal, Mr. Hedberg noted that the decision to outsource the management of the telco’s infrastructure was aimed at growing the operational expenses of the CDMA operator, strategically.

For Mr. Hussain, Helios Towers has become successful as infrastructure managers comprising of fully managing tower sites, which reduce the capital investment, operating expenses and expediting the rollout.

“We have quickly become the leading shared infrastructure provider and the reference point for quality of service in the industry and is well positioned to remain the dominant provider of   infrastructure sharing and fully managed services in Nigeria,” he said, stressing the fact that his firm adapts business models to the specific requirements of the Nigerian environment.

As said by him, Helios managed services would leverage on the existing expertise to supply additional services to Multilinks, noting that under the managed services market within the telecom industry is in a high-growth phase as part of lean operator model and is characterized by agreements that vary in scope between managed services providers and a broad range of telecom operators. 

“With reducing Average Revenue Per User (ARPU) and increasing degree of complexity, the operator can reduce the need to build network and services-related capability and lease this from Helios Towers which has expertise in managing this complexity resulting in Opex reduction,” he explained.

Also, he said that Helios Towers’ strength in telecom managed services lies in proven track record of managing over 1200+ BTS across Nigeria.  Helios Towers’ managed service is a third-party facilities management, monitoring and maintenance service offering to wireless network operators.

ITRealms Online recalls that Multi-links Telkom has been at the forefront of telecoms revolution in Nigeria in the past few years being the first Private Telecom Operator (PTO)licensed in 1996.

The company was awarded Unified license in 2006 for provision of full range of telecommunications services over a broad range of technologies. It offers an exciting bouquet of superior telecom services that encompasses the very best of voice, high speed data, internet and other innovative value added services to both individual and corporate subscribers.

Multilink Telkom had embarked on massive expansion of mobile telephone and broadband services to previously underserved areas which created a more favorable environment for businesses to operate, thereby creating jobs and contributing to economic growth of the country.

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