Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) networks are disappearing from the Nigerian telecommunication scene. The last one to dissipate, when many thought that it had a strong customer-base was Visaphone which was recently taken over by MTN. As these networks vanish from the data arena, Jovago.com, Africa’s No 1 hotel booking portal examines reasons why CDMA networks are liquidating.

Limited reach

Despite the fact that many of these CDMA networks attempted to offer fantastic largesse to their customers, one shortcoming for them was their limited reach as their capacity only carried major Nigerian cities like Lagos, Port Harcourt and probably Kano. If you want to call your business partner in the East, you may not reach him because of the network limitation.

Fierce competition from GSM networks

Obviously, if the reach is limited, it will be difficult to compete with the GSM networks whose services are reasonably received throughout the nooks and crannies of Nigeria. This aside, there is a sweeping competition among the GSM network making it very difficult for CDMAS to enter into the race. Visaphone tried but it could not maintain the momentum. You do not require a fortune-teller to predict the demise of CDMA.

Their rates

A CDMA phone is the mini-version of the famous landlines. Although calls between CDMAs are substantially cheap, if you attempt to use it to dial a GSM number using this network, the interconnection rate became quite expensive. As a result, many stuck to using their GSM phones.

Permanent SIM card

Many techies found using a phone tied to a permanent SIM card uncomfortable. Many Nigerians who owned CDMA phones oftentimes had second mobile devices that gave them the freedom to switch between GSM networks. The additional cost accrued from owning two phones had most people opting for the more flexible GSM platform.