₦airaland Forum

STOCKHOLM, SWEDEN -- (Marketwire) -- 12/18/08 --
Ericsson (NASDAQ: ERIC) has signed a contract with Nigerian telecomcompany 21st Century Technologies to supply, build and systemsintegrate a nationwide residential fiber-optic broadband network. Thecontract includes the latest GPON Fiber-To-The-Home (FTTH) technologyand will enable advanced high-speed broadband services.

The project represents a major breakthrough in the West Africanregion, a market largely dominated by mobile communications. TheFiber-To-The-Home network will provide high-quality broadbandconnectivity and support services such as IPTV, high-speed internetaccess, and voice-over-IP. Deployment to the first 10,000 homes willstart in January, 2009.

Wale Ajisebutu, Managing Director of 21st Century Technologies, says:"We are delighted to work with Ericsson to deploy and integrate oneof the world's most sophisticated network architectures for fiberoptics. With the combination of Ericsson's GPON (Gigabit-capablePassive Optical Network) and IMS (IP Multimedia Subsystem)technology, we can deliver an enriched multimedia experience to ourcustomers."

Jan Embro, Head of sub-Saharan Africa at Ericsson, says: "Thiscontract reflects Ericsson's strong position in Nigeria, builds onour partnership with 21st Century Technologies and highlights ourcapabilities in multimedia services. It is the first project of itskind in the West African region and will be the forerunner of relatedservices not only in the region, but in Africa as a whole."

Under the agreement Ericsson will provide an end-to-end Deep-FiberAccess network with EDA 1500 for GPON access and fiber cables,including Ribbonet and Micronet air-blown fiber systems. The contractalso includes Redback SmartEdge 1200 routers and Ericsson's IMSsolution for the core network, enabling seamless access to a widerange of multimedia services. Ericsson will also be responsible fornetwork design, deployment and systems integration services.

Ericsson's Deep-Fiber Access network solution is a key enabler fordeploying new broadband services and is part of Ericsson's FullService Broadband offering. Ericsson has delivered EDA broadbandaccess nodes to more than 100 customers worldwide. Ericsson is themarket leader in IMS with more than 60 commercial contracts, of whichmore than half carry live traffic. 

http://www.ibtimes.com/prnews/20081218/ericsson-to-build-residential-fiber-optic-network-for-21st-century-technologies-in-nigeria.htm

If anyone has more info about this, please let me know.

http://www.networkworld.com/news/2008/102808-etisalat-nigeria-plans-free-calls.html

"Barring intervention from the country's telecom regulator, Etisalat Nigeria will offer subscribers free network-to-network calling for no less than six months to win over mobile subscribers."

"Etisalat, however, is weighing its options. Free network-to-network calling for six months could cause mass dumping of other networks' GSM SIM (Subscriber Identity Module) cards in preference for the new network, a move the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) could deem anticompetitive."

"It could also stir similar actions by other networks, particularly Glo Mobile, to open a major war that may not "augur well for the sector in the long run," said an NCC official in Abuja."



If they actually do this, then yes it would be time to get excited.

A place to drop your gamertag if you are on live, so we have one comprehensive list.

Gamertag - Jbankole
Lagos.

I don't like to argue, you might be right. All I know is that everything I have read points towards Etisalat lobbying the government for a 3G license because it is integral to their plan. Most of the articles are no longer available on google news because it has been over one month. I was able to find a few:

http://www.globalinsight.com/SDA/SDADetail10560.htm


Specifically

"Besides, as mobile phone ownership becomes more commonplace, and people identify with their mobile numbers, the absence of mobile number portability in Nigeria means there is a hurdle to be overcome to convince users to ditch their former mobile numbers. Worse still, unless Etisalat teams up with a 3G player like Alheri Engineering, it may find it impossible to compete on data services and portraying itself as the "Hutchison Whampoa" of Nigeria (see Nigeria: 4 July 2007: Celtel Buckles Under Promotion Pressureand 21 March 2007: NCC Awards Four 3G Licences)."


also:

http://ictnewsnow..com/2008/08/telecoms-ncs-wants-government-to.html


Specifically

"While only Globacom and MTN have rolled out 3G services, Zain is yet to do so, while not much has been heard from Alheri on its plans to commence the service. However, Nigeria’s newest GSM Licensee, Etisalat has applied for the licence, stating that it was central to its plans for the Nigerian market in the future."

