As all telecom investments now seem to be heading the way of rural communities, the second national operator, Globacom, said, last week, that in continuation of its rural telephony project, it is undertaking a rapid roll out in rural communities in all the regions of the country.
To this effect, the network said that rural areas like Ogu, Nkpron, Nwakanma, Bolu, Kono-Boue, Zaakpon, Kalaba, Uegwere, Kereke-Boue, Gbam-Boue, Nokwere, Ekin, Kamiun, Yobe, Nonwa and Kune, all in Rivers State, are covered in its roll out map.
This is even as Ndoni, Ogobia, Beruma Nonwa-Gbam Seme Kira, Kpite and Korokoro communities of the State are also targets of the network in its rural coverage plan.
The network, in collaboration with the Rivers State Government, penultimate week, also launched a rural telephony project which will see Rivers State covered with an estimated 56 new cell sites in rural communities. Under the arrangement, Globacom is erecting the Base Transceiver Stations (BTS) in remote and riverine areas of the state for ease of communication between the communities and the larger world.
This is in addition to the 99 sites which are being developed solely by Globacom around the state, giving such communities like Wukari in Taraba State, Kazaure, Kiyawa, in Jigawa; Nlagu in Abia, Ndiya in Akwa Ibom, Burutu in Delta, Dikenafai in Imo State, Oben in Edo State, Bulkachuwa in Bauchi State and Abor in Delta State, a taste of telecommunications experience.
simplifies SIM replacement
Meanwhile, as a way of keeping its subscribers glued to its network, the operator, last week, came up with a more simplified process of its Subscriber Identification Module (SIM) replacement, giving victims of phone theft an opportunity to heave a sigh of relief.
The new policy, which it said became effective last weekend, now makes it possible for subscribers who lose their SIM cards to replace them at any GloWorld outlet upon payment of only N200.
Announcing this, Globa-com’s Head Consumer Marketing, Mr. Chris Ehimen, said that the replacement process was further simplified to only require a proof of identity and the SIM card holder from a subscriber, to have his SIM replaced immediately. According to him, “where the card holder is unavailable, the subscriber would be required to provide information on any two of the following: Last recharge date or recharge amount, three regularly called numbers and service package and/or charging plan” he added.
He said the new policy was introduced in line with Globacom’s desire to make it easy, affordable and more convenient for its subscribers to replace their lost SIM cards.
“We recognize the high incidence of phone thefts in the country. So many subscribers lose their phones on daily basis. As a caring network, we want to ease the pain of our subscribers, to make it less cumbersome and more affordable for them to get back on the Glo network and enjoy all the benefits and value added services available on our network,” he added.
With the development, the Glo Mobile subscriber will not be required to provide sworn affidavits or police reports to replace a lost line. Apart from saving him the inconvenience of sourcing for these documents, the new policy also saves him the cost of procuring the papers.
Globacom said that subscribers who abandoned their lines because of SIM replacement procedures can now easily replace and reactivate their lines and start enjoying all the innovative services on the Glo network.
Sets to excite at WAFRITEL
And as the 7th edition of the West African International Telecommunication Technology Exhibition (WAFRITEL) comes up tomorrow at the Expo Centre of Eko Hotel and Suites, Lagos, the network has also said it would use the opportunity to promote some of its niche products and excite Nigerian mobile phone subscribers.
The services it said was going to be on display included the Voice SMS, GloFirst Cashcard, Glo Blackberry and a variety of value added services like GloFirst Cashcard.
The network introduced Glo First in conjunction with First Bank Plc and a Nigeria switching company, Interswitch, and the product has been catching on among the populace because it is a pre-paid debit card which allows users who do not have bank accounts to perform electronic transactions like bank account holders and debit card users via the Glo Mobile network.
Also to be showcased is the Blackberry which it introduced in Nigeria in 2006. Since then, the company said it has signed on key corporate organizations, multinationals and government agencies, and ensured that they are enjoying the Glo advantage. Blackberry allows users to send and receive emails anywhere on the extensive Glo GPRS coverage nationwide.
Also to be exhibited at the event is the Globacom gateway arm which has been providing telephone and hubbing services for African and other operators with international switches and points of presence in the United Kingdom, France, Germany and the United States. Globacom also has interconnection arrangement with leading international carriers globally. WAFRITEL, the biggest gathering of stakeholders in the telecommunications sector in West Africa, has become the region’s premier telecommunications event, attracting the industry’s major stakeholders. Voted the “Best Trade Exhibition in Nigeria”, WAFRITEL’s main focus is on telecommunications technology, cellular service providers, satellite communication and information communication technology.
Source: Vanguard
