OxygenBroadband Networks, one of Nigeria’s leading providers of social internet is expanding its network across the country riding on the back of new strategic alliances in Fast Moving Consumer Goods (FMCG) hospitality, music, software industry – all geared towards further strengthening Nigeria’s broadband ecosystem. Speaking at a media briefing in Lagos, weekend, Wande Adalemo, chief executive officer, OxygenBroadband, disclosed that it had built Wi-Fi hotspots in nine locations across Lagos. These locations include: Freedom Park, broad Street; E-Centre, Sabo, Yaba; Adeniran Ogunsanya Shopping Mall; Choicest, Festac; Stalad Garden, Abule Egba; Clean Expressions, Ago Palace Way; Grand Cafe, Amuwo Odofin; Eva Sports Bar and Slicks bar, VGC.
Vouchers are currently available at these locations, according to Adalemo, which implies that customers can now access efficient and affordable broadband services. “We are focused on delivering an ecosystem to deepen broadband penetration in Nigeria. It is our blue ocean strategy aimed at enriching our partners and consumers. We are creating an ecosystem to deliver the value of broadband to Nigerians”, he stated. Explaining the rationale behind selecting these locations partners, Adalemo pointed out that these locations record significant amounts of footfalls on a daily basis, creating a feasible business opportunity waiting to tapped. Majority of the people who visit these locations, he said are tech-savvy individuals who want to stay connected to the internet at all time.
The company is partnering with Wavetek Technologies, an Information Communications Technology (ICT) company to deliver cost-effective but best-in-class lastmile connectivity needed to bring internet services to these locations. Oxygen Broadband has entered into strategic alliance with CINFORES, an indigenous software firm focused on the educational sector to deliver content on the network. Commenting on the partnership, Nehita Fashe, Assistant general manager, sales and marketing, Wavetek, “Broadband is like water, it is a necessity. Without it, Nigeria cannot be competitive in the global marketplace. We have different submarine cables coming in but Nigerians are yet to feel the impact of these infrastructure because of the last mile challenge. We are working with Oxygen Broadband to bring internet services to the doorsteps of our customers”.
Moses Osunde of CINFORES, said, “We provide software to improve services in the education sector. We have a solution called ‘Brain Friend’ which is a compilation of past examination questions and answers (JAMB, WAEC, GCE) on a software. We also have electronic notes on the software and it cuts across primary and secondary schools. We have aptitude tests for graduates. We have compiled all these and we will make it available on the Oxygen Network so everyone can take advantage of it.” “We have created a unique system called the Oxygen Network Ecosystem where we bring together all these parts of the ecosystem to provide quality internet services to our customers”, Adalemo said.