Coming with A Mission
By Anthony Akaeze
Sunday, September 14, 2008
Etisalat, the latest entrant into Nigeria’s telecommunications market, promises to offer subscribers unique services
Etisalat! That’s the name of the latest telecom company to launch its services in Nigeria. At the formal unveiling of the brand in Lagos, September 9, the company’s management promised to provide Nigerians excellent telecom services and also, raise the bar of competition that has been the hallmark of the industry since the deregulation of the sector some years ago.
The company, with the code number "0809," announced that it is set to offer subscribers unique services that should make it the darling of phone users. For a start, the company said it would unveil a dynamic 3-in-1 package which is an "ultimate welcome offer for subscribers to its network."
Tagged "0809uchoose," the offer gives Nigerians the choice to secure "free personalised numbers (for the non-gold range of numbers) on the Etisalat network, free SIM cards and free monthly airtime for life." By so doing, subscribers would be joining a 64-million strong Etisalat subscriber base across the Middle East, Africa and Asia.
Speaking at the event, Wael Ammar, Etisalat Nigeria’s vice-president, Marketing, said that "0809uchoose" would offer at least one million Nigerians a chance to customise their phone numbers to reflect their lifestyles with numbers special to them.
Said Ammar: "Etisalat is offering every Nigerian an opportunity to be special, to stand out, to have their phone numbers mean more to them than just a random set of numbers. There are only one million numbers available with regards to the 0809 8 000 000 and 0809 8 999 999 series, for this initial promotion. So we urge Nigerians to go out and get those special unique numbers while they are still available." Ammar promised that Etisalat customers in Nigeria would enjoy the same superior, world class service Etisalat offers its subscribers elsewhere.
Lucas Dada, director, products and services of Etisalat Nigeria, in his address, said the company was bringing something new to the industry. "Consider that we are offering personalised lines to Nigerians for free. These are numbers that are normally classed as premium numbers that have been known to cost a lot of money to own. Not only do our customers get most of the numbers free, they also get the SIM card free. Also, customers who reserve numbers during the promotion get guaranteed free airtime on a monthly basis for life. That is a fantastic offer if I’ve ever seen one," Dada said.
The company announced that it would commence commercial services on its network in some cities across Nigeria simultaneously. Roll out in other parts of Nigeria will follow and remain ongoing. Recently rated as the fastest growing telecommunications company in the world, Etisalat Group serves 64 million subscribers in 16 countries in the Middle East, Africa and Asia.
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