Smile Communications: Unleashing Broadband Innovation

Undebatably, Africa is also one of the fastest-growing in the world interms of connectivity and usage especially in mobile telephony which has become more widespread than fixed line telephone. The opportunity lies more in Broadband Wireless Access technologies as the key to make Internet available to the population at large, several telecommunication companies in Africa are looking at this option as a more viable option.

The service providers, especially those that specialise in Wi-Fi technology, are introducing different incentives to make their brands more compelling. But the common selling point adopted by different brands in the relatively new but fast-growing industry is the 4G Long-Term Evolution.

Smile Communications has continued to unleash innovations that has future make access to internet easier not only in Nigeria but across Africa. The Internet service provider signed a managed services agreement with Ericsson which will last for five years.

Under the terms of the five-year multicountry managed services agreement, Ericsson will provide a fully managed end-to-end service that includes network operations, performance, optimization, field support and maintenance for Smile’s LTE networks in Tanzania, Uganda, Nigeria and – later – in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Smile Communications Nigeria Limited, the 4G/LTE broadband provider, has activated free WiFi in over 200 Metrotaxis in Lagos. The initiative was sequel to the partnership deal signed between Smile Communications and the auto service firm, Metro-taxi.


At the official announcement of the partnership, the ‎Chief Marketing Officer, Smile Communications Nigeria Limited, Mrs. Alero Ladipo, described the feat as a partnership designed to redefine life style among Metro-taxi passengers. She said that the partnership was in line with Smile’s philosophy as the broadband provider of choice in Nigeria and will enable the teeming customers of Metrotaxi to fully benefit from the Internet world.

Ladipo affirmed that “a lot of people think about The Internet from utility point of view. We are reinforcing the view that people should remain connected to the internet while on the go. The internet is about a more productive lifestyle. In spite of the strata of the society you belong, you should live a connected life. That is what Smile is advocating”.

Mrs. Alero Ladipo

According to her, “people are connected in different ways. Initially, in Nigeria, it was about making voice calls on your phone, but now people are connected via internet data making calls through Whatsapp, BBM etc. So, the partnership will intertwine the way we live our daily lives; riding in cars, cabs, buses, every day. Before you know it, buses will have data and every street would become ‘smart’ ones, always connected. This is just a first step to what will happen in future”.

Chief Executive Officer of Metrotaxi, Mrs. Priscilla Ibe, said the company was thrilled by Smile’s magnanimity, adding that such partnership will even lift the company’s business profile. She described Smile as a forward looking company that is true to the transformative objective that informed its establishment.

Metro Taxi Limited, a subsidiary of The Philly & Mools Group, has set out to be an innovative customer oriented company, with the sole aim of providing unparalleled transportation service for both individual and corporate bodies.

Ibe said “We are happy about this partnership. One of the basic needs of a Lagosian is to have a reliable, safe and comfortable ride. We thought of putting WiFi in the cabs so that while on the go the passenger can be connected-browsing, chatting, receiving and replying to business emails, among other bundles of opportunities this partnership will offer our passengers. We hope this is just the beginning with our 250 taxies already connected.”

Aside from providing reliable 4G LTE broadband provider of internet services, the company has also been encouraging tech savvy consumers on utilising the internet as a source of generating income. Speaking recently at the West Africa Blogger Conference (WABC) 2015, held in Lagos, Mrs. Ladipo identified professionalism, passion and content creation as critical in enhancing capacity of bloggers in the West African region.

During her presentation titled: 'How to Promote Your Blog', Ladipo said that in as much as bloggers must ensure explicit, informative and clearly defined content delivered with passion and fun, they should not relent in professionalism in order to attract right businesses to monetize the enterprise.