Globacom Limited signs deal with Ceragon Networks to offer 625MB/sec internet speed

Globacom Limited (Glo) has entered into an agreement with Israeli network equipment supplier Ceragon Networks Limited to expand its nationwide broadband coverage across Nigeria and offer 5Gigabit (up to 625 megabyte per second internet speed).

As part of this multimillion-dollar deal, Ceragon will be providing Globacom with a customised solution that covers long-haul rural areas, high-capacity metro as well as the access network – enabling it to not only enhance its existing subscribers’ quality of experience but also to expand its reach to grow its market share further.

The project, initiated in Q4 2021, is due to complete deployment through the first half of 2022.

The Nigerian multinational telecommunications company led by Nigerian billionaire Mike Adenuga is the second-largest telecom services operator in Nigeria, with a 28.09 per cent market share, according to Nigerian Communications Commission, as of December 2021.

Although the two companies did not disclose the financial details of the agreement, experts project that the pricing would be at “arm’s length, based on prevailing market rates”.

Commenting on the agreement, Doron Arazi, CEO of Ceragon Networks, revealed that Globacom Limited can be confident that its network will be ready for 5 gigabit per second speed.

In telecoms parlance, 1 gigabit internet speed is equivalent to 125 Megabyte. As such, the new network expansion partnership of 5gigabit will afford customers of the indigenous mobile network operator to enjoy up to 625 megabyte internet speed.

Business Metrics would like to clarify that by 5G, Glo and Ceragon, in their deal are not indicating the buzzing 5th Generation Network.

Recall that the operator was not among the three operators that qualified to participate in the auction of the 3.5 Gigahertz spectrum for 5G in Nigeria by the NCC in December, 2021.

However, Ceragon Networks’ solutions will provide Globacom with a 10-gigabit-per-second (Gbps) network capacity over the air, with the ability to upgrade to 20 Gbps, if necessary.

“This capacity will strengthen the network of rural areas over long distances, high-capacity metropolitan networks as well as the access network,” Arazi said.

The network infrastructure extension aligns with Glo’s strategic expansion plans to build Africa’s biggest and best telecommunications network and provide quality telecom services to its customers.

“We believe that our partnership with Ceragon will help in our desire to build the most robust, advanced telecommunications network. Ceragon’s field-proven solutions and services allow us to quickly and reliably ramp-up our 4G and future 5G network and capacity needs while minimising our overall Total Cost of Ownership (TCO)”, Globacom commented.