Remmy Nweke
29 April 2004
Lagos — Glo Mobile, the Global System for Mobile communications (GSM) arm of Globacom, last weekend went home with the GSM Company of the year award at the seventh City People awards for excellence, held in Lagos, for 2003.
A press statement from the firm, quoted the organizers as saying that Glo Mobile was unanimously chosen by the selection committee "having performed creditably well in the telecoms sector last year".
In a citation of Glo Mobile, in which it was regarded as one of Africa's fastest growing networks, the organisers commended the company for pioneering the Per Second Billing (PSB) system in the industry and also for introducing numerous innovative packages for its subscribers, including like Friends and Family, Multi-media Messaging Service, Text-to- E-mail and Magic Plus.
The press statement also said that Globacom has, in less than eight months after launching its services, rolled out in over 50 towns and cities.
The network has also covered eight major highways across the country and along 32 towns and cities. It was adjudged by the Nigeria Telecoms News as the best network based on a survey conducted by the magazine which showed "Globacom has the best of efficiency in terms of Call Drop Rates (CDR)."
The survey also said, Globacom has the lowest CDR in the industry. While only Seven per cent of the respondents on the Globacom network said they experienced call drops very often, 71 per cent of the respondents on the MTN network said call drop rates on the network were very often.
Forty-four per cent of the respondents on the Vodacom (Econet) otherwise known as Vee Networks were said to have agreed that the call drop rates on the network were very often.
Meanwhile in that award, adjudged through independent assessment of the operations and services, Starcomms, a Private Telecommunications Operator, (PTO) was named the best PTO in the country.
City People's publisher, Mr. Seye Kehinde, said the award was to recognize Corporate Organisations whose services rub positively on the lives of the people.
"Starcomms' excellent Customer Relations which guarantees that the customers get value for their money, service satisfaction and continuous investment in both human capital and material resources", earned the upward looking Starcomms the award, according to Mr. Kehinde.
The citation of Starcomms included that after it re-engineered in December 2002 and switching on its Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) 2000 1X, state of the art technology for seamless voice, data and Internet capabilities and unified messaging, it began to offer services that are adjusted by its customers as second to none.
In 16 months it moved from mere 3,000 lines on its legacy technology to nearly 100,000 subscriber base now across Lagos, Kano and Maiduguri. Plan for two new branches at Ibadan and Port Harcourt are at advanced stages and roaring to go into commissioning level.
Starcomms developed a new logo, brand name and new image in year 2003 during which it also commissioned four International Standard Customer Service Centres in Lagos.
It also received a prestigious award at the West African Telecommunications Exhibition (WAFRITEL) 2003 in Lagos as the "Best Innovative Company" at the fair.
Apart from a strong support of Arts and local culture of Nigeria as amply demonstrated in its colourful adverts both on radio and newspapers, Starcomms has indeed endeared itself to the people, the judges said.
Although its chairman, Chief Maan Lababidi, a successful industrialist could not be reached for comments, Starcomms Managing Director, Mr. Dirk Smet, was excited about the award "because it came unsolicited, we were surprised about this you know", Mr. Smet, an internationally acclaimed telecom technocrat said. "Somebody, somewhere believed we were doing something good and honoured us, I must say we are glad about this".
Mr. Smet, who has worked variously in different telecom companies including MTN Cameroon, Intercellular Nigeria among others said, "in competition like the one we have in Nigeria we are motivated by awards like these. We are encouraged and we express our gratitude for this confidence because this helps us to grow a lot".
He denounced situations where awards are up for the highest bidders " but this one by City People is different. I do not even know them you know, so that makes a world of difference and we are encouraged". He said the large patronage of Starcomms is an achievement "because people put their trust in us".
According to him, an operator can build a very large network yet end up a failure if there are no patrons. "Anything we do, we put the customers first, we want to enrich their lives through telecom" Mr. Smet added.
Smet explained that since telecom is public service, it must be done in such a way to impact positively on the lives of the people. "That is why we are in Kano and even Maiduguri which although not necessarily on commercial terms but to impact positively on the lives of the people", he concluded.
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