Improved International Calling for Nigerian GSM Network

Econet Wireless Nigeria has launched its international gateway which will enable it to improve the reliability of its international calling service. The company, Nigeria's largest mobile network, has already built two new earth stations which will be used to move international traffic to its Nigerian network. The GSM network was launched last August after being licenced by the Nigerian regulator in February 2001.

A spokesman for Econet said in a statement that the company has already concluded an agreement with the UK-based satellite transmission company, Europstar, to lease space on the Stellar satellite, which was launched last month. The company's earth stations were built by UK-based Econet Satellite Services (ESS), a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Econet Wireless Group.

The spokesman said the launch of the international gateway was an important milestone in the development of Econet's Nigeria network, whose licence authorises the company to operate a gateway to carry international traffic in and out of Nigeria, probably one of the most under-serviced telecoms market in Africa with a population of more than 130 million people.

"It is currently extremely difficult for our customers to send and receive international calls in Nigeria. But now that we have built this new system, it will be very easy for them. It will also allow us to expand our international roaming service because this is one of the key functions of the new gateway," said the spokesman'"

Posted to the site on 21st October 2002