Lagos — Netcom Africa has emerged winner of the "Best ISP" of the year" as well as the recognition award for "Best broadband company of the year" at the annual Nigeria Telecom Awards organised by Nigeria telecoms magazine in Lagos.

Other Internet service providers nominated for best ISP of the year Netcom were Swift Networks and Direct on PC.

The Nigeria Telecoms awards recognises leadership, innovation and excellence and services judged to be the most unique to the telecommunications industry. Prominent individuals in the society were also honored for their contributions and developments to the society. The industry and endorsers voted for the final winners.

"We are delighted to be recognized by the industry and receive not one, but two additional prestigious awards this year," the Marketing Manager, Netcom, Mrs. Lolade Shonubi, had said.

Shonubi said that as an IP communications provider of satellite and wireless products, Netcom is determined to continue to lead the market with innovative solutions that meet the challenging criteria of customers, the public and judges.

"This is a great honor to our customers and Netcom employees whose dedication, loyalty, hard work and expertise are the main reason the company excels", she noted.

"To emerge as the winners of the ISP of the year awards and at the same time win the recognition award for Broadband company of the year is a great feat that reflects Netcom's commitment to quality, as the company continues to strive to deliver world class service", the Marketing Manger said further.

The company which won VSAT company of the year at the at the last year Telecoms awards ceremony, Shonubi said that its winning two awards this year is an indication that the company has broadened the products and service, enhanced the strength of value added products and have been able to reach more consumers in the last year.

Netcom Africa Limited is a leading communication infrastructure provider of satellite and wireless broadband solutions in West Africa with world-class communications product suite that uses the latest generation technologies in satellite communications and is supported 24/7 by some of the most experienced customer support and technical engineers in the industry.

In a related development, Dr. Abubukar Adama and Mr. Ray Ezediaro during the week emerged lucky winners of the Netcom Africa and South African Tourism competition for a getaway to South Africa. The two subscribers to the NetcomVSAT and MyNetcom products will travel with their partners, on an all-expense paid weekend to South Africa. The prize includes return flights courtesy of South African Airways, five-star accommodation at Sandton Sun Hotel, complimentary spa treatments, a city scene tour of Johannesburg and a cultural tour of Soweto. May 2007 heralded a groundbreaking deal between a destination marketing organization, SA Tourism and the leading communication infrastructure provider in Nigeria, Netcom Africa Limited. The partnership involved promoting South Africa as a tourist destination through Netcom Africa's loyal and growing database. Netcom Africa's current and potential subscribers were encouraged to subscribe to Netcom VSAT and MyNetcom to be in line to win a trip for two to South Africa.

Congratulating the two winners, the Marketing Manager, Netcom Africa, Shonubi, said Netcom was positive that they would enjoy South Africa using their Netcom Africa product.

"This campaign has been very successful and it is evident in the feedback from both new and existing customers and the amount of traffic it has driven to the Netcom Africa website', she said.

The partnership between SA Tourism and Netcom Africa Limited, the Trade Relations Manager, West Africa, Thuto Sethole said, was aimed at highlighting to the Nigerian market what South Africa has to offer in terms of leisure holiday destination. Sethole elaborated that SA Tourism has worked successfully with the trade in Nigeria to grow the amount of visits from Nigeria to South Africa, noting that however, the organization constantly searches for innovative ways in which to reach its segments.