The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Subscribers

  • Subscribers hold interactive confab in Rivers today

    NIGERIAN Communications Commission NCC) will, today, hold a one-day interactive session in Port Harcourt, Rivers State capital, to mark its 2017 Telecoms Consumers.

    The commission’s Head of Zonal Operations,  Helen Obi, said this during a roadshow to sensitise Port Harcourt residents about the programme.

    During the show, which started from the commission’s Port Harcourt Office around Isaac Bori Park, participants went through Ikwerre road through Mile 1 at Diobu, to Wimpy, through to Rumuola, Town, and back at Bori Park.

    Mainly workers of the commission and youths, the participants thrilled onlookers and passers-by with dance steps, distributing fliers on how to reach the commission about problems with service providers.

    Speaking to reporters yesterday, Mrs.Obi said the walk was part of activities on the consumer-telecoms yearly programme held in Abuja and Lagos.

    “This is in recognition of the important roles consumers play in the telecoms industry and maintaining and sustaining the network of service providers.”

    Mrs.Obi said the programme would educate and empower consumers to make informed choices on use of ICT services.

    According to her, operators of functional telecoms in the country, including MTN, GLO, 9 Mobile, Airtel, among others, will be at the forum to address issues.

    She said the commission created a toll-free code to stop unsubscribed messages.

  • MTN’s subscribers dip

    • Grows Nigeria data revenue to +70.4% 

    The MTN Group’s subscriber numbers dip by 3.6 per cent to a total of 231.8 million across its 22 operations in Africa and the Middle East, its group interim results for the six months ended 30 June, released yesterday showed.

    The biggest drag on customer numbers for the half-year came from the West and Central Africa region, which dropped 8.5per cent to 102.3 million. The most noticeable impact came from Nigeria, which saw subscriber numbers drop by 14.3per cent to 53.1 million, and Ghana, where the subscriber base declined by 10.3per cent to 17.3 million. However, subscribers in South Africa ticked up by 1.5per cent to 31.2 million.

    But its  Chief Executive Officer, Rob Shuter, said the company’s headline earnings came in at 3.9 billion rand ($294.40 million), or 212 cents per share, in the six months to end June compared with a loss of 4.9 billion rand, or 271 cents per share, a year earlier.

    “These numbers give us hope for the future. It is a very encouraging platform upon which to build our stratey. In Nigeria we have a +70.4% data revenue growth,” Shuter said

    According to ITWeb, MTN blamed the group’s “initiative to modernise subscriber definitions to reflect the business’s changing mix of revenue streams” for the decline. The implementation of the modernised definitions is still continuing but is expected to be completed by the end of the year.

    The group saw headline earnings per share (HEPS) swing to a profit of 217c compared to a 271c headline loss per share reported in the comparable period last year. The previous results were heavily impacted by the group’s Nigerian regulatory fine which reduced HEPS by 474c (454c of the fine fully expensed and 20c of the interest unwind). In the current period, MTN says the Nigerian regulatory fine interest unwind reduced HEPS by 24c.

    In June 2016, MTN agreed to a settlement of N330 billion ($1.671 billion at the time) to be paid to the Nigerian government in six instalments over three years. The telco was sanctioned over failure to disconnect 5.1 million unregistered SIM cards on its network in 2015.

    Group revenue for the first six months of the current financial year decreased by 18.5 per cent to R64.3 billion. In constant currency terms, however, revenue grew by 6.7 per cent, underpinned by 10.8 per cent growth in revenue in Nigeria and a 5.2 per cent organic growth in service revenue in its home country. Group earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation fell 27.7per cent to R21.2 billion (up 3.1per cent in constant currency terms).

    The South African business once again produced strong results “supported by a strong prepaid performance, network expansion and a strengthened leadership team”.

    Total revenue in South Africa increased by 1.6 per cent to R20.2 billion. Service revenue increased by 5.2 per cent on an organic basis to R16.8 billion, supported by strong growth in data revenue and digital revenue, up 18.5 per cent (organic) and 37.6per cent respectively.

  • Contributory pensioners hits N6.8 million subscribers

    Contributory pensioners hits N6.8 million subscribers

    The current enrolment of less than seven million subscribers in the National Pension Commission is inadequate compared to the over eighty workers  the  Interim Management Committee of the First Guarantee Pensions Limited said yesterday.

    It called on that the new management of the National Pension Commission to increase the enrollment figure under the Contributory pension scheme.

    Interim Chairman of the Company and General Secretary of National Union of Textile, Garment and Tailoring Workers of Nigeria, Comrade Issa Aremu said at a news conference in Abuja.

