From centre, Chief Commercial Officer of Starcomms Plc., Tushar Maheshwari displaying the Starcomms myPAD to journalist during a press conference at the company’s corporate office, Adetokunbo Ademola Street, Victoria Island, Lagos, yesterday. With him is Nkiru Onono, Marketing & Communications Manager, Starcomms Plc and Managing Director, TPT International, Limited, Charles Igbinidu.

STARCOMMS BLAZES TRAIL WITH FIRST OF ITS KIND myPAD

Driven by the passion to keep adding value to the lives of its customers, Starcomms Plc, Nigeria’s innovative and multiple award winning telecommunications company has introduced the first of its kind myPAD into the Nigerian mobile telephone market. It would be recalled that starcomms recently blazed the trail as the first CDMA company in the world to introduce international inter-standard roaming between CDMA and GSM operatorsInnovatively designed as a high-end tablet/data device, the stylish hi-tech device is technologically crafted to support multiple and up to date data functionalities that helps the user maintain his /her high social profile.Besides being powered by a 2.1 Android operating system that gives the best of processing speed, the Starcomms myPAD comes with an exquisite and attractive appearance that radiates the grandeur that the Starcomms brand is known for in the telecommunications industry in Nigeria.According to the Chief Commercial Officer of Starcomms, Tushar Maheshwari, myPAD is only available in Nigeria on the Starcomms network saying that the introduction of the device is timely in this convergence era.He said that in line with Starcomms passion in ensuring that its customers have access to innovative products and the service that keeps them in tune with technological trends, myPAD has embedded functional applications that will excite the user saying that some of the applications include: Skype, Yahoo, YouTube, MSN, Yahoo messenger and FaceBook. He further said that there are entertainment applications for music and games with free downloadable games. MyPAD has a wider screen of 10.2 inches that offers the user excellent visibility while using the tablet.He explains that the device, which comes with an optional branded luxury leather case carrier, has a 10-giga byte memory that can be expanded to 64-giga byte, 2 USB and LAN port, an HDMI out and a 2.0 mega pixel webcam, a user friendly manual and a battery charger. MyPAD offers an exciting movie experience for movie lovers as it comes with an HDMI out for connecting and downloading video to TV.
With an introductory offer of N74, 999 the Starcomms myPAD comes with a bundled offer of free i-zap Internet Router that connects up to 5 Users and 3 months Internet. Without the router and Internet access myPAD sells at a price of N54, 999.While speaking on the value that the Starcomms myPAD will add to the life style of the user, Maheshwari said that the new mobile device, in addition having exciting features that makes its use pleasurable, it has been designed specifically to leverage on the desire of every upwardly mobile individual. Hence, he said that Starcomms has creatively kept to its tradition of innovativeness in the delivery of unmatched quality products and services while designing the myPAD noting that it conveniently suits the data communications needs of its customers and that it is a device everyone will find very useful.

L-R: Starcomms Chief Commercial Officer, Tushar Maheshwari presents the key of a Kia Rio to Titilola Tokun, an educationist and Smart Center operator who won the star prize of a car in the just concluded Bonuzee promo for payphone operators during the presentation at The Place in Ikeja GRA Lagos Tunde Odetunde, Starcomms Senior Manager, Dealer watches during the presentation at The Place in Ikeja GRA Lagos on Saturday 18 December 2010

STARCOMMS PRIZES EXCITE BONUZEE WINNERS

Starcomms Smart Centres operators, are now set for an exciting celebration in their homes during the yuletide as prizes, which they won in the third edition of the Starcomms Bonuzee Loyalty promotion has be redeemed at a ceremony full of funfair and jubilation.
Excited by the several prizes, which they won and the impact such prizes will have on their families, the elated winners did not hide their joy and appreciation for Starcomms Plc as they pour encomium on the award winning telecommunications company for bring the good things of life into their homes.
All Smart Centre operators who were present at the presentation prize ceremony went home with prizes ranging from cars, television sets, microwave ovens, DVD players as well as huge sums of money.
Titilayo Tokun, an educationist who combined the Smart Centre business with her career said that although the car was not her first, she is so excited that the news of the new car will add colour to the yuletide celebration in her family.
Tokun who operates her Smart Centre in Ibadan said that the news that she has won a new Kia Rio car initially did not jolt her into jubilation saying that the prevalence of fraudulent claims made her to doubt the news.
She however said that arriving the venue of the event and seeing the cars packed outside the premises of the event venue increased jolt her into excitement about the prize thanking Starcomms for putting smiles on her face and that of other Smart Centre operators who have been loyal to the Starcomms brand.
Describing Starcomms as a worthy partner to do business with, she called on all other Smart Centre operators in the country not to relent in their commitment to the Starcomms brand noting if they did not win today tomorrow they will win.
As for Sylvester Chukwuebuka Orji, the Onitsha based Smart Centre operator who brave all odds to confirmed the authenticity of the promised prize from Starcomms, the excitement of having a new car to drive his family around during the yuletide began when he was presented the keys to the brand new Kia Rio car.
According to him, it was a thoughtful thing for Starcomms to reward her loyal business partners during the yuletide saying that such gesture adds value to the Starcomms brand, which has brought joy into his family.
Also Idiong Justice who won the cash prize of N750, 000 describe the gift offer from Starcomms as an opportunity for a celebration galore for him and his other colleagues who won other cash prizes of N500, 000 and N50, 000.00 saying that “we are happy that Starcomms is giving us this gift at a thing like this in the year when families are looking for money to celebrate the Christmas and the New Year”.
Presenting the prizes to all the winners, Chief Commercial Officer of Starcomms, Tushar Maheshwari said that the Starcomms Bonuzee Loyalty, which began in 2007 was designed to reward diligence and good business sense noting that it is the tradition in Starcomms to reward loyalty in business.
He said that as a Nigerian company, Starcomms is poised towards making every citizen it does business with to enjoy the fruit of their labour saying that a total of N25 million was won in cash and item prizes.

