Celtel Nigeria chooses Motorola for $50 mln GSM expansion

Motorola, Inc. announced that it has signed a $50 mln contract with Celtel Nigeria to expand its GSM network within the south and south east regions of the country. Under the turnkey agreement, Motorola will deploy its latest Reach GSM solutions and provide comprehensive services. The expansion will enable Celtel to increase its subscriber capacity from the present 15 mln subscribers, extend its coverage into new areas and improve the quality of its network.

This is a first time contract for Motorola with Celtel, although Motorola enjoys a long and successful relationship with the MTC Group, which owns Celtel International, one of the best-known branded businesses in Africa with mobile licenses covering more than 400 mln people.

As a cost-effective, upgradeable and straightforward solution that offers new features and platforms, GSM is predicted to be a key technology for connecting the next billion subscribers across the world.

Under the brand promise of ‘Making Life Better’, Celtel is committed to achieving sustainable development of telecommunications in Africa. It operates mobile cellular operations in 14 countries — Burkina Faso, Chad, Democratic Republic of Congo, Gabon, Kenya, Madagascar, Malawi, Niger, Nigeria, Republic of Congo, Sierra Leone, Tanzania, Uganda and Zambia. The company is also present in Sudan, under the brand name ‘Mobitel’.