Italian operator targets Nigerian telecoms market
A multi-national telecommunications company of Italian origin, Telecom Italia Sparkle (TIS) now has its eyes fixed on the Nigerian telecoms market.
To strengthen its proposition of being a player in the Africa’s largest market, TIS on Thursday paid a visit to the Nigeria’s regulator of the telecoms industry, Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), bringing with it the Deputy Head of Mission at the Embassy of Italy in Abuja, Tarek Chazli, to lead the team.
Flanked by Stefano Olivieri, TIS head of sales, Africa & Middle East; and Dindam Killi, a senior associate at Aluko & Oyebode – consultants to TIS, Chazli stated that Telecom Italia Sparkle, as a leading player in international telecom business recognises the place of Nigeria in Africa’s telecom ecosystem and desires to be a player in the telecom sector.
Chazli noted that Nigerians and Italians are great users of mobile communications.
He added that Nigeria is “a regional leader in mobile communications, a strategic market and an important hub”.
He said TIS had just developed natural interest in the Nigerian market, and it is going to add value to the market, if admitted as a player in the sector.
Speaking at the meeting, Olivieri informed the management of NCC that as a key player in the Italian, Brazilian, Burundian, Tanzanian and other telecom markets, TIS’ entry into the Nigerian market holds a great promise for deepening the transformation of Nigerian telecom ecosystem.
According to him, many of globally-used ICT applications are already on TIS backbone. Therefore, the company has huge contents to promote robust data services and cause expansion in businesses for the benefit of Nigerians.
He also affirmed that TIS is particularly mindful of security of contents and applications on its networks.
In his response, Umar Danbatta, executive vice chairman, NCC, thanked Chazli, Olivieri and Killi for the visit.
Danbatta, who was represented by Adeleke Adewolu, executive commissioner, stakeholder management, also expressed delight at TIS’ passion and enthusiasm towards the Nigerian telecom industry.
The NCC boss informed TIS about the strides made so far by the commission and its commitment towards ensuring pervasiveness of broadband.
Danbatta said that NCC has licensed infrastructure companies that will ensure the cascading of terrestrial fibre to every local government area of Nigeria.
He also revealed that soon, a blueprint will be unveiled by the Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Ali Ibrahim Pantami, defining the roadmap for deepening the digital culture in Nigeria. “So, you are coming at an auspicious time,” he added.
Meanwhile, Adewolu promised to transmit the letter from TIS to the EVC and the management for consideration.
He directed the NCC’s director of licensing and authorization, Mohammed Babajika, who was also present at the meeting, to hold a discussion with TIS on its proposal and pending application for license.
Telecom Italia Sparkle is a leading global telecommunication service provider, offering a complete range of IP, data, cloud, data center, mobile and voice solutions designed to meet the ever changing needs of fixed and mobile operators, ISPs, OTTs, media and content players, application service providers and multinational corporations (MNCs).