By Lucas Ajanaku,The Nation
Copyright thenationonlineng
With a bouquet of innovative products and investment in infrastructure expansion and upgrade, 22 years on, Globacom continues to champion Nigeria’s digital future. LUCAS AJANAKU writes on the dynamic evolution of the telco and its new offer of Talk Masta and Welcome Bonus.
National carrier Globacom is intensifying its efforts to deepen digital connectivity across Nigeria through an extensive network expansion and upgrade programme that promises to continue to transform the telecommunications landscape.
Pursuant to this, Globacom yesterday unveiled two customer-friendly initiatives designed to deliver more value to subscribers and strengthen its position as Nigeria’s most rewarding network. The two products were unveiled at the company’s head office, Mike Adenuga Towers, Victoria Island.
The first, ‘Talkmasta, is a tariff plan tailored to reward customers with unlimited free talk time and data. Under the plan, customers who make six minutes of local calls to any network will automatically receive six additional free minutes, which can be used to call any local network and free 50MB.
The calls are charged at 30 kobo per second, while text messages are billed at 6 per SMS. The company noted that the package can be enjoyed by both new and existing customers. New customers enjoy the offer once they buy a Glo line, while existing customers are required to dial *606# to migrate to the plan and start enjoying 6 free minutes for every cumulative six minutes of calls charged. There is no limit to the number of times or the volume of free minutes and data that customers will enjoy on this plan.
Equally, the company has also revised its Welcome Bonus offer for new customers, providing them with what it describes as the “biggest shout value in the market”.
New subscribers who register a Glo SIM, recharge with a minimum of N100, and make their first call will instantly receive a one-time welcome package worth as much as N2,000.
This includes free N1,000 airtime equivalent to 25 minutes of calls which they can use to call all networks and free N1,000 data, which translates to 1GB of browsing. It is valid for seven days. According to the company this is the best welcome back value in the market.
The company explained that the dual offers were aimed at giving customers flexibility, rewarding loyalty, and enhancing the first-time experience of new Glo SIM users.
“With these packages, we are reinforcing our commitment to affordable and reliable services that keep Nigerians connected to the people that matter most,” the company stated.
Speaking on the occasion, Cluster Retail Head, Lagos, Ande Abdulrazaq, said the event marks the beginning of something truly special. It is not just another product launch; it’s a celebration of connections, a commitment to enhancing communication experiences, and a promise to deliver value that exceeds our customer’s expectations.
“In our 22 years of business (you recall we marked our 22nd anniversary last month), we have always led in innovation and delivered additional value to our subscribers. So, we are here today to introduce two incredible offerings that are unmatched in the industry. We couldn’t be more excited to share them with you.
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“For the first one, Talk Masta whether you’re catching up with friends, sharing moments with family, or even closing that important business deal, we’ve designed this package with you in mind. At Globacom, every Naira you spend is maximized to give you more than just a conversation; it gives you value.
“The second product is a welcome offer – a tantalizing game-changer for every new subscriber joining the Globacom family. As you activate your Glo line, we’re rolling out an instant welcome gift for you, a massive instant bonus simply for choosing to be a part of the Globacom community. Whether you’re recharging with just a little amount or making your very first call, we want to show our gratitude with a welcome package that’s truly unmatched in the industry.
“This is more than just a bonus. It’s our way of saying, “Thank you for choosing Globacom. Welcome home.” It’s a symbol of our commitment to you, not just as customers, but as valued members of the Globacom family,” he said.
In a presentation, Viju Unnithan of the Retail Marketing Department, said the company was motivated to launch the products because it understood the importance of staying connected with business partners as well as loved ones any time, any day.
“We understand how important it is to stay connected in today’s fast-paced world. Communication is the bridge that keeps us in touch with people and moments that matter most. And with these new products, we are making sure that connection is not just affordable, but accessible, seamless, and enriching.
“This launch is not just about introducing new products. It’s about delivering on a promise. A promise we made at launch in 2003 that whenever you think of staying connected, either through a simple chat or text message or by engaging in a long conversation, you’ll think of Globacom.
“All these years, we have always stayed committed to providing you with the best: the best service, the best value, and the best experience. And with these two offerings, we are taking that commitment to a whole new level.
“As we continue to redefine what it means to stay connected, we’re doing it with YOU in mind. These new packages are designed to fit seamlessly into your life, ensuring that you stay connected to what matters most to you, without worrying about the cost.
“I wish to restate that today marks a pivotal moment for us all. It’s the start of a new chapter in how you experience communication. As we march into the digital future, Globacom will not just be about technology or numbers, but also about people. Our mission is about connecting hearts, building relationships, and enabling dreams. With Globacom, you are never just a subscriber; you are part of a community. And with that, we invite you to be part of this journey with us,” he said.
Digital solutions provider, Globacom, has since it began operations in Nigeria on August 29, 2003, pioneered numerous innovations which have helped propel the rapid growth and revolutionary changes witnessed in Nigeria’s telecommunications industry.
Its crashing of the cost of acquiring SIM cards from about N25,000 to just about N200 and pioneering of the Per Second Billing system are primarily responsible for the massive telephone penetration in the country.
