The telecommunication company says with its roaming data facility users will save a lot of money and still get quality service

By Anayo Ezugwu

SMILE Communications Nigeria Limited has launched first international roaming service in the country. The new innovative product called SmileKonnect will enable customers enjoy super-fast local and international data roaming at a cheaper rate.

The service is expected to reduce cost of data usage by more than 50 percent in 85 countries for Nigerian travellers. The product which cost N64,000 comes with 50 gigabyte of local data, 1GB of international roaming and 100 percent bonus data on recharge.

Speaking at the launching, Godfrey Efeurhobo, the managing director, Smile Nigeria, said the company has always set the tune for the expansion of the broadband frontier in Nigeria. He said the launching of the product into the Nigerian market was necessitated by the company’s believe in quality. “Some telecom operators say data is life, others say data is oxygen.

“What is life if it is not quality and what is oxygen if it is not quality. For us at Smile, we believe in quality, speed and reliability. In all of that we are able to influence positively the life of our customers,” he said.

Efeurhobo pledged that Smile Nigeria will continue to look for innovative ways to improve the experience of the customers across the country.

On his part, Abdul Hafeez, the chief marketing officer, Smile Nigeria, said the international data usage for over 2.5 million Nigerian travellers have been very expensive, considering the time it takes to get a local SIM and date rates that are charged by the operators of the country travelled to. According to him, SmileKonnect would reduce cost of roaming for Nigerians travelling abroad very considerably.

Hafeez disclosed that SmileKonnect is currently available in 85 countries including United States, United Kingdom, United Arab Emirate, South Africa, China, among others. He said 15 more countries would be added to the list soon. According to him where customers usually spend about $55 for a 1GB data plan per day while abroad they will now spend just $8.3 for the same period.

“$16.66 for 2GB per day; $19.44 for 1GB valid for seven days; $33.34 for 2GB for 14 days and $55.55 for 5GB for 30 days. The device allows you to recharge and manage your device with ease and payment is through its Paypal routed through its international roaming connectivity partner NUU Mobile, a Hong Kong based company,” he said.

While congratulating Smile Nigeria, Gbenga Adebayo, the chairman, Association of Licensed Telecom Operators of Nigeria, ALTON, said telecom companies are operating in a very difficult environment whereby issues of technology and investment associated with the sector is quiet tough. He noted that for Smile to have gone from stage to stage and to the launching one of the latest technologies around the world was worthy of commendations.

“When I took over as the chairman of ALTON, we had 35 members and today we are less than 20 members. And those who fell along the way didn’t fall for lack of capacity, just that they didn’t have access to funds, investments and more importantly the difficulty in the operating environment.

“We are grateful to Smile for the role that you have played and we join in congratulating you and wishing you all the best. Don’t be tired. We have come from ALTON with our full strength and power to support you and we will continue to tell your full story,” Adebayo said.

– Apr. 8, 2019 @ 11:35 GMT |