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Tag: 9Mobile

  • Rivers seals 9mobile office over N108m tax default

    The Association of Licensed Telecommunication Operators of Nigeria (ALTON), has decried the unilateral closure of 9mobile Port Harcourt Regional Office by officials of Rivers State Internal Revenue Service (RIRS).

    A petition addressed to the Executive Chairman, RSIRS jointly endorsed by ALTON chairman and executive secretary, Engr. Gbenga Adebayo and Kazeem Oladepo respectively, lamnted that the sealing of EMTS premises is to compel the collection of alleged tax liability of N107,958,536.96, which represents its disputed outstanding tax liability arising from Pay-As-You-Earn (PAYE) of expatriates, erroneously believed by the revenue agency to be subject to tax within the Rivers State.

    “As you know PAYE obligations are to states in which the employees reside, therefore, since EMTS did not have any expatriate(s) on its payroll who were residing in Rivers State within the assessment period, EMTS is clearly not indebted to the government of Rivers State for the alleged tax. EMTS had, at several meetings and by various correspondence explained and maintained that it is not indebted to the government of Rivers State as alleged by the RIRS, as it has never had expatriate employees working or residing in the state, and provided relevant documents in support of its position,” the petition read.

     ALTON said based on its findings, it wishes to categorically reiterate that EMTS is not indebted to the government of Rivers State and that the sealing of EMTS’ premises is illegal, especially as it was carried out without a court order and without adherence to the due process of law. “The conduct of the RIRS in this regard, apart from being a clear contravention of the law, goes against the efforts of government at improving Nigeria’s position on the global Ease of Doing Business index, to encourage foreign investment. Also by applying self-help remedies especially in a situation where the claim is erroneous, the RIRS has portrayed the state in very bad light as unfriendly and not welcoming of investors.

    “We also wish to draw your attention to the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) directive that no government agency should seal any BTS site as they are designated Critical National Infrastructure. In this instance the directive has clearly been contravened by RIRS in sealing 9Mobile premises where a critical site is also situated, which has become inaccessible with the attendant security implications,” ALTON said.

    It said EMTS has suffered incalculable financial loss as the sales outlet which is within the premises has remained closed, preventing it from serving its esteemed customers. EMTS has also suffered severe reputational damage from the bold display of the sealing order on EMTS premises, creating the perception that EMTS is a tax defaulter. EMTS employees have suffered untold hardship due to this wanton act, as its employees have been unable to resume at their duty posts for over two weeks.

    “All entreaties to meet with the RIRS for a reconciliation was rebuffed; rather, the RIRS has compelled EMTS to make a payment of 30 per cent of the alleged sum amounting to N32,387,561.088 as a pre-condition to unsealing EMTS regional office. EMTS has been severely prejudiced by the refusal of the RIRS to give EMTS an opportunity for a reconciliation meeting, despite several requests for the same.

    In view of the foregoing, ALTON requests RIRS and the state government to desist from any acts inimical to the normal operations of our members in the state and to unseal EMTS premises immediately to enable it to continue its operations to offer Rivers State it usual world class services, while granting EMTS audience for a reconciliation meeting at which we trust the matter would be finally resolved,” the operators said.

    Copied are the Executive Vice Chairman (EVC) Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC); National Security Adviser, (NSA); Minister of Finance; Minister of Trade & Industry and Secretary, Joint Task Board (JTB)

  • MTN: fear of Airtel, 9mobile over Visfone spectrum baseless

    MTN Nigeria yesterday said the fear of two of its competitors, Airtel and 9mobile, that its acquisition of Visafone and its 800megahertz (MHz) spectrum, would substantially lessen competition in the data market segment and ultimately create a monopoly in the industry, was baseless.

    It said the competitors’ arguments were academic and based on panic fear.

    It insisted that rather than creating a monopoly, the development would allow the Federal Government to realise its broadband target of 30 per cent this year and ultimately grow the nation’s gross domestic product (GDP).

    Its Senior Manager, Regulatory Affairs, Johnson Oyewo, who represented the telco at the public hearing convened by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) in Abuja, said the regulator has introduced a number of regulatory initiatives such as Spectrum Refarming, Passive Infrastructure Sharing and Spectrum Trading amongst others which provide a level playing field for all players and unlocks access to essential facilities and will go a long way in deepening industry growth and dynamism.

