Smile Communications Nigeria Limited, Leading data and broadband Services Company has unveiled Smile Konnect a revolutionary device that enables local and international data roaming services at an affordable and cheaper rate.
Mr Godfrey Efeurhobo, Managing Director, Smile Communications, speaking at the unveiling, said that their aim is to provide a devise that will enable its customers enjoy seamless services where ever they go.
He stated that they have always set the tone for the expansion of the broadband frontier, stressing that this is why they believe in quality, speed and reliability.
According to him “the company has always looked for innovative ways of improving the customers’ experience.
‘We want to bring seamless services to our customers with smile konnect.
“With this device you don’t need to search for WiFi while you are outside Nigeria.”
Giving insight on how the device works, Mr Abdul Hafeez, Chief Marketing Officer, Smile Communications, said that research has shown that over two million Nigerians travel out of the country every year and that they spend heavily on roaming.
He stated that an average Nigerian spend as much as $55.55 a day on roaming alone, noting that smile konnect is the answer to cost effective roaming for their prospective customers.
According to him, “Smile Konnect data roaming device and plan would reduce cost of roaming for Nigerians traveling abroad.
“They usually spend about $55 dollars for a one gigabyte data plan while abroad but with this device they would now have to spend just $8.3 dollars for one gigabyte per day.
“They can equally spend $19.44 for one gigabyte which would be valid for seven days or two gigabytes which goes for $33.34 is valid for 14 days, while a 30 days plan for five gigabytes cost only $55.55”.
Hafeez said the device allows you to recharge and manage through different payment channels like Paypal and smile konnect App.
“The payment would go through our international partner in Hong Kong who has an arrangement with Paypal; when you call our agents they would help you with the arrangements”, he said.
He added that Smile Konnect can now be used in 85 countries including United States, United Kingdom, United Arab Emirate, South Africa, China, among others.
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Engr Gbenga Adebayo, Chairman, Association of Licensed Telecom Operators of Nigeria (ALTON) decried the rough operating environment its members go through every day in the country.
He however commended smile communications for their persistence in the industry, noting that it takes a lot of work to remain afloat in a difficult business terrain like ours.
According to him,it takes extra diligence and hard work for any operator to overcome the Nigerian environment and come out with novel technological services such as Smile Konnect.
He said “when ALTON started there were 32 companies on its membership but the harsh operating environment has led to the closure of half the companies leaving only 16 to weather the environment as access to operating fund is difficult.
Adebayo calls on the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) to come out with the result of their study on data flop plan so that Nigerians would know the minimum –acceptable rate for data usage in Nigeria.
He also call on the need for the country to come out with a clear 5G plan, as 5G is already here and also a plan to help operators such as Smile sustain and grow their business by removing obstacles to ease of doing business in the telecom sector such as multiple taxation and making right of way easier.
He berated the Categorization of telecom operators into tier 1, tier 11 and tier 111, noting that it does not make any sense as all operate under the same economic environment and face the same operating challenges.
