Why We Sold Visafone to MTN – Ovia

The Chairman, Zenith Bank Plc, Mr. Jim Ovia, on Wednesday, during the Digital Africa Conference and Exhibition 2016, organized by Digital Africa Global Consult in Abuja, attributed the lack of efficient broadband required for speedy telecommunications service as one of the reasons Visafone was sold to South African telecommunications firm, MTN.

“We have a lot of devices some of which will be dead equipment. Connectivity is very important and without it, internet of things or internet of everything cannot take place. I wouldn’t say that connectivity is the most important thing, but it is extremely very important. In some of this connectivity you need it by way of broadband or by way of fibre optics to give you the broadband or maybe a wireless”

“Or maybe the spectrum of between 700-800 MGHz that gives you the broadband speed that you need today, and so you can now understand why Visafone eventually sold its network to MTN” said Ovia

According to him, the reason there were so many complaints was because of the resource availability that Visafone had, which had to do with the broadband, he added. He said policymakers must ensure that Nigeria is not left behind in the technological development of the future, adding that during the great industrial revolution, Africa was left behind.

In his remark, the Minister of Communications Technology, Mr. Adebayo Shittu, who was represented by the Director of Information and Communications Technology (ICT), Mrs. Moni Udorh, said the administration would not fail in using ICT to drive the economy, between 20 and 30 percent to the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in a few years’ time.

On the government’s plan to establish an ICT University, Mr Ovia said they have plans to create ICT-focused university and that the university will bridge the skills gap. The Chairman of Digital Africa Consult, Mr. Evans Woherem also said global ICT experts have been provided a platform to highlight the avalanche of challenges inhibiting Africa’s efforts at embracing evolving technologies.

He said: “The conference provides access to a captive audience eager to understand where the consumer ecosystem currently is, and where the opportunities lie. Also, it is an important platform to network, share knowledge on the latest developments in the technology ecosystem, do business, and sign deals.”

According to him, the 2016 edition has as its theme accelerating Africa’s Development through Internet of Everything (IoE). He added that suddenly, the Internet of Things or Internet of Everything has become the revolutionary technology trend in the world today.