    “These initiatives which promote market efficiencies should be leveraged by all market players to their advantage. The newly introduced Spectrum Trading Guidelines further strengthens healthy competition as every market player can freely engage in spectrum trading which is readily available in the secondary market with some market players who are underutilising same,” he said.

    He said the NCC in its Competition Determination found the mobile data market segment where the 800MHz spectrum will be deployed to be effectively competitive. He argued that competitors have failed to substantiate allegations of conducts deemed to result in substantial lessening of competition as specified by the NCC in its Competition Practices Regulations 2007.

    He also said the ‘democratisation of spectrum access’ as well as the immediate transfer of the 800MHz Visafone spectrum to MTN, is one of the things that could fast track Nigeria’s target of achieving 30 per cent broadband penetration by the end of 2018.

    “Nigeria’s broadband penetration is presently at 21/22 per cent. We are committed to the national broadband penetration which was why we bought the 2.6 GHz spectrum band and MTN was the only bidder then. We are working hard to expand our networks across Nigeria and the 800MHz gives an advantage of wider coverage using fewer resources. The ultimate beneficiaries are the Nigerian government, and every Nigerian who will benefit from the pervasive roll-out of broadband services and success of the rural telephony project,” he said.

    According to Oyewo, MTN’s continuous infrastructural roll-out underscores the company’s unwavering commitment to Nigeria in the long term, and as such other operators too should demonstrate the same commitment arguing that the attendant impact of all operators’ collective investment on GDP given the International Telecommunication Union (ITU)’s findings will lead to a 10 per cent leap in broadband penetration thereby resulting in one per cent yield on GDP as well as lower retail prices which is beneficial to all consumers.

    ‘’We have shown time and again that we are committed to the Nigerian market. MTN has consistently invested in communications infrastructure, particularly broadband infrastructure in Nigeria. The facts are there for everyone to verify, no other operator has displayed this level of commitment to development of the Nigerian telecoms space including operators whose parent companies rank higher globally in terms of subscriber numbers,” he said.

    As the timeline for achieving the broadband target of 30 per cent draws nearer, stakeholders must demonstrate commitment to supporting the Federal Government. In this regard, MTN, acquisition of Visafone is a step in the right direction at actualising the target. In order for the network expansion, and attendant service quality improvement to continue, it argues, the NCC should take a fair decision, in allowing the transfer of the Visafone 800MHz to MTN in the interest of the consumer and the Nigerian economy.

  • 9mobile crashes U.S roaming rates

    Nigeria’s fourth largest carrier, 9mobile, in a strategic partnership with United States (U.S.) leading telecom firm, AT&T, is offering customers visiting the U.S  the lowest call, text, and data rates while in the states.

    For as low as N50 per minute, 9mobile customers can stay connected with loved ones on the newest ‘9mobile Super 50 Offer’.

    This rate is the lowest offered by any network to customers travelling to the U.S. Calls within the U.S and calls to Nigeria are charged at N50 per minute; incoming calls at N50 per minute; SMS at N50 per page, while pay as you go (PAYG) data is now N50/MB.

    Speaking on the offer, Director, Consumer Segment, 9mobile, Adeolu Dairo, said the roaming package affords 9mobile subscribers the opportunity to stay connected with family, friends and business partners while in the U.S. The package enables customers to enjoy seamless and affordable connectivity on voice, data, and text on the go.

    9mobile Super 50 Offer is for new and existing customers who have hitherto been concerned with exorbitant connectivity bills when visiting the U.S.

    Dairo said: “Many traveling customers believe roaming in the U.S is expensive and can only be afforded by the rich, and this has led to some roaming customers relying solely on WiFi when abroad; thereby limiting their ability to remain connected. This package is also about bringing people together no matter where they are and ensuring that they stay connected to their family, friends, loved ones, and business partners.”

    To enjoy 7.1GB of data in Nigeria or 200MB while roaming in the U.S is to dial the activation code *4184*1# at a cost of N5,000 with 30 days’ validity.

  • Court stops planned sale of 9mobile

    An Abuja  Federal High Court has halted the planned sale of 9mobile, following opposition to the move by some aggrieved shareholders.

