Update of broadband evolutions in nigeria

Nokia Siemens Networks
unveils mobile broadband vision
for Nigeria
By Benjamin Amu
September 30, 2010. Nokia Siemens
Networks has stated that mobile
broadband technology with the Long
Term Evolution (LTE) would enhance
network quality through upgrade of
existing platforms in the country.
Nokia Siemens told attendees at the
two-day Nigeria Com technology show
in Lagos that the focus on 3G and
evolution to LTE for emerging markets
like is to showcase its potentials for
players in the nation ’s broadband
roadmap.
Head of North and West Africa, Nokia
Siemens Networks, Ben Hayen, says the
importance and growth potential of
mobile broadband in Nigeria would be
for both end users and the operators
alike.
“Emerging markets such as Nigeria
account for almost 80% of subscriber
additions globally clearly indicating
their strategic nature. Local network
operators face a number of conflicting
challenges though – while there is
demand for mature services within the
high-spend segment, operators also
have to deal with a low spending
power and a limited infrastructure
outside urban centres. ”
According to him, the advantage of
offering mobile broadband/internet
through 3G is primarily tapping into
the broadband access market where
the fixed has a limited penetration
(less than 1 per cent of total
population in Nigeria), while noting
that, “for rural communities, the focus
should remain voice services but also
shared broadband access with targeted
applications as the starting point. ”
Hayen has this to say of the
technology: “Long Term Evolution for
3G networks (LTE) promises an exciting
and radical transformation of the
wireless experience, with rich and fast
multimedia services of incredible
quality. Nigeria is a growth oriented
market with immense potential for
future technologies. This is clearly
evident from its 40 per cent year-on-
year growth of mobile subscribers for
the past two years. ”
Nokia Siemens Networks provides its
customers with LTE-compatible Flexi
Base Station hardware, offering a
smooth evolution path to tomorrow ’s
ultra-high-speed wireless broadband.
The company has been at the forefront
of LTE evolution. It made the world
first LTE call on commercial standards
in 2009 and demonstrated this year
the fastest LTE throughput on mobile
device achieving 100 mbps. No
surprise then that Nokia Siemens
Networks leads the market with 15
commercial LTE deals, he adds.
Additionally on the Nigeria broadband
front, Nokia Siemens said its networks
has contributed significantly to the
Bharti Airtel network backbone
resilience by project acceleration of
five months ahead of time initial time
line for Phase I (4000 Km) 2008 /2009
(Zain).
Hayen adds that this provided Airtel
(Zain) the opportunity to be ahead of
competition and to gain additional
revenue within the period of early
completion with the high level of
quality and standards. Nokia Siemens
Networks is continuing its contribution
in this area with Phase II (550 km) and
the upcoming phases with Airtel by
managing the network for 2 years
using experienced resources.
The industry event witnesses
participation from over 700 delegates
with more than 35 speakers who
shared their strategies on how
network operators can equip their
businesses to capitalise on the
Nigerian telecoms market.
Po