In a bid to remain cutting edge and on par with the world’s most industrialized cities, Nigerian officials have tapped Indian broadband and internet services provider Spectranet to implement their own 4G network. The commercial service was rolled out over the weekend and aims to provide small and medium businesses, corporations, and individuals with reliable and cost-effective broadband service.
“We see tremendous potential in delivering high quality reliable broadband services increasingly as consumers in Nigeria increasingly demand high quality internet connectivity but at an affordable price,” said Spectranet Executive Director Ezekiel Fatoye. Fatoye also maintained that, if the government only got its act together and marshaled every IT and broadband resource at their disposal, Nigeria could well be a wholly wireless country.
As reported by Nigerian newspaper The Sun News, Spectranet has opted to run its 4G network on Clearwire’s WiMAX due to its ability to easily swell its coverage to encompass other locations. This is good news for WiMAX providers, who can at least rest assured that they are still expanding abroad even if the network is struggling domestically (WiMAX was recently jettisoned by Sprint, its largest client).
Initially, the launch will be confined the former Nigerian capital Lagos, but will eventually broaden in range to include other major cities. But an broadband launch in Lagos, which has a population similar to that of New York City and is rapidly growing, is not to be viewed as any mean feat.
The launch is slated to include provisions for internet access for hospitals and schools as part of its corporate social responsibility.
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Go wimax go!!!!!!!!!!!