Gateway
Communications
selected
to
expand
footprint
of
Nigeria’s
newest
mobile
operator
May
12th,
2009
Gateway
Communications,
has
been
awarded
a
contract
to
provide
Etisalat
with
cellular
backhaul
for
its
Nigerian
mobile
network.
The
deal,
worth
$6
million
over
a
two
year
term,
provides
satellite
cellular
backhaul
from
Gateway
Communications
to
Etisalat
which
will
connect
three
major
cities
in
Nigeria.
In
awarding
the
contract
to
Gateway,
Etisalat
considered
qualities
such
as
high
quality
of
service
rendered,
secure
and
reliable
network
services
with
local,
on‐the‐ground
support
services
available
throughout
Nigeria,
amongst
other
criteria.
Gateway
has
Nigerian
offices
in
Lagos,
Abuja,
Port
Harcourt
and
Kano
and
provides
technical
support
throughout
the
rest
of
the
country.
With
more
than
47
transponders
of
capacity,
Gateway
carries
more
satellite
cellular
backhaul
in
Africa
than
any
other
operator.
Nigeria
is
now
the
largest
telecoms
market
in
Africa.
The
Nigerian
regulator
reports
over
64
million
SIMs
in
operation
at
the
end
of
January
this
year,
with
23
million
new
subscribers
signing
up
in
2008.
This
represents
a
growth
of
55%
in
2008.
With
a
relatively
low
mobile
penetration,
a
large
population
and
a
rapidly
growing
economy
forecast
to
grow
at
almost
8%
again
this
year,
Nigeria
is
certainly
one
of
the
continent’s
most
exciting
markets.
Commenting
on
the
business
relationship,
CEO
Etisalat
Nigeria,
Steven
Evans
said,
“Given
the
rapid
rate
of
mobile
adoption
in
Nigeria
and
what
this
represents
in
terms
of
opportunity,
Nigeria
is
undoubtedly
a
key
market
for
Etisalat.
It
was
therefore
key
for
us
to
find
a
partner
that
understands
both
the
local
market
requirements
as
well
as
the
complete
technology
landscape
across
Africa.
As
the
most
successful
supplier
of
satellite
cellular
backhaul
in
Africa,
Gateway
Communications
has
expertise
in
both
these
areas.
We
are
therefore
confident
that
our
desire
to
roll
out
our
services
across
Nigeria
in
the
shortest
possible
time
will
benefit
from
this
promising
business
relationship”.
Managing
Director,
Gateway
Communications
Nigeria,
John
Dindlebeck,
said
“Gateway
Communications
has
been
working
in
Nigeria
for
over
10
years
now
and
has
always
considered
West
Africa
as
an
important
market.
In
that
time,
Gateway
has
gained
a
deep
understanding
of
the
local
market
and
has
created
a
tremendously
strong
business
across
the
region.
It
is
great
that
Etisalat
have
recognized
the
high
quality
of
our
services
here
in
Nigeria
and
we
look
forward
to
supporting
them,
building
on
their
success
and
extending
their
footprint
in
this
exciting
market.
As
the
largest
provider
of
independent
satellite
services
in
Africa,
we’re
confident
that
we
have
the
expertise
on
the
ground
as
well
and
the
world
class
technologies
to
meet
Etlisalat’s
exact
requirements.”
