Etisalat Nigeria Changes Name to 9Mobile
Thu, Jul 13, 2017 | By publisher
Business
ETISALAT Nigeria, the mobile cellular network has dropped the trade name and would henceforth be known as 9Mobile.
Though there is no official confirmation yet from the new managers of the embattled telco; 9Mobile is also expected to drop the domain name, www. etisalat. com.ng, following the ultimatum handed the Nigerian firm by Abu Dhabi based Emirates Telecommunications Corporation (ETC) also known as Etisalat.
The Abu Dhabi telco terminated its management agreement with its Nigerian arm and gave it the business time of three weeks to phase out the brand in Nigeria.
Etisalat Nigeria is trade name with which Emerging Markets Telecommunication Services Ltd. (EMTS) operated before they were sacked.
Recall the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) and Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) had intervened to save Etisalat Nigeria from collapse after talks with its lenders to renegotiate a $1.2 billion loan failed.
Hatem Dowidar, chief executive of Etisalat International told Reuters had said that, the company has given few weeks to operators of the brand to phase out Etisalat in Nigeria
The Chief Executive said the company, with a 45 percent stake in the Nigerian business, is transferring its shares to a trustee after talks to renegotiate a $1.2 billion loan failed.
Dowidar said all UAE shareholders of Etisalat Nigeria, including state-owned investment fund Mubadala, had exited the company and left the board and management.
He said discussions were ongoing with Etisalat Nigeria to provide technical support, adding that it could continue to use the brand for another three weeks before phasing it out.
“There’s a new board and we are not part of that company. We have sent our termination letter for the management agreement,” he said.
Etisalat Nigeria took out the loan with 13 local lenders in 2013 to refinance an existing loan and fund expansion but struggled to repay four years later.
When asked if the company will return to the country anytime soon, Dowidar said “the train has left the station on that one. Being in that market as an investor … are we willing to risk more money compared to the reward for the long-term?”
“Etisalat is among the top two in markets such as the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Morocco, Egypt and Afghanistan,” he said.
“(Nigerian) lenders may try to continue to operate the company until they find a buyer (or) they may merge the company with the existing players in Nigeria.
“The brand agreement in either of these two scenarios won’t be a long-term thing, so we take out the brand; in the long term Etisalat won’t be in Nigeria.” – Nigeria CommunicationsWeek
— July 13, 2017 @ 5:12 GMT /
Related Posts
SEDI-Minna signs performance agreement with HODs to drive innovation, excellence
IN his effort to replicate the new culture of excellence and expectation of high-performance handed down to Overseeing Officers of...
Read MoreKosofe Chamber of Commerce hosts captivating dinner and awards night
By Blessing Joe THE Kosofe Chamber of Commerce & Industry hosted its much anticipated President’s Dinner and Awards Night on...
Read More5 Signs that you should change payroll providers in 2025
A new year signifies new beginnings. Everyone is refreshed and ready to tackle new opportunities. With financial year-ends just around...
Read MoreMost Read
Subscribe to Our Newsletter
Keep abreast of news and other developments from our website.