TheCable

Etisalat Nigeria says its objective for launching its mobile 4G Long Term Evolution (4G LTE) is to drive the future of technology in Nigeria.

Adebisi Idowu, vice president, marketing, Etisalat Nigeria, made the disclosure at the demo of the 4G LTE service in Lagos.

He said the 4G LTE service was being made available strategically to customers in the Lagos Mainland areas of Yaba, Surulere and Ikeja.

He said these areas represent the hub and future of technology and economic development for Nigeria, adding that the service would be rolled out in more cities across the country.

“We are positioning our 4G LTE service as a lifestyle enabler. That is why Etisalat is the only network that does not require a SIM swap before a customer can enjoy 4G connectivity,” he said.

“We want to see and encourage use of our 4G technology to enable our subscribers be all that they can be. Our subscribers are able to do more with this new level of technology.

“We will not impose features of 4G on our consumers; we want you to tell us what 4G is doing for you. For us, the consumer is the innovator.”

Idowu added that there was an increasing number of people trying to get online, get their work done and impact lives.

“Our goal is to enable such people exploit their potential,” he said.

“Etisalat’s strategy is to enable our subscribers compete globally, so we abide by best practices and bring nothing short of international quality service to our customers across Nigeria.”

Zainab Balogun, Gideon Okeke and Ill Rhymz, all TV personalities, as well as James Ademuyiwa, a social media influencer, expressed delight over the new technology.

In his testimonial, Gideon said he had experienced Etisalat 4G LTE connectivity at different parts of Lagos, Chevron Drive in Lekki and GRA Ikeja, and the connectivity was fast.

“My Etisalat 4G LTE experience was super-fast with no buffering,” he said.

Ill Rhymz said: “The Etisalat 4G LTE is brilliant, trust me. Knowing my work online will now be unlimited, it is a relief.

“Imagine streaming online with clients and my audience, live from the studio, without worrying about glitches. That’s the 4G experience; it’s perfect for me. The faster the data is, the better.”

Ademuyiwa said he had heard a lot about 4G LTE becoming a regular thing among telcos.

“Experiencing it finally was really a thoughtful move on Etisalat’s part,” he added.

“For me, I see switching from 3G to 4G LTE as an entrance to the internet of things in Nigeria. We can’t stay on 3G or 3.75G to achieve that. Kudos to Etisalat.”

With the new technology, customers are expected to enjoy efficient broadband internet and uninterrupted connectivity to clearer voice calls, increased access to online streaming and ultra-high definition videos.