Troubled MTN acquires Visafone

Telecommunications company, MTN Nigeria on Thursday said that it has completed the acquisition of Visafone, the only surviving Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) network in Nigeria’s telecommunications industry.
The telco company who is yet to pay its $3.4billion fine to Nigerian Communications Commission is optimistic that it can boost the quality of broadband in Nigeria.
MTN Executive, Ms Amina Oyagbola made this known in a statement in Lagos.
Oyagbola said that the acquisition of Visafone was in line with a continued commitment by MTN to improve the quality of broadband services for its subscribers.
She said that the acquisition, which sought to leverage resources for service enhancement, was also reflective of the company’s concerted efforts to deepen the growth and roll out of broadband services across the country.
According to her, the acquisition of the CDMA network is in support of the National Broadband Plan, for the benefit of Nigerians.
“We are committed to exploring avenues for meeting our customers’ increasing data needs in line with our vision ‘to lead the delivery of a bold new digital world to our customers’.
“As we work to maximise our data capabilities towards achieving broadband of international quality, our objective is to ensure that Nigerians experience a boost in the quality of broadband internet services.
“This will translate to the much needed enhanced data speeds and value to enhance personal and business productivity.
“The acquisition of Visafone highlights MTN’s commitment to Nigeria. More capacity will facilitate enhanced product/service offerings and experience in the data space to the delight of our valued customers.
“Voice is still King. However, data is becoming increasingly important in our everyday lives and our energies are focused on enhancing data and internet services to the benefit of our customers and the country at large,” she said.
NAN reports that Visafone is one of the leading CDMA/ICT companies in Nigeria, offering a number of services, which include voice, high speed data (3G), internet and other Value Added Services (VAS).
Visafone also provides business solutions to small and medium sized companies and corporate organisations in Nigeria.
NAN also gathered that over 2,000 employees of Visafone were disengaged with effect from Jan 5 and were paid three months salaries as severance package.
The only employees said to been left are those in the personnel and transmission departments.