Leadership (Abuja)
Peter Ailuorio
15 October 2008
Lagos — Leading Nigeria mobile operator, Zain, is offering South South region residents particularly students, travellers and those who live and work in places where access to traditional mobile phone is restricted, an opportunity to communicate with the launch of Fixed Phones in the area.
The newly launched Zain's Fixed Phone or unmanned pay phone in the region is also expected to increase the options available to customers and remove barriers to access to communication services including the need to own a mobile phone, which have prevented several people from enjoying the benefits of the ongoing telecom revolution in Nigeria.
Zain became the first operator to introduce Fixed Phones in Nigeria when it rollout the device in April 2008 at the Covenant University, Ota and Redeemer University, Mowe, both in Ogun State, and in various villages including Awgu and Ogwute in the South East Region, and Ikom in South South Region.
According to Zain Nigeria's General Manager, South South Region, Imeh James, the Fixed Phones are designed to provide Nigerians in the area unrestricted access to telecoms services irrespective of their income level, social status, age, job, and location.
He said the introduction of the service further demonstrates Zain's commitment to empowering all Nigerians to communicate, adding that the launch of Fixed Phone has opened a fresh opportunity for more Nigerians particularly youths, rural residents and low income earners in the region by offering them easy and convenient access to telephone service at an affordable rate. "It also deployed with those who reside or work in locations where access to phones are either limited or restricted, and those who would like to take advantage of the unique benefits of the service in mind", he said.
Speaking at the commissioning ceremony in Benin City, Edo State, James said, the introduction is also expected to boost businesses in the region by creating jobs for many youths in the area and cement family and business ties including helping traders keep tap on market prices and helping students stay in touch with their parents while at school.
Zain has deployed Fixed Phone in several cities and communities across Nigeria to improve access to telephone in both rural and urban areas particularly in universities, polytechnics, secondary schools, hospitals, and camp grounds among others.
Zain's GSM Fixed Phones are wireless devices or terminals which are accessible to users 24/7 and do not require human control and the use of mobile handset.
Users of the service do not need to own a mobile phone and can make a call on the Fixed Phone terminal with a special SIM card which has the attributes of a regular SIM card carried in mobile phones by phone users across the world.
Calls can be made on the Zain Fixed Phone terminal by inserting the special SIM card into the device and dialling the numbers on the keys. Users can also send and receive SMS, retrieve voicemails, check credit balance, and send and receive "Credit Me" and "Call Me Back" (Value Added Service or SMS service from Zain).
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