Nigeria Calling......

Last time, I shared my discovery of cheap international call providers. I would have even forgotten about this post if not for yesterday where I was helping my mum scratch open a phone card and I was thinking hmmm if this was an MTN card I would have scratched out the number by now (lol - For those that get the joke sha...) With regards to mobiles in Nigeria, it's a bit of a different ball game where you always need to LOAD YOUR SET with a RECHARGE CARD or you won't be able to make calls (lol!) Okay enough with the Wednesday humour already, it just ain't working Mona.

Anyways, this post is about communication in Nigeria basically. The pic at the top is very outdated in case some people are wondering whether we still use all of those cards. Now, there are so many telecom operators, not only GSM but wireless and landlines as well. We have also seen the transition of one of the largest mobile Telecom operators change names from Vodacom Nigeria to Econet to V Mobile and now to Celtel (as a result of an acquisition) - let's hope they keep their name this time huh? Anyway business is business, that's what's important.



About 6 years ago, the GSM craze was on and Nigeria was still developing and setting up the infrastructure to welcome GSM mobile telecommunication and everything that came with it. A lot of money was invested and a lot of money lost. All in all, telecoms is a very lucrative business in Nigeria.

Major GSM operators/provider sites:



Other telecoms operators:


Now, there's stuff like WAP, picture messaging, Wireless internet etc. in fact almost everything you can think of. So for those who don't visit Nigeria much, let's just say you are probably experiencing the same or similar quality of service with your mobile abroad as any one in Nigeria.

Nigerian Internet & Wireless Provider sites:


There are also services where you can top-up via texts or online or at the retail banks.
Some sites include:



As well as all the services, there are tons of career opportunities available from working in the call centres, to corporate offices, modelling for adverts (e.g. the MTN Girl), etc. Visit Siemens Nigeria.

Finally, let's talk about Wi-fi, this has been going on for a while in Gidi for those who have been aware and taken advantage but for those who haven't, there are a number of Wi-fi hotspots in and around Nigeria. For instance places like Silverbird Shopping Mall, Eko Hotel and The Bungalow, provide access (I thought it was so long as you eat there but apparently not!). Others I know of are Bambuddha and Coconut grove on Awolowo Road. There may not be as many as one would want i.e. the hotspots but they are growing.




To find
Wi-fi hotspots in Nigeria, you can visit these sites:


This means that when you go home during holidays you have no excuse not to visit my blog because I have told you where you can log on. Or you might as well go and BROWSE in the CYBERCAFE (I can't possibly list all the cybercafes in Nigeria, even my house is one lol). Speaking of which, I will be talking about the
Yahoo Millionaires and the Advanced Fee fraud soon.

Other Comms sources/sites:


Some GSM News:

15 comments:

LondonBuki said...

Wow Mona, all this info all the way from here (London)? What are you doing here? You are really 'Naija to the Core' LOL!!!

LOL @ scratching off the number!!!

The mobile numbers that start with 77, 76 or 7*, what category do they fall under. I like them cos when I am calling from here, my phone card charges me for calling a Lagos landline, which I'm sure you know is cheaper!

zaiprincesa said...

For real Mona, they shuld be paying you for advertising for them oh...AHN AHN!...GREAT JOB!...lol @ "when you go home during holidays you have no excuse not to visit my blog because I have told you where you can log on."

TMinx said...

Very good research. This girl na wa for you and Bella oh! My blog seems fluffy compared lol. Anyways keep it up...you forgot Reltel

Anonymous said...

@ Mona,

Just some corrections;

1) Globacom is 0805 and 0807 (not 0808)

2) On the Wifi hotspot; it not free o even if you eat there. You are expected to buy a recharge card to login and believe me, it is not cheap.

Anyway, nice research; I am sure it will be valuable to the Nigerians in diaspora.......

Aramide said...

@ Dipo Thanks for the info and the updates oh, I will update.

@ Taurean - ahh fluffy ke...me I enjoy it abeg, hope ure enjoying Philly, and have you called that Onada of a girl? What is Reltel? I will do my research, is it a landline operator?

@LondonBuki - 776, 774, 775 are all under multilinks.

Cheers peeps.

nosa101 said...

Millenium Park in abuja has that Wi-Fi ish. My dad uses it on the weekends.

Don Chi as Blog Marley a.k.a. El Senor Supremo said...

tomorrow you will tell me my posts are too long... i am telling you, you are wasting your time and talent in that Blighty... Pada wale o! Or you could be a Foreign Affairs Minister or something for real... To proud of you child... From what I did read, Celtel has the 0808, Starcomms has wireless internet as well and it was ECONET Wireless to Vodacom to VMobile to Celtel... Keep making it do what it do ba' boo! ;)

Don Chi as Blog Marley a.k.a. El Senor Supremo said...

oh and Mona, I ain't read you post bout this yet
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/5364722.stm

Aramide said...

shhh that was supposed to be a surprise i cut the story out of the paper 2 days ago....WATCH THIS SPACE BABY

Anonymous said...

there are 0808 numbers in naij now oh... crazy

Anonymous said...

Mona! very informative stuvves....as a phone/calling addict...this information is very valuable...

keep it up...
have a great weekend...
ciao!~

Mari said...

mona, na wa ooo! Only you. Are you sure u in the industry? ;)

Lowla said...

Mona..
Very resourceful post.. Thanks for the info.

By the way, this is real free advertising oh.. chai. nice one though..

Endi said...

Please, Mona...next time you do the free ad, ask for payment.And tell the guy with the "ukwu ewu"..sorry "Goat Leg" that such old generation phones are very big radiation releasers.He should stop before he goes "Oh Lah Lah Lah"..At least some some white reseachers tell us to believe that!Nice info!

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