Firm to Deepen Internet Penetration in Northern Nigeria
The Chief Executive Officer, Pi Sairtel, a broadband service provider, Mr. Salvation Alibor, has said the firm has concluded plan to distribute free satellite installation kits in the northern states of the country.
According to the company the move was to aid access to the internet for those living and operating their business in the area. Disclosing this to journalists in Lagos, recently, Alibor explained that the initiative was part of their business social campaign to ensure that every individual across the country reach out to the world around them.
Alibor, also debunked the information that Mobile Network Operators (MNO) were set to withdraw their services to people from the northern part of the country owing to the current insecurity challenges within the region.
“The World Bank says that access to broad bands would provide at least 10 per cent growth in GDP. And I believe that if we can extend it to the farthest end of this country, we can break poverty.
“The market that they cannot have in their locality, they would have on the internet.
“The internet for Nigerians has been an issue. I believe that the internet is the level playing field for Africans. It grants us the privilege to compete with other parts of the world on the same plain. The internet grants entrance for development,” he said.
On the sustainability of the product, Alibor said as a satellite based service firm, unlimited internet broadband was possible to its clients as well as with affordability to those that buy their products.
“Our focus primarily is to provide unlimited internet broadband that is truly unlimited because a lot of competitors brand themselves as providing unlimited service. But they use Fair Access Policy (FAP) on customers that restrict the use after a period,” he added.
Speaking further on the impact of the kits and why people must leverage on the opportunity to gain access to the internet, he acknowledged that internet services within the region have been unstable.