For its consumers, MTN Nigeria Communications Plc, a telecommunications giant in Nigeria, has teamed up with Intelligra to introduce a smartphone financing program. The telco disclosed this in Lagos at a press conference.
Nigeria’s goal of having 50% of the population use broadband by 2025 is in jeopardy because people spend more than 30% of their monthly income on one. So, the new cooperation between MTN and Intelligra is a distinctive variation of the Buy Now Pay Later (BNPL) option, which aims to address the growing smartphone penetration to 60% by 2025.
Adia Sowho, chief marketing officer for MTN Nigeria, said the program would allow users to purchase high-quality cell phones without going over budget while speaking at the ceremony. She claimed that the smartphone would also have monthly internet allotment, voice call minutes, and theft and screen damage protection.
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How This Deal Would Benefit The Customers
Commenting on the device financing alliance with Intelligra, Adia Sowho said, “The partnership with Intelligra will drive financial inclusion, the digital goals of financing devices and making them accessible to the average man. It would also grant customers access to the internet, entertainment, and education and allow users to communicate easily.”
The offer is a cost-effective way for MTN users to own a smartphone, and they can do so by visiting any of a chosen number of MTN, SLOT, and other retail locations throughout the nation. Interested customers can check their eligibility at participating retailers or online from the comfort of their homes through the websites of MTN and Intelligra.
According to Tayo Ogundipe, CEO/Founder of Intelligra Solutions Ltd, “This partnership with MTN, the foremost telecom provider in Africa, and collaborations with financing institutions including StanbicIBTC, VFD Mfb, Personal Trust Mfb, Credit Direct Ltd and others has helped find a solution to smartphone penetration for Africans through increased digital and financial inclusion.
The ecosystem also includes leading smartphone retail chains in Nigeria, SLOT, and other major retail players across the country. These collaborations offer MTN users across the country a unique, convenient, simple, and flexible variant of BNPL with their choice of premium, quality brands, including Samsung, Nokia, Tecno, Infinix, and iTel models.”
Additional partners will make similar online qualification checks available on their websites in the coming days. Consumers who meet the requirements can sign up for any of the tailored MTN equipment finance plans and leave the store with their ideal phone.
How MTN Intend To Change Networking With 5G
Despite the controversies surrounding the topic of 5G in the past years, the market for 5G technology is still growing fast daily. Every nation in the world wants to get involved, especially those that have progressed past the struggle to get through each day. Some are leading the pack and operating in the fast lane.
As a result, MTN Nigeria, which launched 5G pilot services in Lagos, Abuja, and Port Harcourt some weeks ago, has helped the nation enter this elite list of the big boys of the telecoms business.
Quite unrestrained about the development, the service provider said, “Today (August 24, 2022), MTN Nigeria Communications Plc (MTN Nigeria, or the Company) kicked off an open 5G pilot in the lead-up to its highly anticipated commercial launch. The Company, which intends to launch 5G services in Lagos, Abuja, Port Harcourt, Ibadan, Kano, Owerri, and Maiduguri, is testing the next-generation network infrastructure. Customers with certain enabled devices will be allowed to connect with and try out the new service where coverage is available.”
However, it was notified that the service would only be received by some devices that are 5G enabled, and this was duly communicated. “To access the 5G network and enjoy its benefits, customers will need compatible devices, such as routers and mobile phones, which can be pre-ordered from designated MTN walk-in stores and online via the MTN Nigeria website and e-marketplace. The pre-ordered devices can be picked up or will be delivered to customers post the launch event scheduled to take place in the coming weeks,” MTN said in the statement.
According to industry sources, MTN is prepared to go above and beyond the rollout commitments, which are as follows: Year 1 and Year 2 – Commencing with the license’s start date. Each of the following geopolitical zones will have service available: SW, SS, SE, NC (Including FCT), NW, and NE. Operators are urged to roll out over all other States from Years 6 to 10, while Years 3 to 5 will see the inclusion of 6 States across the six geopolitical zones in addition to those in Years 1 to 2.
Even if the rollout requirements can be considered modest, it is obvious that MTN is prepared to meet them all and then position itself to dominate the top end of the market with an initial entry level of roughly 220 5G sites. It will always be the same as it was in the past. When everything is said and done, MTN will be in the lead.