The skepticism, which at some point scared off some potential investors, has favoured those investors who dared to believe in the likely success of the country’s telecommunications sector.
From 2G to 3G and now 4G, experts and telecoms subscribers have expressed enthusiasm about what the future really holds for the Information and Communications Technology sector. Particularly, the 4G LTE has come with a lot of promise.
The ‘4G LTE’ combines two terms. While 4G means the Fourth Generation of data technology for cellular networks– following 3G, LTE stands for Long Term Evolution and stands for a technical process for high-speed data for phones and other mobile devices.
According to industry players, the Nigerian story in innovation and technology is one of steady progress that is beyond imagination, even in the good old days. Not many would have predicted that we would someday watch High Definition movies, live matches, initiate transactions and even play high graphic video games on our mobile phones.
Yet, these features and many more are now readily available, supported by the Internet. It is therefore no surprise that the Nigerian smartphone market is currently the largest and regarded as the most sophisticated in the sub-Saharan Africa.
The progressive development of the smartphone Internet is impressive. When the 3G networks started rolling out, they quickly replaced the 2G system, a network protocol that allows you to make phone calls, basic text messaging, and use small amounts of data over a protocol called MMS.
With the introduction of 3G connectivity, a number of larger data formats became much more accessible, including standard HTML pages, videos, and music. However, because the speeds still needed improvement in terms of speed and mostly required pages and data specially formatted for these slower wireless connections, a craving developed for a more advanced system– the 4G.
The company that acquired the core assets of NITEL/MTEL, the NatCom Development and Investment Limited, took advantage of this craving and made its first voice over LTE call in Lagos on Thursday, February 25, 2016.
The test, VoLTE call, was made at 3.30pm at ntel’s new Tier III data centre in Lagos Island.
VoLTE calls are enabled over a carrier’s high-speed data network instead of on a voice network.
Voice over LTE calls also connect faster upon dialing, and feature ultra-clear high-definition voice quality. The VoLTE call was completed in partnership with LM Ericsson of Sweden and Sony Electronics of Japan. This follows NTEL’s first data call on January 18, 2016, and its first SIP voice call on February 18, 2016.
When approached by our correspondent, the Chief Executive Officer, ntel, Kamar Abass, said, “The successful test call is a confirmation that the key network elements are now in place to support the full commercial launch of premium integrated voice, video, and data services over the 4G/LTE.
“The ntel network is built on the 900/1800 Mhz which are the most efficient propagation frequencies for the deployment of 4G/LTE technology.”
Abass also said that creating 4G connectivity required two components: a network that can support the necessary speeds, and a device that is able to connect to that network and download information at high and enough speed.
He added, “It has been established that LTE is the fastest connection available for wireless networks. However, what is more interesting, though, is what this means for the future Nigerian lifestyle.”
Ntel is not alone in the 4G/LTE experience, according to analysts, as the advent of MTN Y’ello mobile banking platform with Diamond Bank has shown the endless possibilities in creating products that help achieve a smarter lifestyle.
“MTN 4G LTE will enable higher productivity in mobile banking experience on the 4G LTE network across all connected parties. Transactions will not only be faster but more reliable,” MTN Nigeria had said during one of the forums on 4G/LTE.
Much like EE did in the United Kingdom back in 2010; MTN said it was pushing the envelope the farthest in Nigeria. It said it was keeping with the Rugby analogy, and would push the ball over the line with its impending 4G LTE launch.
The test run- launch begins in another week or so and when it does, MTN would be the first major telecoms company to offer the service in Nigeria.
Speaking after winning the 2.6GHZ broadband licence, the MTN’s Chief Ferdi Moolman said, “We are very pleased with this development at this time, which is a further step in the right direction for Nigeria.
“Indeed, MTN is fully aligned and supports the Nigerian Communications Commission’s objective to deliver broadband services to present and future generations of subscribers, in line with the National Broadband Plan of 2013.”
Speaking further, he said, “This licence acquisition further demonstrates MTN’s abiding faith in the future of Nigeria and the resilience of the Nigerian economy.
“MTN continues to believe in Nigeria and we have expressed this belief in the level of our investment, which currently stands at approximately $15 billion and counting.”
He added, “Our subscribers, especially those in clustered areas such as the major cities, can expect distinct improvements in browsing speed, quality and experience, including fast access to high definition video streaming, as well as conferencing and calling, lag-free music streaming, and improved data uploads and downloads.”
Experts agree that the only possible sticking point is the need for subscribers to swap their existing SIM-cards with LTE-ready ones that MTN calls “U sims.”
The telco said the first experience of its 4G LTE would be in Lagos, Abuja, Port Harcourt cities. Interestingly, the company has invested N18bn to acquire the 2.6GHz spectrum and has started the process of listing MTN Nigeria on the Nigerian Stock Exchange.
Nigeria is advancing rapidly, with the rest of the world, into the Internet of Things era where virtually everything will be connected to the Internet. It is only expected that robust data connection will power that shift.
It is believed that the robust Internet that comes on the heels of 4G LTE will foster productivity across all sectors of the economy. This is why the test run of 4G LTE from MTN was accepted as an uplifting development that would complement government’s national objective of achieving 30 per cent National Broadband penetration target by 2018.
“Worthy of note is the company’s objective to ensure that Nigerians experience a boost in the quality of broadband Internet services translating into the much-needed enhanced data speed and value to enhance personal and business productivity,” MTN Nigeria stated in a media enquiry.
Studies such as the 2014 Value of Connectivity study, done by Deloitte, state that access to Internet could lift 130 million people out of extreme poverty.
Directly, access to the Internet means people have access to empowering information and indirectly, benefits stem from the enhanced speed and time saving for Small and Medium Enterprises. Because of reduced transaction costs and productivity gains, SMEs are able to deliver more value. All these drive growth, which SMEs would need more human resources to maintain. The top-level increase In internet access delivers value that culminates in job creation.
SMEs are responsible for 40 per cent of industrial employment in Nigeria. With improved access, that number can begin to edge closer to the 70 per cent that is obtainable in advanced markets.
Value creation and robust access to the Internet set off a virtuous circle of sorts: the more problems SMEs solve quickly, the more creative they get at solving the problems, the more market they are able to access, and the more talent they need to maintain their processes.