    The shareholders – Afdin Ventures Limited and Dirbia Nigeria Limited – who claimed to be major investors, complained of being left out in the firm’s decision making process and have demanded for a refund of  $43,330,950 invested in the telco.

    A suit marked: FHC/ABJ/CR/288/2018 has Karlington Telecommunications Ltd, Premium Telecommunications Holdings NV, First Bank of Nigeria Plc, Central Bank of Nigeria, Etisalat International Nigeria Ltd and Nigerian Communication Commission (NCC) as defendants.

    On April 17 this year, Justice Binta Nyako, after hearing plaintiffs’ lawyer, Mahmud Magaji (SAN)  moved an ex-parte motion, ruled that “an order is made for the maintenance of the status quo as at today.”

    Justice Nyako, who said “the defendants ought to be heard,”also ordered the service of processes on  them  including the third and fifth (First Bank and Etisalat), whose addresses are outside jurisdiction.

    The judge, who also ordered that “the writ be marked as concurrent,” adjourned to May 14 for mention.

    In their statement of claim, the plaintiffs said they bought shares in Etisalat from the first and second defendants (Karlington Ltd and  Premium Holdings) through “a private placement  memorandum  in which the third defendant (First Bank) served as a custodian of the plaintiffs’ share certificate.”

    They said while the first plaintiff (Afdin Ventures) “bought 1,300,391 Class A shares at $13,003,910,” which it paid for on August 14, 2009, the second plaintiff (Dirbia Ltd) acquired 3,300,004 Class A shares at $30,030,040, for which it made payment on September 3, 2009.

    The plaintiffs said they paid for the shares through the first and second defendants’ First Bank accounts.

    In a supporting affidavit, the General Manager of the first plaintiff and a director in the second plaintiff,  Sani Ibrahim, said the problem with Etisalat resulted from the mismanagement of its funds.

    He said the plaintiffs’ grouse arose from not only the firm’s mismanagement, it includes its inability to declare dividends from 2009 till date and the move by the defendants to conduct a clandestine sale of the company at the detriment of the plaintiffs.

    Ibrahim stated that “in 2015, the first, second and fifth defendants took several loans from 13 Nigerian banks with a view to expanding and boosting their telecommunication business, but that the money was not properly utilised, leading to heavy indebtedness on the first, second and fifth defendants.”

    He added that, owing to the resultant heavy indebtedness, the first and second defendants “rebranded the fifth defendant (Etisalat) and changed its name to 9mobile with a view to selling it off and obtaining money to pay its numerous debts.

    “The first, second, third and fifth defendants have failed to declare dividends on the shares of the plaintiffs since 2009 till date.

    “The first, second, third and fifth  defendants have completed arrangement to sell the rebranded 9mobile to Smile Com and Glo Network without the knowledge of the plaintiffs, who are its major investors.

    “If not restrained, the first, second, third and fifth  defendants will sell Etisalat International (also known as 9mobile) and disappear with the plaintiffs’ investment,” Ibrahim said.

  • 9mobile: Sailing into turbulent waters?

    With less than 90 days given to Teleology by the Nigerians Communications Commission (NCC) to pay $450 million as the balance of for the full acquisition of 9Mobile, there is the fear that the process may run into stormy waters with the interference of the House of Representatives Committee on Telecommunications. In this article entitled: “Questions on the National Assembly and the sale of 9Mobile: What exactly is going on?” Tunde Arowojobe writes on the implications of truncating the process by members of the National Assembly.

    The House of Representatives Committee on Communications held another of its marathon hearings on the “sale of 9Mobile” last week. It is understandable that the Saheed Akinade-Fijabi-led House of Representatives Committee on Telecommunications, committee is interested in what is going on at 9Mobile, but the troubling headlines on the Committee’s grandstanding and its “decision” to suspend the sale and/or “reverse the process” because of allegations of irregularities from some undisclosed quarters raises some very disturbing questions. Before we ask those questions, let us put the Etisalat/9Mobile issue in its proper perspective.