Ghana Telecomms Operators Oppose International Call Monitoring

The Ghana Chamber of Telecommunications (GCT), comprising all telecom operators in the country, has endorsed a declaration by the West African Telecommunications Conference (WATC) which condemns international call monitoring in Ghana. The WATC issued a communiqué at its recent meeting in Dakar, Senegal on November 25, 2010, describing government's monitoring and imposition of levy and surcharges on incoming international call as a breach of International Telecom Laws, the ECOWAS Treaty and the West African Union Treaty. It condemned the practice and called on all telecom operators in countries where the practice is on-going like Ghana, Guinea and Congo, not to cooperate with any company employed by their respective governments to monitor calls and impose surcharges and levies. 'We recommend that operators in the sub-region should cease all commercial relationships with any firm implicated in the imposition of such a surcharge system,' it said. WATC said it will continue to fight against the imposition of such systems in the sub-region and support all telecom operators to do same. 'We reaffirm our determination to pursue actions against the development of this practice and support operators subjected to this surcharge across our entire economic area,' it said. The Ghana Chamber of Telecommunications said they endorse the position of the WATC. In Ghana, the government has imposed a 19 cent per minute charge on all incoming internationals calls and employed Global Voices Group (GVG) to monitor those calls and ensure that government gets its revenue. The telecom operators have resisted the move from day one, but government has insisted that some operators under-declare international call revenue which affects revenue mobilization in the country. Government also insist that it has evidence that some telecom operators connive with fraudsters to use simboxes to do call by-pass, which enable them to re-route incoming international calls through local SIM cards to make those calls come in as though they were locally generated. Since Ghana government started monitoring and levying incoming international calls, it has generated not less than $15 million in taxes, and Minister of Communications, Haruna Iddrisu has stated emphatically that nothing will stop them from monitoring incoming international calls to check fraud and generate revenue for the state. But WATC, in a communiqué, dubbed 'Dakar Declaration – concerning government surcharges on incoming international traffic,' refuted allegations that operators make false declaration of traffic and are directly involved in the proliferation of simboxes. It said the practice runs counter to point seven of the communiqué issued by the ECOWAS ICT and Telecoms Ministers in Bamako on July 29, 2010, which enjoins member states to avoid levies and surcharges on incoming international calls. 'This tax also runs counter to the trend of lowering settlement fees per the recommendation of the International Telecoms Union (ITU)' of which Ghana's Minister of Communications, Haruna Iddrisu is Chair.' The communiqué said the taxes result in general increase in retail prices that affect both local consumers and those in the Diaspora, and thereby increase the digital divide. It said significant increase in settlement fee and monitoring of calls increases fraud and reduces incoming international calls and revenue and diminishes fiscal receipts. The WATC therefore called on all countries that have imposed or propose to impose such a system to re-consider their action in the interest of the citizens and the sub-region. Meanwhile, Senegal, Gabon, Cote d'Ivoire and Burkina Faso have also agreed to suspend the system in their countries.

From left, Marketing Director, Starcomms Plc., Richard Gill presenting the Starcomms Overall Best Boxer prize to Mutiat Adebayo of TIT For TAT Boxing Club, Lagos at the 15th monthly boxing competition organized by the Lagos State Boxing Hall of Fame in conjunction with the Lagos State Amateur Boxing Association and sponsored by Starcomms Plc. With her is the Vice Chairman of the Lagos State Amateur Boxing Association, Monsuru Liasu. The event took place at the Mobolaji Johnson Sport Centre (Rowe Park), Yaba, Lagos.

