‘Growing demand for mobile devices elicit connectivity issues’

The growing demand for mobile devices by consumers has been attributed as a major contributor to poor connectivity problems in Nigeria.

According to the Regional Director of Alcatel for Nigeria and Central Africa, Nick Imudia, in a chat with The Guardian, at the weekend, said mobile phone has become an important, basic communication and work tool for most Nigerians and as such has become an absolute necessity for people to communicate and do business.

Imudia said consumers also need reliable devices that offer them all the features they expect from a smartphone but at an affordable price. As such, he said price plays a key factor for the majority of consumers who need to stay in touch and do business on the go.

According to him, a key factor in Nigeria is the connectivity issues faced due to the growing demand for mobile devices. “This puts a strain on the infrastructure and has created the need for many consumers to carry a second supporting mobile device in order to stay connected through an alternate network.”

The Alcatel Executive observed that modern ICTs like the Internet, satellite television network, and mobile telephony have been embraced in Nigeria, but they could however, not be said to be in great use in the rural, only in urban settlements with greater patronage at the developed areas.

He added that some economy watchers also maintained that information technology has not been effectively adopted by many micro-enterprises, agro-industries, small traders, farming/livestock households, public offices, schools, health centres, among others, particularly in the rural areas.

“I, however, believe that the Internet has been embraced by many because it has become a vital tool for business growth, social activities and research in Nigeria, but not the majority could be said to be attempting giant strides in embracing its usefulness and applications”, he stated.