    The company then known as Etisalat Nigeria borrowed over $1.2 billion from Nigerian banks over years. Let us keep in mind that the funds in question are not the property of the Federal Government; they were funds entrusted to the banks by ordinary Nigerians like you and I. Now, when Etisalat applied for the loans, they signed all sorts of guarantees, including papers, transferring all the owners’ shares to the banks if the company defaults. It was a straight banker-customer relationship – after all, the banks had lent (our) money to other telcos and there were no issues. However, when time came for Etisalat to pay, the company and its shareholders demanded the proverbial “soft landing”. They demanded that the banks should forfeit some of the (our) money, that Etisalat should be given even more of (our) money and should be allowed even more generous payment terms(!). But the banks refused. Curiously, even Etisalat’s foreign shareholders refused to pump in more investments into the company (maybe the banks and the foreign shareholders could see from the books that the company was being badly managed!). Rather than invest more, the foreign shareholders abandoned the company and unceremoniously left Nigeria. As required by law and their agreements, all of Etisalat’s shareholding (which had been pledged to the banks as security), were forfeited to the banks. Left with no choice, the banks exercised their right to take over the company’s ownership and recover their (our) money. But to the banks’ surprise, the Nigerians Communications Commission (NCC) and the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) stepped in and insisted that the banks could not take over or manage (i.e. liquidate) the company.

    In strict legal terms, neither the NCC nor the CBN had any right to intervene in the first place. But with hindsight, their intervention was the most positive manoeuvre in this sad tale. From all indications, the NCC/CBN were clearly guided by national interest and justified by the doctrine of necessity.

    Legal purists may vilify them for not allowing the creditors realise their security and recover their (our) money, but surely, history would be very kind to the NCC/CBN  management for stepping in to prevent a potential failure that would have had catastrophic consequences on the national economy.

    The NCC/CBN intervention resulted in stability for the company: its potential liquidation by the banks was staved off, a new interim Board of Directors was appointed, the company was renamed as 9Mobile (following an ultimatum by the former foreign shareholders and owners of the Etisalat brand), a reputable firm of investment advisers (Barclays Africa) was appointed to sell the forfeited shares to interested buyers, and a preferred bidder has paid a deposit of $50 million for the shares. Let us keep in mind that the shares being sold were forfeited to the banks when Etisalat defaulted in its loan payments. Let us also keep in mind that but for the NCC/CBN’s the banks would have exercised their legal rights to sell off or liquidate the company as they pleased.

    With these facts in mind, let us pose our troubling questions for the National Assembly and the other parties – our hope is that the big men at the National Assembly will carefully weigh their actions and the consequences of their grandstanding before doing more damage than they already have.

     

    Our questions:

    • Regarding the “order” to suspend an almost concluded transaction: What is the legal and/or constitutional basis of the National Assembly’s “order” and indeed the entire “investigations” under which they pretended to issue the “order?” Are they aware (we have explained above if they were not) that this is an entirely private transaction in the normal course of private business – private lenders, private borrower and private security, among others? Are they aware that no government money is involved? Do they know that only courts have constitutional powers to issue the kind of injunction they are purporting to issue?
    • The National Assembly intervention is purportedly based on complaints from disgruntled participants. Even if we assume they have the legal power to intervene, this basis of intervention is rather disingenuous. Are they aware that it is “normal” that losing parties to sponsor all manner of disinformation to force a review? Are they aware that there were complaints (and seen a court action) after NCC successfully conducted the globally acclaimed Digital Mobile License auctions of 2001? If the then National Assembly had seized on self-righteous compliant to torpedo the DML auctions the way National Assembly is trying to do now, where would Nigeria’s telecoms industry be by now?
    • Again, on the question of complaints – is the NASS surprised that there are complaints? Are they not aware that there are bound to be complaints in any transaction of this magnitude? Are they not aware that there are judicial mechanisms for resolving such complaints? In fact, are they aware those complaints over the sale of the company then known as Econet was only finally settled just a few months ago? Are they aware that even the sale of government-owned Nitel which was 100 per cent controlled by the government was riddled with allegations of impropriety? Why have they not intervened in that transaction?
    • The National Assembly wants the NCC and CBN to “suspend” an almost completed sale process – are they aware that if NCC/CBN withdraw their moderating hands, the banks will simply appoint a liquidator or administrator? That the company will go bust? That over 4000 Nigerians will lose their jobs as NCC will simply have to hand over 9Mobile’s subscribers to other operators? Will this satisfy the egos gallivanting all over the National Assembly?
    • Finally, is the National Assembly not concerned that the banks – whose property is being sold – have been rather quiet? Is NASS aware that the banks (and the winning bidder for that matter) may just be playing a fools gambit, waiting the “all-powerful” the National Assembly to truncate the process so that they can each sue the Nigerian government and recover billions for its illegal intervention in their private business? Where will this money come from?
    • Meanwhile, as an aside – several government-sponsored projects in the telecoms industry lie comatose – examples include the opaque transfer of NITEL, the loss of Nigeria’s communications satellites in orbit, the Ministry of Communications’ rural telephony project, etc. etc. what has NASS done about these? Why is the 9Mobile issue such a national priority, even after CBN/NCC have stabilised the company?