Like I said, you might be right, but based on what I have read, they don't seem to have the license.

@ Samir101ng Glo has not launched glo-1, it has not even been completed. It is set to reach Ghana in may of 2009 and Nigeria soon after that. Mtn did just sign an MOU with a few telecoms companies to do a 5 Terrabyte submarine cable along the west coast of Africa. They already have the landing rights for Nigeria. 

@ Ex Inferis In regards to Etisalat's 3.75G network, they don't have a 3G license in Nigeria. There are only four Glo, Mtn, Zain, Alheri(sp?), so they can't compete with anyone in that regard.

I have been singing the praises of Etisalat to my friends for like 9 months now. The reason is that coming into a market that many are starting to view as saturated, Etisalat has to do something that will drastically change the status quo to survive. The thing with choosing your number is simply cute and for publicity. Ask yourself honestly how many phone numbers after saving to contacts do you actually remember? I am just reserving my enthusiasm for the actual big news.

@Ogboraph all I am saying is that we don't actually know enough about their plans to warrant such excitement. They are a strong telecoms company, and I know they probably will do great things in Naija. I just want to know more about what they plan on doing.

People talk about the 3.75G network in Egypt, but Etisalat does not have a 3g license in Nigeria. They have a sister submarine cable laying company, but there is no talk of laying a cable around Africa. While all this pick your own number rubbish is cute, does anyone here work for or know anyone that works for Etisalat and can tell us about their plans? How do they intend to separate themselves from the pack? Is it cheaper tariffs, free on network call? Cause for me, picking my own number and 300 seconds for life doesn't quite cut it.

Does anyone know any personal VPNs that work in Nigeria. I bought one(witopia.net) when on a trip, only to find out that all of Nigeria has been blocked. This is not for anything illegal (having to say this especially on a Nigerian website really brings home the problem)

I think it is best to buy numerous mtn sim cards, one at 10k for all day browsing, and the rest at 2.5k for the heavy downloading at night. You want 9 gigs, it will cost you 15k. 20k gives you 15 gigs, and so on.

MTN has changed it service package. It is no longer simply pay 12K and get unlimited access on postpaid. They have now also instituted the 3gig "fair usage" policy. It's now 10k for 3 gigs/24hrs/month on post paid and prepaid. They also have 2.5k for the night service 10pm-5am, you get the same 3 gig limit for a thirty day period on post and pre-paid. They also have N500 for 50MB for 24hrs on prepaid.

Prepaid access codes

Monthly 24hrs send text message 101 to 131 after loading 10k
Night service send 102 to 131 after loading 2.5k
Daily service send 103 to 131 after loading N500

To get the internet rate, you can all 216 on an MTN line. It's actually in my opinion still expensive, it starts at about 25k for either 64k or 128k down. The customer service rep will be able to give you more information.

Like I said earlier, I did not get my modem from MTN, I got it from Glo. However, I do remember the guy at MTN telling me they had both PCMCIA and USB modems. The USB might be your best bet. I currently use the Option Globesurfer Icon 1.8Mbps.

I am on the postpaid, all i got from MTN was the sim card and the monthly service N12,380. I had the glo 3g service which was 15k but got rid of it because of the 3gig limit and the wonky billing system(glo is the one with the limit). Did not have to buy the modem because I used the one from glo. MTN offers theirs(modem) for N25k.

Postpaid is 12k, but somone told me it might have come down to 10k ( 25k for modem, 380 Naira for simcard. u don't have to buy the modem from them). Prepaid I think is just pay as you go which is charged at like 35 kobo a KB.

Let's all post our speedtest results, cost, restrictions, location, time.
This way we see actual numbers, and not just people saying the service isn't bad.

Just go to speedtest.net, take the speed test and copy and paste the forum link.

MTN 3g 3.6Mbps service
24hrs no downloads restrictions
12000 Naira (might have gone down to ten)
Ikoyi Lagos
Monday around noon

https://www.speedtest.net/result/301661665.png

Swift Home Plus 786Kbps service
5pm-10am Weekdays 24Hrs weekends plus holidays
no download restrictions
8000 Naira
Ikoyi Lagos
Saturday evening

https://www.speedtest.net/result/301088944.png

@ iice

"For Sale: Parachute. Only used once, never opened, small stain." - That's just classic.

aight, y'all can continue.

