Determined to Make a Difference
By Anthony Akaeze
Monday, May 05, 2008
Visafone expands its network and offers cheap customised handsets in an effort to win more patronage
Visafone has continued to make inroad into the nation's telecom market. The company, which commenced operations in Nigeria last February, now has its network coverage spread across 100 cities in 13 states and the Federal Capital Territory. The states include Lagos, Kano, Anambra, Enugu, Imo, Abia, Rivers, Cross River, Akwa Ibom, Nassarawa, Ebonyi, Delta and Ogun. It's an improvement on the 12 states and 40 cities the company started with in February.
Ninan Thomas, chief executive officer of the company, said the expansion was in fulfillment of the promise made on the day of the launch last February. He had promised that the network would spread to many states and cities in the months ahead and that Visafone would act as a spring board for Nigeria's economic growth and development. "We will assist in fast tracking growth and development through the provision of cutting edge communications infrastructure as well as seamless and efficient services that will ensure excellent customer service, unequalled clarity, the widest coverage and connectivity," he said.
The company recently secured a $250 million facility from a consortium of banks for its expansion and is now in a better position to offer Nigerians "the very best in terms of voice and data services." This informed the ongoing sale of Nokia branded handsets just weeks after its previous promotion which saw Visafone's customised Phones selling for as low as N1,600 and N1,999, ended. In the current promotion, a superior Nokia phone will sell for N3,499 in a move meant "to put quality and affordable handsets in the hands of Nigerians to enable them fully experience the joy of communication which Visafone has promised to bring to Nigerians."
Further, the telecom company is offering a two week free internet access to all its data subscribers who signed with the company within its first month of operation as a way of thanking them for their patronage.
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