Challenges in Nigerian market not normal for mobile operators —Etisalat CEO The intense competition in Nigeria’s telecoms sector has made the struggle for survival by the operators interesting. The Chief Executive Officer, Etisalat Nigeria, Mr. Steven Evans, talks about this and other industry issues in this interview with STANLEY OPARA How would you describe doing business in Nigeria in the past one year? Doing business in Nigeria in the past year has had its challenges but we are still happy with the progress we have made so far. Nigeria offers investment opportunities to different companies and some are already setting up businesses in the country. This is very good for Nigeria because continued investment brings in employment and economic growth. Are you impressed with the Nigerian telecoms market in view of the fact that Etisalat is a late entrant? Yes, we have come a long in just over four years of being in the market. Our subscriber base has reached 15 million in that short period. That, in itself, is very impressive. Is Etisalat currently making profit from its operations in Nigeria? We have made significant investments in Nigeria and we have grown considerably; we have done quite well considering we were the last entrant in the market. The telecommunications business is a long-term investment and returns are expected to happen on a longer period. Would you say regulation of telecoms business in the country is commendable? The NCC plays an important role in creating an environment for healthy and fair competition. It serves a vital purpose and we commend the work NCC has done so far. We at Etisalat believe it is important to comply with NCC’s regulations for the benefit of consumers. What has been Etisalat’s observation of the Mobile Number Portability scheme since its take-off? It is very early to judge as customers are yet to be fully aware about MNP and its benefits. However, it is an exciting and welcome development for the industry. We are pleased with the NCC’s decision to flag off MNP last month because it presents customers in Nigeria with an opportunity to port their numbers and enjoy better services with other service providers, while retaining the same mobile number. MNP will empower customers and force operators to improve on quality of service. With MNP, the customer will be the ultimate winner. By your estimate, how many Nigerians have ported into the Etisalat network and vice versa? We have seen an increased interest from subscribers regarding MNP with lots of inquiries. We are fully ready to welcome more subscribers to our network to enjoy our bouquet of innovative products and services that include an unmatched data proposition backed up with our 3.75G HSPA network and our most extensive broadband infrastructure; unmatched customer service and a globally-acclaimed mobile money service (Easywallet), among other benefits. Do you have a target as to the number of subscribers you want to win into your network courtesy of the MNP? There is no specific target we have put for MNP. We have, however, put in place our plans for customer acquisition and MNP is part of it. Our plans are based on continuing to provide good quality of service, innovative products and services, and seamless customer experience to our customers. Etisalat Nigeria recently signed a deal with 13 banks to raise $1.2bn. What is the rationale behind this? The $1.2bn syndicated loan facility we have signed with 13 banks is going to be used to expand our network and boost our capacity to be able to accommodate growth plans and maintain the highest service quality. What are the specific things you will do with the funds? The funds will be specifically used for our network expansion, our investment in 3G, as well as ensuring we offer the uncompromising network quality and customer service our subscribers have come to expect from us. Will you invest in building more infrastructure in northern Nigeria from the funds? Our planned network expansion will be pan-Nigerian and that includes the northern part of the country.
Posted on: Mon, 10 Jun 2013 12:25:14 +0000