    Aremu said: “The over 6 million workers already captured under the reform are commendable. But this number is a far cry from over 80 million potential work force in Nigeria.

    “The 6.5 trillion naira funds contributed so far can hardly meet the future income adequacy of retirees, which underscores the need for an intensified effort on the part of the incoming leadership.

    “The major challenge is to ensure that all retirees under the scheme are paid their benefits as and when due.”

    Aremu said under the previous management, pension assets grew N2.9 trillion in 2012 to over N6.5 trillion in 2017, thanks to the efforts of the past leadership of the National Pension Commission.

    Speaking on the achievement of the Interim Management, Aremu said the National Pension Commission set up the management with the mandate to superintend over the affairs of the PFA under the direct supervision of the Commission after the former management was dissolve “for unsound corporate governance practices which have significant adverse implication for the pension assets under the management of the PFA.”

    He said: “The fortune of the PFA has since been turned around for better.

    “Before the Committee came on board in August 2011, First Guarantee Pension’s Net Asset Value (NAV) was N38 billion and cumulative losses carried forward was to the tune of N385 million.

    “This net figure as it was then almost eroded the shareholder’s fund.  The Interim Management Committee (IMC) has successfully reversed this trend and returned FGPL to profitability.”

     

  • DStv gifts premium subscribers with M-Net Binge

    M-NET and MultiChoice have put a special treat together for fans of international television series.

    According to management, from Saturday, May 6, a brand new, weekends-only “record channel” called M-Net Binge will give DStv Premium customers across the African continent the opportunity to record an entire season of top-notch shows.

    M-Net Binge, according to information, will be live on DStv Channel 899 on Saturdays and Sundays between 8:30pm and approximately 04:00am the next morning with back-to-back episodes of the selected series for the weekend.

    Viewers who opt to record these shows will then be able to create their own box sets of shows on their decoders to enjoy when it suits them best.

    M-Net Binge will offer a special lead-up to the much-anticipated worldwide arrival of the reboot of Twin Peaks come Tuesday, May 23.

    On Saturday 6 May, M-Net Binge will bring you all nine episodes of the first season of David Lynch’s iconic crime drama. Thereafter, Season 2 of the eerie Twin Peaks, comprising a total of 23 episodes, will come your way in three batches on Sunday 7 May, Saturday 13 and Sunday 14 May respectively.

    During the rest of May, recent highly acclaimed series such as Big Little Lies, with Reese Witherspoon and Nicole Kidman leading a powerhouse female cast, and HBO’s masterly crafted The Night Of will form part of the M-Net Binge offering.

    “In the ever-changing world of television, binge watching has become a worldwide phenomenon.  This channel gives viewers a chance to binge on their favourite series. M-Net’s  successful movie pop-up channels have shown that our Premium viewers love themed and curated content and M-Net Binge is an exciting initiative for series’ fans to catch up with the best of the best shows that they may have missed or want to watch again,” says M-Net CEO Yolisa Phahle.

  • Data raises MTN’s revenue by 11.6% despite loss of subscribers

    • Firm explains sack of 280 workers

    Despite a 2.3 percent decline in MTN Nigeria subscriber base, the Group reported 7.1 per cent rise in its first-quarter revenue driven by a strong performance in data services, it said yesterday.

    MTN Nigeria said it “had a strong start to the year with an 11.6 per cent increase in total revenue, supported by a 71.3 per cent boost in data revenue”.

    It added that while the momentum is encouraging, the ongoing review of value-added services subscribers will put pressure on digital revenue for the balance of the year.

    This was impacted by new regulations that require all subscriber connections to take place in permanent brick-and-mortar structures. It says this led to a marked reduction in gross connections across the industry.

    MTN said data revenue, which contributed 20 per cent of total revenue, was up 29.4 per cent for the three months ended March 31.

    Its Group Chief Executive Rob Shuter, in a statement, said: “In our key markets of South Africa, Nigeria and Iran, significant network investments made over the past few years are underpinning the improving revenue trends.

    “The network investment planned for 2017 is expected to support further market share gains across our markets.”

    Meanwhile, the telco yesterday justified its sack of 280 workers in its Nigeria arm, stressing that it was designed to balance individual employee needs with business exigencies.

    “MTN is a diverse community of committed change agents, brought together in pursuit of a common goal – driving growth and transformation by sharing our technology. Our people are our greatest asset, each individual’s knowledge, experience and ideas contributes to our continued growth and improvement. As such, ensuring a healthy and highly motivated workforce is a priority for us.

