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Given the low bandwidth into and out of nigeria, I would suggest setting up your ISP as wireless (nigerian phone lines wouldn't be able to reliably transmit xDSL technologies) to reach many people with less expenditure.
Also a cost saving excercise is to setup transparent proxies so not everything has to leave your connection and use the internet (making it faster for users and more cost effective for you)

Do you know of any Wireless ISP thast i can be a sub of?

sbucareer,

I am extremely impressed with your reply to the thread. precise, detailed and very constructive. we need more people like you. i will defiantly look u up if i need advice

Thumbs up, Sbucareer . Gbenga, you should look at investing in other areas that are not capital-intensive then, or what do you think?

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Don't go into ISP business unless you hold at least Linux+ certification.  Otherwise, you'd need to pay a linux expert a lot of money to manage your setup.  While taking the courses, ask your teachers and colleagues the question about how to become an ISP.  Also, if possible, go through cisco networking academy and obtain at least a CCNA.

You need Linux because in the long run, it'd save you millions of $$ in software purchase, and licensing costs.
You need cisco knowledge because as an ISP, your routers should be made by cisco.  Little sissy routers are okay for small operations only.

Bill Gates made $9.6 million A DAY last year!  Why?  It's because most people don't know Linux.  There are applications that cost hundreds of thousands of $$, but that happen to have free linux equivalents.

How long does it take to obtain Linux/cisco certifications?

Well, I don't know about Nigeria, but there are accelerated versions of cisco networking academy, which you can complete in 9 months to be ready to sit for your CCNA exam.  I would advice against the accelerated version though, unless you already hold Network+ certification.  Many things are identical between Network+ and CCNA, e.g. OSI model.

CCNA is good for an ISP, because you learn not only about LAN setup, but also MAN and WAN.  WAN networking involves routing, and that is an ISP's main challenge.  You must have a thorough understanding of subnetting, netmasks, etc.

If you take the regular version of cisco, it'll be about 2 years to complete.

The bottomline is, if you're thinking of going into ISP business, lay a solid foundation for yourself.  Or else, it'd cost you in the long run.

Don't go into ISP business unless you hold at least Linux+ certification. Otherwise, you'd need to pay a linux expert a lot of money to manage your setup.

This is like saying "don't start a business unless you have an MBA". What you should say is, "don't go into ISP business unless you are good at using Linux.

This is like saying "don't start a business unless you have an MBA".  What you should say is, "don't go into ISP business unless you are good at using Linux.

No.  I mean don't go into ISP business unless you have Linux+.

There are a lot of things you miss when you're self-taught.  The books you read cannot make up for a teacher's experience, and the knowledge you gain from other classmates.

When you're an ISP, you don't want anything to catch you off guard.  There are guides and howtos on how to do stuff, but I believe it's best to be able to create your own stuff without following some guide verbatim, or at least understand why you're doing certain things, and also be aware of alternative methods in case one method doesn't work.  Assignments at school force you to pay attention to things you may not like to deal with if you were learning on your own.

How about CCNA?  I don't see how you could get good at configuring a cisco router without going through the coursework.  In the course, you get your own router to play with.  These are routers that cost tens of thousands of $$.

You also get to take a tour of Internetwork hubs that cost hundreds of millions of $$. Check out the price tag on Cisco Line Card routers.   Just reading a book won't give you the experience of knowing what's out there.

Anyway, you wouldn't understand the point I'm trying to make, unless you've taken these courses I'm referring to.

My knowledgeable and well certificated oga, I can get any certification I want by cramming without an instructor. That does not mean I'll remember a thing of what I read one week after the exam. Knowledge is key, not certification. 'Certifications' are even worse than degrees as measures of knowledge, which is why an Indian programmer friend told me that certifications are no longer valued by Indian employers. However, you have made yourself perfectly clear and further discussion is unwarranted.

OK, now I understand your point.

I was referring to Linux+ in terms of the knowledge you gain, not the guy who memorised material for exams.

U need a little knowledge of everything but not necessarily too detailed a knowledge to run a buisness. After all u will not do all the mundane tasks yourself.

If u do all the mundane tasks your compnay will forever remain a "village one-man show".

What u need to do is to employ people smarter than you are and in Nigeria, you can employ them for a song.

There are a lot of developed experts in the nigerian job market relentless searching for a job, in actual sense, Though the quality of education is low, self-developed experts are numerous in Nigeria with all these certification u talked about and sometimes practical knowledge to back it up. Filling up the job market. You can get anything for a song, From accountants willing to work for a little above minimum wage to marketers that could sale jet fuel to the devil.

Nigeria's problem are multi-prong but one of them is NOT absence of skilled labour force but ENTHRONING neopotism (IM).

Bill Gate's Microsoft or Micheal Dell's Dell Coporation would all still remain one man show if they did not leave the "show" to people smarter than they are and concentrate on building a dream organisation

I second that. You can employ something with Linux+ experience if you are unable to concentrate on that. Without delegation, you can't have a growing business. This explains the stagnation of Nairaland.

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U need a little knowledge of everything but not necessarily too detailed a knowledge to run a buisness. After all u will not do all the mundane tasks yourself.

If u do all the mundane tasks your compnay will forever remain a "village one-man show".

What u need to do is to employ people smarter than you are and in Nigeria, you can employ them for a song.

1 million naira is chicken change. So, employing people is out of the question.

You'd be a better manager if you know a lot about the business you're planning to setup. This is moreso in the ISP area. Therefore, acquiring knowledge before starting is key.

A new business stands a chance of succeeding if it has a low TCO in the beginning.
As the business grows and begins to make money, you can then begin to hire people and delegate duties to them.

for your info, it cost N500k for basic licencing in nigeria for 5 years Internet services. check http://www.ncc.gov.ng/index2_e.htm

segs4eva  and sbucareer are in love.

do you thin 1 million will set up a functional isp

i

i understand one can use mtn internet facility for internet bussinesses, how true is this

for your info, it cost N500k for basic licencing in nigeria for 5 years Internet services. check http://www.ncc.gov.ng/index2_e.htm

dont believe what you READ on nigeria govt webpage.

@gbenga

are u looking at an isp like
1. Glo
2. Linkserve, hyperia, etc
3. Cobranet, swift, etc
4. Community isp
5. Wisp

?

That will determine total cost. U might want to bootstrap and work your way up the ladder. You can also save a lot of costs by franchising or buying into an existing setup, and have them open a branch in your area.

To get more detailed advice on how to bootstrap with 1m or less, please add more details to your query eg:

1. Ur location
2. Desired coverage area
3. Range of services
4. Estimated client base
5. Reason for starting or projected future growth or diversification plans

@ SBUCAREER, Pls i wanted to know if its okay to request your email or phone number as I am an IT system Admin for a large organization. We plan on embarking on a serious project of becoming an isp (Serious project) Our business plans and marketing strategy are well in place but we would still require some information as to purchsaing equipments and recruiting the required and efficient personnel.

Plus if you have any contacts whom we can speak to Locally (Nigeria ) as I presume you are Uk based.

Thank you once again for your very informative and educative post.

I believe we will get to hear from you soonest.

jtobun@yahoo.com aolunoiki@yahoo.com