Nigeria’s most innovative GSM network service provider, Etisalat, today in Lagos announced a wide reaching network roll out plan that will see it increasing its network coverage to over hundreds more cities, towns, villages and other areas across Nigeria by the end of October this year.

Beginning with a symbolic flag off event in Kano on Tuesday 9 June, Etisalat services are scheduled to be systematically turned on in cities and towns across Nigeria in record time. The network roll out services will be heralded in various regions in the country by a series of flag off events, road shows and concerts to register the presence of the network in various parts of the nation as it continues to implement its visionary network roll out strategy across Nigeria in the shortest possible time. At the moment, beyond the 7 cities where it initially started operations in October 2008, Etisalat’s services are live in about 10 more states and hundreds of towns and villages across the federation. Some of the main cities where the network has gone live include Dutse, Jigawa, Minna, Jos, Benin, Asaba, Onitsha, Sokoto, Birnin Kebbi, Bauchi, Gomb and Zamfara. While some of these locations have near complete coverage, work is constantly ongoing to ensure full coverage of every nook and cranny of every state during the roll out of its network. In upcoming weeks, areas such as Enugu, Aba, Abeokuta amongst several others will begin to enjoy the superlative services that subscribers to the Etisalat network across the nation currently enjoy.

Speaking at a press conference to announce the aggressive roll out campaign of the company, Etisalat Nigeria CEO, Steven Evans, disclosed that Etisalat would be extending coverage to more cities in line with the company’s mission to cover the entire country in the shortest time possible and to avail more Nigerians the opportunity of world-class services and innovative products in the best tradition of the Etisalat group.

 “Our roll-out plan is not just aggressive but thorough as well as we are keen to ensure that our services are top notch in every location that we are. Proof of our qualitative service in the areas we operate at the moment can be found in the recent NCC report that adjudged us Nigeria’s number one network in terms of quality of service. For us at Etisalat, our vision is clear and our mission intact; we will cover the whole of Nigeria in shorter time than it took other operators to achieve the same level of coverage and we will offer better services than Nigerians are used to,” Steven explained.

In a move to draw more subscribers to its network as it rolls out in more cities, Chief Marketing Officer, Etisalat Nigeria, Wael Ammar, announced the immediate commencement of two exciting promotions geared to give both old and new subscribers to the Etisalat network an opportunity to win big prizes on the network. The first promo tagged “Win a Phone” promo, will see Nigerians winning 2 phones on the Etisalat network every hour of the day for 90 days. The second promotion which it calls “The 9jillions promo” will give subscribers on the network an opportunity to win various amounts of cash over a four month period. Rounding up the “9jillions” promo will be a grand event where one lucky subscriber will work away with a cool 1 million dollars cash money. According to Wael Ammar, virtually every Nigerian is eligible to participate in the promo simply by getting on the Etisalat network and sending a requested text to a short code.

Etisalat commenced commercial services in October with coverage in seven cities. Prior to this, the company had launched its innovative 0809uchoose campaign to heighten the interest of phone users in the network. The unique 3-in-1 package gave prospective subscribers an opportunity to customize their phone numbers and also get free credit every month for life.