    It is with this in mind that MTN Nigeria has implemented a Voluntary Severance Scheme designed to balance individual employee needs with business exigencies. The programme was designed drawing on feedback from employees and following consultation with elected employee representatives. It provides a financial incentive and opportunity for employees who have worked with MTN for over five years to pursue other career interests and personal ambitions full-time, while increasing opportunities for professionals with a fresh perspective wishing to join the MTN family,” the telco explained.

    According to MTN, the successful conclusion of the scheme last week made it possible for it to tailor the competence and experience base of its workforce to meet technology shifts and future business needs.

    “MTN is unrelentingly committed to Nigeria, and continues to execute its strategy of attracting, developing and retaining the best Nigerian talent. This is in line with the ongoing business transformation to drive sustained growth and thereby facilitate MTN’s continued role as a partner for progress and socio-economic development in Nigeria.

    “The management of MTN appreciates the contributions of former colleagues and wishes them well in their future endeavours. Our focus at this time is securing the well-being of employees as we work together to forge the future, and deliver exceptional quality to our customers,” MTN said.

    Year-to-date capital expenditure stands at 4.6 billion rand, MTN said.

  • NCC develops programmes to empower telecom consumers

    NCC develops programmes to empower telecom consumers

    The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has developed a number of programmes aimed at empowering telecommunications consumers.

    The NCC Director, Consumer Affairs Bureau, Abdullahi MaiKano, disclosed this at the 26th Edition of Consumer Town Hall Meeting held in Wudil, Kano state on Thursday.

    He said it was in realisation of the basic rights of the consumer that the NCC, a telecom regulatory agency, developed the programmes to empower consumers pointing out that one of such programmes is the to town hall meeting.

    MaiKano, who was represented by Deputy Director, Alhaji Isma’ila Adedigba, said the programmes were also introduced to ensure the provision of qualitative and efficient telecommunications services.

    “We believe that consumer is a king in the palace of the market thus, the consumer must be accorded their rights such as the right to be heard, educated, and the right to be redress as well as the right to safety,” he said.

    According to him, the programme was a tripartite meeting between regulators, operators and consumers to resolve pressing consumers’ issues in relations to the provision of telecom services.
    One of the NCC core objectives is to protect the rights of telecom consumers in the country,” he said.

    He said the commission had declared 2017 as a year of telecom consumers.

    The director added the campaign was launched on March 15, was aimed at deepening awareness on the NCC 622 toll-free line to lodge complaints to NCC and the 2442 short code to stop unsolicited messages.

    He called on consumers to take advantage of the programme to be well informed so that no one takes undue advantage of them.

    The programme was attended by the representatives of various service providers, who had the opportunity to entertain the pressing questions from consumers.

  • MultiChoice to reward subscribers

    MultiChoice to reward subscribers

    In its usual way of rewarding subscribers for their loyalty, Pay-TV Company, MultiChoice, has introduced two new incentives, DStv THANKS and GOtv WOW.

    The programmes, which started on March 7 and is to run till March 21, will see all DStv, GOtv Plus and GOtv Value customers get the opportunity to have unlimited access to exciting channels offering a range of the latest quality content.

    Also, all customers on Premium, Compact, Compact Plus, Family and Access plus GOtv Plus and GOtv Value, who stay continuously connected for three months and more, will have uninterrupted access to the channels.

    Other rewards that await loyal customers, according to its management, include monthly airtime bonuses and two brand new entertainment channels for GOtv as well as four additional entertainment channels, featuring telenovelas, movies and great local and international content on the DStv platform, at no extra cost.

    “We are delighted to launch DStv THANKS and GOtv WOW to say thank you to our valued customers. Our business is committed to putting customers at the heart of the business and one of the ways is to show our appreciation for their loyalty and unwavering support by offering them more value. We remain committed to exploring various ways to improve our value-added benefits and create platforms where we can show gratitude for our customers for being part of our family,” said Martin Mabutho, General Manager, MultiChoice Nigeria.

