Nigeria’s National
Telecommunications Carrier, Globacom, has launched the country’s first ever
comprehensive airport Wi-Fi facility in collaboration with the
Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN).
With this development,
passengers and other users of the airports will now be able to connect
wirelessly to the internet through their smart phones, tablets, laptops and
other smart devices.
The facility was
formally commissioned by senior government officials led by the Minister of
Aviation, Chief Osita Chidoka, the Permanent Secretary of Ministry of Aviation,
Hajia Binta Adamu Bello, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on
Aviation, Captain Victor Iriobe, top Globacom, the Managing Directors of
FAAN and National Airspace Management Agency, the Rector of Nigeria College of
Aviation Technology and other dignitaries at the Murtala Muhammed
International Airport, Ikeja on Monday.
Globacom’s Coordinator,
Business Solutions, Mr. Ike Oraekwuotu, said Globacom was "delighted to bring Nigeria up to
speed with one of the best trends in the aviation industry worldwide by
introducing ultra high speed Wi-Fi data experience for
travellers and other users of our airports, beginning with Nigeria’s
flagship airport, the MMIA."
According to Oraekwuotu,
the facility, which will be available at both the domestic and the
international wings of key airports across the country, has been made possible
due to the great vision and passion demonstrated by the Ministry of Aviation
and the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) working diligently with
Globacom.
In a presentation,
Globacom's Regional Chief Marketing Officer, Ashok Israni, said all
passengers using the airport irrespective of the network they are on will be
able to connect to the facility. They will subsequently be directed to a
subscription page where they will be able to buy a Wi-Fi data plan through
three options.
The options, according
to him, include using an existing data plan the subscriber has with Globacom,
or by recharging their line through a Glo recharge card available at the Glo
kiosks at the airport, or by paying for the WIFI plan through a credit card.
“Whichever option a
subscriber goes for, they are ushered into a world of reliable, ultra-fast
internet so that they can keep in touch with their relatives, friends,
colleagues and associates regardless of whether they are connected to a mobile
network or not,” he said.
According to
him, users can access the Internet at the speed of as much as 100 megabits per
second anywhere around the MMIA, including the Departure, Arrival, and
Executive Lounges, Ticketing and Waiting Areas as well as Passengers Welcoming
lobby.
He said the service will be
available in 22 airports nationwide soon.
While formally
commissioning the facility, the Minister of Aviation, Chief Osita Chidoka
described the launch of the facility as a major milestone in Nigeria's march
towards greatness, stressing that it constitutes one of the critical steps
necessary for unleashing the latent energy of the nation towards unlocking the
potential of the giant of Africa.
He commended
Globacom for the hard work put into the project, acknowledging that several
major obstacles were encountered along the way.
"I am
happy that on the eve of my departure, this facility is up and running. We
selected Globacom for this project based on nationalistic instinct and I'm
proud we did because they have made the nation proud by delivering the project
on time," he said.
He called on
the company not to relent in its efforts to maintain the standard already set,
and also take the service to the other locations on the project plan.
The Managing
Director of FAAN, Engineer Saleh Dunoma in his own remarks said the launch was
a realization of a commitment the minister of aviation made in order to improve
passenger experience in the country.
He said one
of the numerous complaints the authority had encountered was lack of internet
connectivity at the airports. He urged Globacom to extend the coverage of the
facility to the new buildings under construction when they are ready.
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