In a move that surprised many, Nigeria’s second-largest operator Globacom launched LTE services for “demanding corporate customers and high data users.” In a statement, the group’s COO Mohamed Jameel said that although Globacom’s users could already browse the internet or send e-mails using HSPA-enabled device and send or receive video or music using “G phones,” the experience with LTE would be “even better.” He went on suggesting that LTE will “further enhance more demanding applications like interactive TV, mobile video blogging, advanced games or professional services, enabling more Nigerians to be on top of their game.” Other than that, we’ve no information which equipment the carrier used nor which cities the new network covers.
The significant part of the story is that this is the first LTE network in Africa. South Africa’s Vodacom trialed the technology in June 2010, while Kenya’s Safaricom did the same in October 2010.
According to a Wireless Intelligence report, Africa is expected to be the world’s slowest region to move to LTE, accounting for only 1% of the global LTE market base by 2015…
[Via: MobileBusinessBriefing]