  • Glo excites subscribers at Kaduna Trade Fair

    Glo excites subscribers at Kaduna Trade Fair

    Telecoms subscribers thronged the Glo stand at the on-going 38th International Trade Fair that began on Friday, February 24.
    The visibly excited Glo customers had trooped in to experience the numerous products and services offered by the telecoms operator, especially the Glo 4G LTE network.
    Globacom, which declared its stand open on Monday, February 27, witnessed an unprecedented number of prospective and existing subscribers from Kaduna and its environs.
    Major products on display at the Glo stand include Glo Huawei GR3 phones, Glo 4G MiFis, 4G Modems, Glo Huawei Y5, Y3, Glo 3G Modems and MiFis, Imose handsets and e-Recharge.
    The company said in a statement that it came well-prepared with quality products and services to meet the needs of its teeming northern subscribers. Some of the services on display, the company said, areGlo Campus Booster Plan, “buy-data-get-free-smart-phone promo,” Borrow Me Data, IDD Packs, 11k per Second and Double Free Tomorrow.
    “Globacom has always been in the fore-front of providing high quality services. Here at the Kaduna International Trade Fair, we have numerous products and VAS services for the delight of our customers”, the company said.
    It added: “We encourage Nigerians to take advantage of our super-fast real time 4G LTE technology for ultra-high definition video download without buffering which comes at the most affordable rates.”
    Glo urged subscribers to avail themselves of the opportunity of getting free smart phones in the “buy-data-get-free-smart-phone promo”.
    It said a subscriber who buys data worth N75,000 will get a smart phone with the full complements of a 13 Megapixel camera, 16 gigabyte memory and dual SIM compartment worth the same amount of N75,000 absolutely free of charge.
    A N60,000 4G plan gives the subscriber an eight megapixel, 8GB memory and dual SIM smart phone worth same amount, while for a N48, 000 plan, gives a 5MP, 8GB memory and dual SIM smart phone worth same amount.

    A number of subscribers who aired their views at the Glo stand expressed delight at the Glo offerings.
    Globacom encouraged prospective and existing subscribers living in Kaduna and its environs to visit the Glo stand at the fair to purchase any of the products and services which the company has on display at unbeatable prizes.

  • Pracht Gardens Estate excites subscribers

    The Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Buildcon Global Services Limited Mrs. Bukunola Gadzama, has said the Pracht Gardens Estate  would be ready for allocation next April. It is located in Ikota area, before Victoria Garden City in the Lekki area of Lagos State. Gadzama assurances came while conducting subscribers to the scheme round the estate.

    He noted that the estate, which  is built and fitted with up to date facilities, measured up in standard with what is obtainable in other parts of the world.

    The Pracht Gardens Estate consists of 40 units of four and five bedrooms fully detached duplexes, as well as four bedrooms terraces. It sits on 21,000 metres square parcel of land. According to Gadzama, the estate is structured to meet the basic requirements of subscribers who have taste for luxury; hence the designing and construction was handled by highly skilled architects and engineers, including vastly experienced interior decorators.

    Other features in the estate includes a water treatment plant; fully paved road; shopping centre; 24 hours security; electrical power transformer; closed-circuit television (CCTV) security technology; ample parking space; power supply and distribution; street lights; recreational centre for children;  crèche;  as well as electrical fence wire.

    “It is designed with affordability in mind and zero compromise on quality and finesse to meet the needs of subscribers,” she said.

    Meanwhile, subscribers to the estate have expressed delight over the architectural skills displayed by Buildcon Global Services Limited in the construction of the estate. One of them, Mr. John Kayode, expressed delight at the professionalism brought into the construction.

    “I was quite fascinated with the structural design of the estate and the layout shows a touch of class with all that is required to make life comfortable. What interests me most is that l have the opportunity to come up with any additional plan of mine, to complement what is already being provided,’ Kayode stated.

    Another subscriber, a chartered accountant based in Lagos, Mrs. Jane Ogunwale, said she is happy that her dream of living in a very modern apartment has come true. For her, Pracht Gardens Estate is a place that has all it takes to keep a family, as there are facilities that addresses the needs of children, like the recreation park, adequate security and school that eases the burden of moving out of the environment.

  • Glo delights data subscribers with free phones

    Glo delights data subscribers with free phones

    A national telecommunications operator, Globacom, has offered subscribers an opportunity to get a free 4G LTE smartphone when they buy a special LTE data plan on the network.
    The company said in a statement that the offer, which is expected to excite telephone subscribers in Nigeria, would enable Glo subscribers, who did not have 4G smartphones to enjoy the exceptional speed of the advanced Glo 4G network.
    It explained that a subscriber who buys a 75G LTE data plan for  N75,000 will get a smartphone worth N75,000 with exciting features such as 13 Megapixel camera, dual SIM, a 5-inch screen and 2GB RAM.
    For a 60GB 4G data plan for N60,000, Globacom said the subscriber would get an eight megapixel 4G smartphone worth the same amount absolutely free, while a 48GB data plan worth  N48,000 will give the subscriber a 5 Megapixel camera smartphone worth the same amount, also free.
    Both 4G LTE smartphones are also dual SIM-enabled. Both offers have 1GB RAM.
    Globacom also said all the “phones are ideal for 4G, 3G, and 2G networks.”
    “Glo Mobile offers the most innovative services and data plans at affordable rates. With this special free 4G LTE smartphone offer, we have once again demonstrated our resolve to always give our subscribers the best value. It cannot get better than this,’’ Globacom concluded.