• Firm denies mass dismissal reports, to retrain workers
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MTN Nigeria yesterday assured that the acquisition of the only surviving Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) operator in the country—Visafone Communications, would enable it improve on its broadband provisions for its teeming customers.

MTN, which currently services 62 million subscribers and enjoys 43 per cent market share and has invested over $15 billion in the country, on Tuesday formally acquired Visafone in an industry landmark deal.

With the deal sealed, The Guardian gathered that contrary to earlier reports that there was mass dismissal in Visafone, most of its 350 staff strength will commence the retraining immediately ahead of the launch of the new data service.

The workers are to be retrained to have the requisite skills for engaging the new 4G LTE technology, which MTN is bringing onboard.

Though, the firm is still silent about the worth of the deal, but in a statement made available to journalists yesterday, the GSM operator disclosed that the acquisition was basically targeted at improving the quality of broadband services for its subscribers.

In the statement by MTN Executive, Amina Oyagbola, the firm said the acquisition, which seeks to leverage resources for service enhancement is also reflective of MTN concerted efforts to deepen the growth and roll out of broadband services across the country in support of the National Broadband Plan for the benefit of Nigerians.

Visafone is one of the leading CDMA/ICT companies in Nigeria offering a number of services including voice, high-speed data (3G), Internet and other Value Added Services (VAS). Visafone also provides business solutions to small and medium-sized companies and corporate organisations in Nigeria.

Oyagbola said: “We are committed to exploring avenues for meeting our customers’ increasing data needs in line with our vision ‘to lead the delivery of a bold new digital world to our customers’. As we work to maximize our data capabilities towards achieving broadband of international quality, our objective is to ensure that Nigerians experience a boost in the quality of broadband internet service
needed enhanced data speeds and value to enhance personal and business productivity.”