Benin - Glo finally launches GSM service

Benin: Glo Launches Network in Country Today

Nigeria's first home-grown multinational telecoms brand, Globacom will today launch its GSM service in the Republic of Benin as the fastest growing network in Africa and the Middle East takes a bold step towards consolidating its vision of becoming the biggest and best network in Africa.

President. Boni Yayi of Benin Republic will lead a team of officials and international dignitaries to the official launch of the Glo network at an elaborate ceremony scheduled for the Marina Hotel in Cotonou. Already, Globacom has taken its pace-setting tradition to Benin Republic by becoming the first network in the country to achieve national coverage from day one.

The network is rolling out simultaneously in over 70 towns and cities in the West African country. Globacom also showed its innovative and revolutionary spirit by becoming the first network to introduce Per Second Billing in the country.

In readiness for the launch, Globacom completed a state-of-the-art-call centre, built ultra-modern Gloworld shops in strategic locations and installed new generation network (NGN) switches with capacity for two million subscribers.

It also has the highest number of base stations in the country.The network which has led the telecommunication revolution in Nigeria with its pocket friendly tariffs, numerous value-added services and life transforming promotions, is expected to replicate its success story in the Republic of Benin, thereby availing Beninoise an enduring world class network infrastructure they had always hoped for. Globacom won the National License in Benin Republic last year after it emerged tops in a keenly contested bid with other international telecommunication companies.

The Beninoise government said the Nigerian company was preferred to the other bidders because of the technical superiority of its bid and its ability to deliver quality service. The nationwide roll out of Globacom's service in the country is seen as a tonic to the company's desire to rule the African telecommunication market. It is also prospecting for licences in Ghana, Togo and other African countries. Globacom started operations in Nigeria in 2003 and is currently the fastest growing network in the Middle East and Africa (MEA) region, with over 17.5 million subscribers.

Although Globacom launched its services two years after the commencement of GSM services in Nigeria, it has been at the forefront of revolutionary changes in Nigeria's telecom industry. It pioneered the Per Second Billing (PSB) system at launch in 2003 when other operators said it was not possible to offer the payment option until four years later. It also led the crashing of SIM cost to industry average of N200 and call tariffs to as low as N10 per minute, thus making it possible for millions of Nigerians to own GSM phones. Globacom has pioneered a host of value added services in Nigeria including Multimedia Messaging Services, Mobile Internet, Voice SMS, GPRS, Prepaid Roaming and the revolutionary Blackberry device.

The company is also the first network in Nigeria to commercially launch the 3G Plus, the latest technology in the industry. Its gateway subsidiary, Glo Gateway, is already a major player in international telecommunications services with over 235 roaming partners in 94 countries, the highest by any network in West Africa. Also, Globacom's fixed line network is already in operation in Abuja.

Known as Broad Access, the Glo fixed line network is also ready to carry traffic in Lagos, Ibadan, Port Harcourt and Abeokuta. Additionally, the company is investing in a submarine cable, Glo-1, which runs from Lagos across 16 African countries to the UK and USA, with a landing point in the Republic of Benin. Glo-1 is said to be the single largest private initiative in the African telecom sector.