Nigeria’s quest for improved broadband penetration got a boost recently as Smile Communications Nigeria Limited, in a bid to provide broadband services to more Nigerians, opened a major retail shop in Abuja.

The new flagship retail shop situated in the heart of Abuja will, in part, serve as the hub of business for Smile.

Hitherto, the company had relied on the multiplicity of kiosks and corner shops scattered all over Abuja without a central hub for its burgeoning business in the nation’s capital Abuja.

Speaking at the ceremony, Mrs. Alero Ladipo, chief marketing officer of Smile Communications Nigeria Limited, affirmed that the event is momentous for Smile as it further underscores the company’s commitment to help accentuate the objectives of the Nigerian National Broadband Plan.

Ladipo noted that part of the ideals of the national broadband plan is for a society of connected communities with high speed internet and broadband access that will facilitate faster socioeconomic advancement of the nation and its people.

To her “by opening its first Retail store, in the heart of the Nation’s Capital, residents of the FCT, like those in Ibadan, Lagos and Port Harcourt will have access to the fastest and most reliable 4G LTE broadband internet service in the country.”

The Chief Marketing Officer explained that Smile has been operating in Abuja through kiosks in strategic locations in the Federal Capital.

The company decided to be tactical, doing the required groundwork and necessary research before opening the flagship store.

She said, “It is significant that in anything that we do, we have to think about the customer and be proficient in data supply, differentiated from our competitors. We stand on the reliability and quality of our service. We are beginning to push more innovative and segmented products into the market focusing on the consumer needs, as we see internet provision as a key utility that will only enhance the development of our country”.

She adduced Smile’s unique service offering as one of the company’s competitive edge.

According to her, “Smile is unique, in that the service is mobile, based on the understanding that Nigerians are always on the go, the best support is providing an undisrupted platform.”

Senator Gilbert Nnaji, the immediate past Chairman, Senate Committee on Communications, who was the chairman of the occasion, expressed satisfaction with the feats recorded by Smile in the provision of high speed, quality and reliable internet service.

“I am satisfied with what I have seen here today and I believe this is going to bring respite to a lot of Nigerians. I believe Smile Communications has come along to put smiles on the faces of Abuja residents, so they can continue to have access to good quality of service,” he said.

Nnaji congratulated the company for its steadfastness to its avowed vision to be Nigeria’s fastest and most reliable internet service provider.  “Your dogged intention as Nigeria’s fastest and most reliable internet service provider is worth commending.”

The Senator noted with regret that “Nigeria finished 2014 with 8% broadband penetration after stagnating at 6% between 2011 and 2013.”

Notwithstanding these unsatisfactory broadband statistics, he opined that the opening of the Smile flagship store in Abuja was a major step in the giant strides required to provide adequate broadband service to Nigerians.

He expressed optimism that the event will be “a prelude to many more of such to be undertaken by the company in this metropolis. I am equally delighted by your giant strides in providing broadband service to this nation in the face of apparently low penetration of broadband in Nigeria in spite of the number of undersea cables running across the country.

It is lamentable to note that Nigeria finished 2014 with 8% penetration after stagnating at 6% between 2011 and 2013.”

The event had in attendance key distributors and dealers of Smile in Abuja, National Assembly members, top officials of Smile Communications Nigeria Limited and sundry stakeholders in the information communications technology industry.