    In the final analysis, the grandstanding on 9Mobile reeks of personal interests masquerading as altruism – rather like some interests leaning on 9Mobile’s crumbling table for crumbs.

    The NCC and the CBN took a bold step to prevent 9Mobile from collapsing; they should firm up their institutional mettles and see this process through to its logical conclusion. Those using the National Assembly to push their selfish interests against the CBN and the NCC should be told that they are doing irreversible damage to the credibility of these institutions and our country’s already battered image.

    The National Assembly should face its constitutional role and let the judicial system take care of any “complaints” on the sale process. Enough of this macabre dance of ignorance and risk!

     

  • Teleology gets 90 days to pay $450m for 9mobile

    Teleology Holdings Limited (THL), the preferred bidder for 9mobile Limited, has paid the $50 million unrefundable deposit for its acquisition of the firm.

    It has 90 days to pay the $450 million balance to seal the deal.

    9mobile will be handed over to Teleology after the payment of the balance, Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) Executive Vice Chairman Prof. Garba Umar Danbatta said yesterday.

    He spoke after the NCC and the Central Bank of Nigeria CBN signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Financial Inclusion at the CBN Headquarters, Abuja.

    Danbatta said if Teleology failed to make the complete payment within 90 days, Smile Communications Limited (SCL), the reserved bidder, might take its place.

    Globacom, Airtel, Smile Communications, Helios, and Teleology emerged as bidders for 9mobile out of 16 firms, which filed bids with Barclays of Africa, 9mobile’s financial adviser.

    They include MTN, ntel, Virgin Mobile from the United Kingdom and Vodacom of South Africa, BUA Group, Morning Side Capital Partners, Obot Etiebet & Co, Blackstone Private Equity, and Hamilton and George International Limited.

    Airtel pulled out; Glo failed to attach financial commitment to its bid.

    Danbatta said: “The MoU we have signed is on mobile money service and financial inclusion; this followed useful work done by a committee made up of representatives from NCC and CBN which culminated in the signing of the MoU and on the basis of the MoU, we have signed, the two organisations have indicated commitment towards driving financial inclusion in the country as well as ensuring inprovement in the money mobile service communication.”

    Danbatta, who led his management team to the CBN Headquarters, said NCC was targeting 30 per cent broadband penetration by the end of the year, adding that the commission has so far made 70 percent progress on the target.

    He told CBN Governnor Godwin Emefiele that the telecom industry has been recording steady growth since 2001, noting that in the past four years its contribution to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) stands at 10 per cent.

    Danbatta said: “But the figures may not tell the entire story. Investments in the sector in human and material resources have continued on the rise. In 2001, the telecom sector could boast of mere $50 million worth of investment, but as at September 2017, we have investments worth $70 billion.

    “The Value Added Services (VAS) segment of the telecom market in Nigeria today is worth $200 million and is estimated to grow to $500 million by 2021.

    “In subscription numbers, the less than 500,000 lines in 2001, have grown to more than 147 million recorded as at January 2018. Teledensity, weighted in the ITU (International Telecommunication Union) formula of one line to 100 of population, stands at 105.21 per cent, while internet penetration has hit the 100 million mark as at January 2018.”

    Welcoming the NCC team, the Emefiele described the signing of the MoU as a landmark event that would boost financial inclusion and transactions in the country.