Marketing Director, Starcomms Plc., Richard Gill presenting a prize to Chioma Ekeledo, one of the lucky winners in the "50 Good Calls and 50 Good Causes", promo meant to celebrate Nigeria's 50th independence anniversary. With them is Retention Manager, Emeka Okenwa

Starcomms PlC offers US$81.4 million tower on lease

Starcomms Plc has successfully concluded a sale and leaseback agreement with Swap Technologies and Telecomms Plc (“Swap”) relating to 407 of its 557 Base Station Towers for a consideration of US$81.4 million in cash.
Under the terms of the transaction, Swap will take over the operation and maintenance of the passive aspects of the 407 towers. These towers comprise the physical structures as well as the power components, while the core network and radio components remain under Starcomms’ ownership and control. The lease agreement is for an initial duration of 15 years, and allows Starcomms full access to the towers to operate its network.
Starcomms’ CEO, Mr. Maher Qubain, said, "Sale and leaseback transactions such as this have become commonplace worldwide within the telecommunications sector. By leasing rather than owning these passive infrastructure network facilities, we can free up capital to fund additional growth, reduce debts and operational costs in the company, as well as allow management to focus on its core business."
“$67 million of the proceeds realized from the sale will be applied towards repayment of a sizable portion of the company’s bank debts, thereby significantly strengthening the balance sheet of the company, while also reducing interest charges,” said Qubain. “The balance of the US$14.4 million will be used to fund growth of the business”.
Starcomms , a Nigerian-owned full-service telecommunications operator with an active subscriber base of 2 million, is the first and only telecommunications company to have its shares publicly listed and traded on the floor of the Nigerian Stock Exchange. Its network footprint covers 21 out of 36 states of the federation. It has consistently been rated as a leading telecoms operator, having recently been awarded the A.C. Nielsen’s 2010 / 2011 Super Brand Award for excellence.
Incorporated in 2003, Swap has operational bases in Nigeria, Ghana and Cote d’Ivoire, providing integrated services to major operators in those countries.
"These are excellent towers and are concentrated in very strategic locations around the country. They will enable us provide a more extensive range of fully integrated service benefits as wireless communications continue to grow. We are proud to be associated with Starcomms, which is a recognized leader in the Nigerian telecommunications market," said Olatunde Titilayo, Swap’s CEO, in a statement.

Internet Promo: IZAP Users Get Extended Browsing Time for Xmas

Customers of Starcomms Plc, who subscribe to IZAP, the number one internet product in Nigeria are now being offered a 50% extra validity period on their internet subscriptions. In a promotion that started on Thursday 2 December and which will close on December 12 2010, all IZAP users except those on the 250 hours plan will get the bonus validity time. Customers on the 250 hours already have the stretch three months validity on their subscription.
This largesse of the season which is expected to help IZAP customers, who activate or renew their subscription during the promotion period, browse the internet way into the new year before another renewal, will be enjoyed by all IZAP users in the country. With this, the customers can send and receive data messages all through the holiday period without the hassles of renewal that comes with their normal validity period. The extension comes automatically with new activation or renewal if it is done within the stipulated period of the promotion.
The chief Commercial Officer of Starcomms, Tushar Maheshwari, while speaking about the promotion said that the company decided on it, knowing that the Christmas season is very crucial to internet users both for their businesses and for pleasure. The company therefore believes that it is the right period to add value to their lifestyles.
For instance customers on the hundred hours’ package will enjoy 45 five days of browsing time. This in effect signifies a roll-over of whatever number of hours is left on their package after the 30 days normal validity period of their subscription plan.
“We know that the flurry of activities that characterises this season, both in people’s private lives and their professional space will require uninterrupted communication channel for some customers. We also know that there are some people whose pleasurable activities will take them away from their IZAP cities to remote areas for some days during the season. This promotion therefore offers all our customers extra value on their IZAP subscription during the Christmas season through the first two weeks of the new year if they activate or renew their IZAP,” Maheshwari said as he enjoins internet users to take advantage of the promotion.
Starcomms IZAP, in the last four years, has ruled the world of internet products offered by telecommunication companies in the country for its speed, ease of use and value. Since 2007, the IZAP brand has been adjudged the Internet Product of the Year in the Nigeria Information Technology and Telecommunication Awards. This year the brand has won the same award at the African Telecom Hall of Fame.
IZAP is enjoyed by internet users on Starcomms’ network in major Nigerian cities of Lagos, Abuja, Port Harcourt, Ibadan, Benin, Calabar Warri, Abeokuta, Ilorin, Katsina and their surrounding towns and villages. The product has empowered Nigerians in these cities with the diverse opportunities that it presents for entrepreneurs, professionals, students, as well as the entire tertiary institution communities. The current promotion is designed to make Christmas more enjoyable for IZAP users in the cities.