9mobile, is to increase its staff strength after new owners,Teleology beat the deadline pay the non-refundable $50million completion deposit to the Trustee of the bank syndicate presently holding ownership of 9Mobile. The company has also indicated its plans to overhaul the network and all other aspects of the telco’s operations, including ringing Nigeria round with 4G broadband access beginning with the 774 local governments in the country.
The new owner of 9mobile is also reinforcing the network workforce with at least 50 percent addition to ensure the overhaul plans are not undermined by shortage of manpower. The payment, gave rise to the signing of the Share Purchase Agreement (SPA) and other contractual documents pertaining to the acquisition. Teleology says the payment underscores its financial capability and readiness to revive the organisation.
Teleology’s Managing Director, Mr Adrian Wood, immediately after the payment, said that “9mobile is transiting into a new phase that will be defined by optimal value delivery to employees, customers and to local communities” He added that Teleology has set out a 10-point plan that aggregates its mission and how it intends to turn the 9mobile organisation around.
He added that the new organisation to emerge would be “engineering led and brand driven.” In delivering service, “we will strive to ensure that 9Mobile operations deliver fulfilment to our customers, empowerment to local communities, protection to the vulnerable and excellent rewards not only to our shareholders but to all stakeholders.
Apparently defending his ten point action plan and why the new 9mobile would dwell massively on rural broadband deployments, Wood took a dig at organisations depending on 3-dimensional operational strategy, saying they are naïve and do not understand the scope and complexity of urgency the country requires to upscale to the 21st century broadband era. According to him, “We plan to double 9Mobile network with new 3G/4G specific cell sites as well as several thousands of kilometres of fiber optic cable across the country. We will drive a special program of rural internet coverage, focusing on 4G with broadband access planned for all of Nigeria’s 774 Local Government Areas.
“Any 3-point plan or 3-dimension idea is naïve and completely missing the scope and complexity of the urgent Nigerian need to be brought into the 21st century broadband era”.
“Nigerians should look forward to a new regime of intensely exciting and innovative brand loyalty rewards programs, from the new 9Mobile. We envisage an increase of 50% in direct employment in the new 9Mobile. There is also an active plan to introduce within the first year, several million 4G-capable premium quality smartphones, at exceedingly affordable pricing. Youth engagement and employment programs are also planned with all build contractors, distributors and consultants, while investment in broadband internet access technologies which are completely new to Nigeria, are also planned” he dded.
He also promised that the 9Mobile network will be optimised for high speed and high capacity data including imaging, video, games, music, IPTV and more. Meanwhile, the company said it has already entered into an alliance with Safaricom, the largest network operator in East Africa to support the network with the highest operating efficiencies in Africa. Safaricom is famous for its global “mpesa” mobile financial services system, which advances financial inclusion. Teleology is promoted by a group of 12 telecom industry veterans with considerable experience not only in Nigeria and Africa but in the global telecom space as well