    Emefiele said: “ Our teams have worked for several months trying to put things together with the intention of seeing to how NCC and CBN can work together towards driving the payment system in Nigeria, reducing cash transaction and enhancing cashless operations in the country and it will also help to facilitate financial inclusion and also drive a more robust payment system in the country

    “I am very delighted because today with this signing, we are now very sure and certain that we will very easily improve the level of financial inclusion from the level it is today which is about 48 per cent and we set a target for ourselves that by 2020 which is in three years or below that the level of financial inclusion should increase to 80 per cent.

    “And I can assure everybody with this signing it provides framework for licensing of payment service provider and is a framework that will also guide the working of those who are stakeholders both in the banking industry as well as the telecoms industry not just mobile payment but the payment system in Nigeria.

    “I am delighted that we are witnessing this today and we look forward to many more years of close collaboration. Between the CBN and banking system on one hand and the NCC, telecoms industry on another hand.”

  • 9Mobile: Teleology to pay $450m in 90 days – NCC

    The Executive Vice Chairman of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Prof. Garba Umar Danbatta, said on Tuesday that Teleology Holdings Limited has paid initial deposit of $50 million for the acquisition of 9Mobile Nigeria Limited.

    He said the company has 90 days to pay the balance of $450 million upon which the ownership of 9Mobile would be immediately transfered to it.

    Prof. Danbatta stated these while fielding questions from journalists shortly after the NCC and the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on financial inclusion at the CBN Headquarters in Abuja.

    He said: “The MoU we have signed is on mobile money service and financial inclusion. This followed useful work done by a committee comprising representatives from NCC and CBN which culminated in the signing of the MoU and on the basis of the MoU we have signed, the two organisations have indicated commitment towards driving financial inclusion in the country as well as ensuring improvement in the money mobile service communication.”

    Prof. Danbatta, who led the management team of the NCC to the CBN Headquarters, said the Commission is targeting 30 percent broadband penetration by the end of 2018.

    He said the NCC has made progress of 70 percent on the target.

    He told the CBN Governor, Godwin Emefiele and his management team that the telecommunications industry has continued to record steady growth and development since 2001, adding that in the last four years the industry’s contribution to the nation’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) stands at 10 percent.

     

  • 9mobile to focus on local communities, others

    The new owners and preferred bidder for 9mobile, Teleology Holdings Limited, said their focus will be defined by optimal value delivery, value to its employees, customers, as well as to the local communities and stakeholders.

    The Director and pioneers Managing Director of MTN Nigeria, Adrian Wood, said the new organisation would be “engineering- led and brand-driven.”

    He said in delivering service, it would strive to ensure that 9Mobile operations delivered fulfillment to the customers, empowerment to local communities, protection to the vulnerable, and excellent rewards not only to the shareholders but to all stakeholders.

    Wood said the company plans to double the 9Mobile network with new 3G/4G specific cell sites as well as a several thousands of kilometers of fiber optic cable across the country, saying it would drive a special programme of rural internet coverage, focusing on 4G with broadband access planned for all of Nigeria’s 774 local government areas.

    He said youth engagement and employment programmes were also planned with all build contractors, distributors and consultants, while investment in broadband internet access technologies which were completely new to Nigeria was also planned.

     

  • Ecobank, Mastercard, 9mobile partner

    Ecobank Nigeria and MasterCard have launched a discount promotion with 9Mobile Nigeria to drive the use of Masterpass QR payments.

    The  at 10 of its Experience Centres in Lagos, Abuja and Port Harcourt.

    Under the arrangement, consumers transacting business in any of the locations in the three cities in the country are expected to make payment with their Masterpass QR to access a N500 airtime offer when they spend N5, 000 and above. The offer, which is to customers of all the banks, will run between March 21 and April 30, 2018.

    Speaking on the partnership, Head, Transaction Services Group (TSG), Ecobank Nigeria, Emile Sagna said, “building strategic relationships with merchants, consumers and technology platforms to deliver frictionless, real-time payments is crucial for us at Ecobank in ensuring that we take payments to the next level.” He disclosed that “Ecobank has issued 9Mobile and other merchants QR codes to allow consumers to use their existing banking apps from various banks to scan the QR code for payments at all participating 9Mobile Experience centers and other merchants locations.

    With the feature phone, the consumer needs to enter a merchant terminal Identifier into their phones to make payment.”