I've had it for about a month, and so far so good. It had been slow for about one week, but that was because they were adding bandwidth from Suburban. I am getting speeds on average of 60KBps down during the day, and 120KBps at night(that with the big B, downloaded about 300megs in 35-40 mins). The current modem I have is capped at 1.8Mbps, so it might actually be faster with the 3.6Mbps modem. It's a lot better than what Glo is offering because of the unlimited download.

This speed test was done while posting this reply.

https://www.speedtest.net/result/301658997.png

This one was on sunday.

https://www.speedtest.net/result/301374594.png

This should not be possible on my modem but

https://www.speedtest.net/result/300931272.png

Yup, I have a one month gold membership. If i am not mistaken, everytime you go online with a 360 for the first time you get one month free. I had another gamertag, but decided to make a new one for the free membership.

exboy:
don't know what you mean by download limit. what I do know is that I have been downloading like mad. And I just finished watching prison break season 3 episode 11, 12, 13 online!!! That s just one of many experiences.

AAaaaaaahhh, my guy there is a 3 gig limit OOoooOO. Everything after 3 gigs is charged at 35 Kobo a KB. I think the way they have done it is to load your Sim with enough credit to cover 3 gigs at 35 Kobo, which works out to a little over 1 million Naira. What i would suggest is to take your Sim out of your data card, put it in a phone and dial 200(corporate costumer service). check your balance hopefully it is still between 0 and 1 million and not in the negative. Make sure that if you are using a 3g phone, you change it to GSM. U cannot connect with costumer service in 3g(umts) mode. If u call them, they will tell U to text 'bill' to '2222' the problem is one cannot text with that Sim card. My download has not been to heavy, and I am down to like 600K that's like 1.4 gigs used.

Was able to go live and play online with the 360 using Glo. Only played Aegis Wing and there was no lag. I could hear them, they could hear me. Will have Gears of War sometime this week and will let y'all know how it goes.

My gamertag is "jdossy" for any one on live in naija or otherwise

@Info
You are right the unlimited should not be there, but as long as they give me anything close to what they advertise they can call it whatever they want.

@technic
From what i gather, not many people are surfing on Glo.They still have a problem with their billing that cuts you off after about 100megs downloaded.

While it worked though it was very fast. I did a 20 meg file averaging about 150KBps, it took like 2 mins

Don't get me wrong, I am not complaining. I know how bad it is here, and this is a definite step in the right direction. I use Glo unlimited HSDPA. In regards to the hype though, the promised 3.6m which would average 2.2m, but they sell cards that can only do 1.8m which will have you just over 1m. They still need to work on their billing, I can't use it now because it says I have passed my limit. I have used about 100megs, my limit should be 3 gigs

In South Africa, they are playing on live with MTN's 3g service. I have not tried it yet with Glo, but once i pick up my 360 i will. They say the real problem is upload speed and latency not download speed.

With the download I got up to 1.2mbps, but the upload seems to be capped at 64kpbs. Has not lived up to the hype, but that is a sh#t load more than i could have hoped for.

Glo is selling data cards for laptops. I picked mine up this morning, it's 30k for the card and the first month. It's 15k every month after that for 3 gigs. It takes 24hrs to activate. A word of warning though, it seems as though glo is selling data cards capable of only 1.8Mbps(can't be upgraded) and their network is 3.6Mbps.

Glo has released their Tarrifs

http://www.gloworld.com/GloMobile/ValueAddedServices/Glo3GTarrif.htm?NavItemID=Glo3GTarrif&Cn=GloMobile

Glo is offering for N15,000 what MTN wanted to charge N120,000.

Some of the phones that have two options can be firmware updated to show three options. The problem is that the network is telling your phone in dual mode to stay in GSM. This is because the network has not been officially launched. Once it is officially launched, the network will tell your phone to switch over to umts.

Call 09-5245153, that's the Nitel head office in Abuja. They will get it to the nearest exchange, you have to take it from there. I know 1 meg costs $5,000.

The 449 Rand is actually for 2 gigs, so thats N80,000 to South Africa's N7,000