Nigeria’s first Mobile Virtual Network Operator (MVNO), Vitel Wireless, has announced the successful completion of interconnectivity with all major mobile network operators (MNOs).
The firm is the first MVNO to receive a dedicated number series (0712) from the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), marking a significant milestone in the country’s telecommunications industry.
With the new feat, all Vitel Wireless subscribers can now make and receive calls with users on MTN Nigeria, Airtel Nigeria, Globacom (Glo) and 9mobile Nigeria.
The breakthrough also marks the first time an MVNO in the country has successfully interconnected with all the major MNOs, setting a new precedent for the country’s telecom sector.
Following the NCC’s licensing of 46 MVNOs, Vitel Wireless continues to lead in establishing a dynamic MVNO sector in Africa’s largest market.
The company has already achieved several historic firsts – the first MVNO issued a numbering plan (national and international routing codes), the first to launch a location awareness network in Africa and the first to unveil a strategic nationwide rollout plan.
“We are gathering momentum for our big launch. We are proud to be showing what’s possible for MVNOs, while also creating a path for others to follow.
By leveraging our years of experience in Nigeria’s telecom industry, we are opening up new possibilities where there used to be none,” said Chairman and CEO of Vitel Wireless, Kenneth Emeka Nwabueze.
Interconnectivity was achieved through a combination of direct fiber connections with some MNOs and indirect routing via third-party providers.
The milestone was the result of a collaborative effort involving engineers from Vitel Wireless, Wireless Technology Labs (WTL) and Interconnect Clearinghouse Nigeria (ICN), working closely with engineers from MTN, Airtel, Glo and 9mobile.
“We wish to thank the regulatory agency, the Nigerian Communications Commission, for their timely interventions and guidance, which were instrumental in achieving this interconnectivity and bringing the formal launch of the Vitel Wireless nationwide network one step closer to reality,” said Nwabueze.