    Sagna noted that Masterpass QR offers the consumer safety, convenience and speed to make digital payment anywhere and anytime. Further, he explained  that Ecobank released its dynamic QR code which can be integrated into merchant’s ERP in order to address the peculiar needs of other business enterprises that require customized payment functionalities. He added that merchants will be able to generate dynamic QR codes for each payment request for the customer to simply input his PIN for authentication.

  • Our plan for 9mobile, by Smiles Telecoms

    The battle for 9mobile is not yet over.

    The Reserved bidder, Smile Communications, a subsidiary of Smile Telecoms Holdings, is pushing ahead with its bid to snatch the prize.

    Its Executive Director (Operations) Mr. Ahmad Farroukh said Smile has all it takes to reposition 9mobile and make it attractive and competitive again within 90 days.

    Farroukh who spoke to reporters in Lagos at the weekend, said 9mobile deserves the best and should be sold to an existing telecoms company with the right technical expertise and financial strength to turn it around for the highly competitive market in few months.

    According to Farroukh, Smile will bring three dimensional values to 9mobile if it is allowed to take its possession. “The first value is that we are Nigerian company already existing in the Nigerian telecoms space. So we will come up with our existing assets to boost the 9mobile operations. We will seek the permission of NCC (Nigerian Communications Commission) to flip our existing 800MHz frequency to 9mobile to enhance its operations. What we are bringing to 9mobile is huge.

    “The 800MHz frequency, which Smile Communications currently operates on, will be added to that of 9mobile to achieve the best frequency ever that will serve the customers better and help 9mobile to come out of its current challenges. Without exaggerating, we are sure to add additional 600 Base Transceiver Stations (BTS) of Long Term Evolution (LTE) technology, into the operations of 9mobile within a space of 90 days, if given the opportunity to acquire it.

    “We will from day one, integrate our existing facilities with that of 9mobile to get the company back to its good old days, when it was the best voice and data telecoms company in Nigeria. 9mobile currently has 500 BTS across the country, and by the time we add our 400 existing BTS and combine it with the 600 BTS that we can provide within 90 days, 9mobile will be having approximately 1,500 BTS, which will match the number of BTS that the largest telecoms operator in the country currently has. So should we acquire 9mobile, we will make it competitive from day one with unprecedented speed of service delivery.

    “The second value that we will bring to 9mobile is the monetary value. We will bring in fresh millions of dollars from foreign financing outside Nigeria, into 9mobile to pay off its indebtedness to the banks and also pay off any other group that the company is indebted to, and we will still have enough to invest in 9mobile and make it competitive. Let me tell you that several countries around the world still believe in the Nigeria story and we will reach out to them to get fresh funds to invest in 9mobile.”

    The third dimensional value that Smile Telecoms Holdings will bring to 9mobile, according to Farroukh, is about the firm’s long standing experience in telecoms business.

    “I have handled telecoms business in Nigeria, including being the CEO of MTN Nigeria from 2006 to 2011, before I was appointed as Director to oversee the MTN West African operations, before joining Smile Communications. Nigeria has made me what I am today and I am grateful to God and to Nigeria. In Smile Communications and Smile Telecoms Holdings, we have seasoned telecoms experts and we are bringing that expertise to 9mobile if given the opportunity to acquire it. We are convinced that our three dimensional values will make 9mobile a successful company if we are allowed to manage it,” Farroukh said.

    On 9mobile’s indebtedness to banks, he said Smile was much aware and had  a strategy to resolve it. “Yes we are very much aware of the debt profile of 9mobile and we are capable of handling it. What we intend doing, if given the opportunity to manage the telecoms company, is to split the debts and give a time frame to offset them. As for the banks who are the biggest creditors to 9mobile, we will ensure that they do not lose any money. We will enter into an agreement with them on the modalities of payment and we will surely pay them. We will come up with debt restructuring for both the banks and the vendors and they will get back their money. With 9mobile, we want to be the best data centric operator in Nigeria and we are sure we can achieve it,” he said.

    Smile Telecoms isthe Reserved Bidder on the sale of 9mobile, handled by Barclays. The company has however expressed some concerns over the handling of the transaction and has since written to express those concerns to Barclays.