Ntel: Recession affecting our roll-out plan

Ntel Telecommunications has said the present economic situation in the country is affecting its roll-out plan.  Though the telco’s ambitious 4G network is running in Lagos and Abuja, it has failed to go beyond the two cities since it launched early this year. But the company said yesterday lack of foreign exchange and fluctuation in […]

Ntel Telecommunications has said the present economic situation in the country is affecting its roll-out plan. 
Though the telco’s ambitious 4G network is running in Lagos and Abuja, it has failed to go beyond the two cities since it launched early this year.
But the company said yesterday lack of foreign exchange and fluctuation in the rate of Dollar to Naira were slowing down its roll-out plan to cities across the country.
Speaking on the telephone with our reporter yesterday, Ntel’s spokesman, Mr Tony Kann said though the company was on course in its 4G network roll-out plan, the situation in the country “is making us to take it bit by bit.”
“We are on course in our roll-out plans. We have not backed out and we are not facing any challenge apart from the general challenges everyone, every business is facing in the country because of our current economic situation, and lack of Forex as well as the fluctuation in the exchange rates. We are fully on ground and we are on top of the game” the Ntel spokesman said.
He said the telco would commence its 4G roll-out in Port-Harcourt by month end.
The company’s CEO, Kamar Abass had said in June that Ntel would help fuel growth in broadband in the country.
“Many people believe that the Nigerian telecoms industry has witnessed a transformation in the past 15 years. With Ntel coming on stream this year, I believe we are about to witness a revolution,” Abass said, when he played host the delegation from the Association of Telecom Companies of Nigeria (ATCON) in Lagos earlier, according to a statement from the company’s website.