Leif Edwall

Name: Leif Edwall
Company: Ericsson Nigeria
Position: Managing Director

1) Give us an overview of Ericsson's activities in Nigeria?

Ericsson supplies communication services and manages networks. We offer end-to-end solutions to our customers ranging from GSM networks, broadband, multimedia services and much more. In 2001, when the roll-out of GSM in Nigeria started, we were a supplier to all three operators and recorded huge successes in building infrastructure for mobile networks. Today we are suppliers to four out the five GSM operators. In the coming years we expect to see continuous growth in the Nigerian market which still has a big need to expand telecoms infrastructure.

2) What is Ericsson doing to improve telecommunications services in the rural areas of Nigeria?

We recently released the Tower Tube which most stakeholders agree is a significant innovation. The Tower Tube construction is a 40 metre-high flexible concrete tower. Placing the base station at the top of the tower closer to the antennas, this design reduces the need for feeders and cable length cooling systems, reducing operating power consumption by up to 40%. The Tower Tube takes up 60-75% less land than conventional stations, allowing for it to be located in remote areas. As a self-contained structure, operators can also avoid the need for security fences and the cost of maintaining and patrolling them. We expect these solutions to improve network energy reliability, cost efficient expansion and ensure minimal environmental impact.

3) In which areas of Nigeria’s telecommunications sector are there still room for further investment?

The Nigerian telecommunications sector is growing and can still do with a lot of improvement in virtually every segment. The penetration rate is about 35% which means there is still need for further expansion. There is a need for more backbone and for metropolitan networks. With 3G there are opportunities in content development and related multimedia requirements. Other areas of multimedia include devices, applications, management and distribution.

4) Name some of the challenges you experience in operating in Nigeria?

We have challenges getting more skilled local resources than we currently have and some constraints in getting the right education from the schools. It should be understood that as a company, we don't see the challenges, we see the solutions.

5) What is next for mobile communications in Nigeria?

Next for mobile communications in Nigeria and Africa are new innovations and improvements. We expect that mobility and unified messaging – the integration of different streams of communication (e-mail, SMS, fax, voice, video, etc.) into a single unified message store – would change the way we interact and open-up a new vista of opportunities for mobile service providers.

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