Nigerian CDMA Operator Rebrands for National Expansion
Nigerian CDMA operator, Reltel Wireless has raised N25.9 billion (US$223 million) from investors and is to change its name to Zoom Mobile. The company says that the rebranding is to reposition the company as a national mobile services provider, taking full advantage of its Universal Access Service license.
The operator currently covers 62 cities and 350 villages and has a capacity for five million subscribers. The network recently passed the 1.5 million subscriber mark.
Oge Udeagha, Head of Corporate Communications at Reltel Wireless said recently that "We currently have an installed capacity for 5 million lines, and have just concluded arrangements to add an additional 10 million lines to the network,” It is understood that China's ZTE won that expansion contract.
Along with the rebranding, Zoom Mobile introduced a new numbering plan. The 0707 series will allow for up to 10 million lines, matching the expansion plans.
Rival CDMA operator, Starcomms which has around 1.6 million customers, recently announced plans to spend at least US$400 million over the next year to expand its network. The company has already invested some US$600 million since it launched its network in 2002.
Posted to the site on 1st August 2008