Prominent among the innovations Glo pioneered in Nigeria are Blackberry Services, Multimedia Messaging Service (MMS), Magic Plus, Glo Direct, International MMS, Inflight Roaming, Prepaid Roaming, Glo Mobile Internet, GloFleetmanager, M-Banking, Glo Mobile Office, Glo TV, Glo Cloud, Glo Always On, and Glo Berekete.
The company is the only operator with a wholly owned submarine cable, Glo 1, which connects West Africa directly to the United Kingdom and the rest of the world. It also connects 14 nations in the West Africa sub-region, including some of them that are landlocked. This ensures the availability of bandwidth to Wholesale, Enterprise & SME customers in West Africa.
The undersea cable delivers a much faster and robust connectivity for voice, data and video with some of the lowest latencies between Africa and its gateway in London. It unleashes limitless opportunities for global and other African carriers, global content and digital media providers, government and corporate bodies in Nigeria and West Africa.
Glo 1 is credited with crashing the cost of internet services and is today the preferred cable system by global Over The Top (OTT) providers. It connects thousands of kilometres of national fibre to all parts of Nigeria and cross connects with landlocked West African countries providing them access to world class internet services and enable these countries to connect with Content Delivery Networks (CDN) & caching with OTT networks in Lagos.
Globacom is currently embarking on laying Glo 2, the first submarine cable in Nigeria to terminate outside Lagos. This holds significant promise for taking bandwidth beyond Lagos to other parts of the country, especially the oil platforms to enable “Digital Oilfields” and empower under-served communities in the South South & South Eastern parts of Nigeria.
In Nigeria, Glo fibre optic cable network, powered by a managed IP MPLS network, covers the farthest parts of the country. It gives businesses in over 130 cities low latency, faster connectivity and expanded bandwidth to carry voice, video, and data reliably.
Just like it did with the 2.5G and 3G technologies, Globacom was the first telecom operator to accomplish a nationwide launch of 4G-LTE network in Nigeria in 2016. With the 4G LTE Network, Glo provides seamless voice and data connectivity; enabling superfast HD video streaming, video downloads, online gaming and much more.
The 4G LTE Advanced technology which Globacom launched recently combines three spectrums of 700 megahertz (MHz), 1,800MHz and 2,600 MHz to provide a better internet experience to subscribers. It is faster, stronger, and better. The video and voice quality in video calls on different applications like Facebook Messenger, WhatsApp, Viber etc is a lot clearer while the picture quality is crispier, and the transmission is faster. It also enables optimum performance for use in a variety of other life-enhancing cases such as telemedicine, e-agriculture, 3D Games, etc.
As a demonstration of its commitment to democratizing access to telecom services, Globacom has also concluded arrangements to roll out satellite-based internet services to rural communities and under-served areas in the country. Increased access to the internet boosts the gross domestic product (GDP) by improving labor market participation, productivity, and business reach through enhanced access to information, services, and new markets. Research indicates that a 10per cent increase in broadband penetration can raise GDP by 0.25per cent to 1.4per cent, with benefits including higher employment, faster economic growth, and improved overall living standards.
The new satellite-based internet service is expected to complement the company’s 4G LTE Advanced network to offer unlimited benefits to communities which do not yet have access to internet connectivity, in addition to delivering high quality satellite-grade experience with voice, video, and data that can be accessed across the country.
Connections: WAN and Leased Lines
With WAN and Leased lines, businesses equipped with adequate technical support are able to create endless value for their customers. IP MPLS Leased circuits offer dedicated point-to-point connectivity for organizations with geographical spread through a fast, cost-effective, reliable and versatile system.
International Private Leased Circuit (IPLC)
Glo customers can have limitless control over their business no matter where they are with two-way transmission speeds ranging from 2 Mbps to 100 Gbps. Now, they can make quicker decisions for their businesses from anywhere. IPLC provides dedicated point-to-point secure private line solutions that facilitate connectivity for organisations with global offshoots through a fast, cost-effective, reliable and versatile system.
On digital services, he said: “At Globacom, we offer a range of customised and community-driven voice and data connectivity solutions that help to manage complex networking systems.
“We also provide secured as well as verticalized IT solutions such as e-Health, Smart Cognitive Learning, Smart Energy, Industrial IoT and Cloud Applications. “
Under its mobility solutions are the prepaid and postpaid bundles.
“Telecommunication subscribers who desire the best-in-class Prepaid and Postpaid Plans have a reliable ally in Glo. For us, the mantra is stay connected and stay ahead.
“Our country-specific IDD packs and Combo IDD packs offer customers attractive rates to call specific countries as applicable.”
According to sources, Globacom is the largest integrated communications service provider in Nigeria, servicing enterprises, SMEs, mid-size corporates, public sector organizations and millions of individuals all over Nigeria.
As a demonstration of the company’s commitment to customer experience, this year alone, Glo has activated over 1,000 new 4G LTE sites across key cities and underserved locations, with plans to deploy an additional thousand sites within the next year. This ambitious rollout not only aims to extend network coverage to previously neglected areas but also densifies service in rapidly growing urban centres, ensuring superior voice and data experience for millions of Nigerians.
A significant facet of Glo’s commitment involves relocating damaged fibre optic infrastructure affected by uncoordinated road constructions on major routes such as Auchi-Okene, Benin-Ekpoma, and Minna-Abuja. This costly but strategic move safeguards network reliability and supports high-speed data delivery. Additionally, Glo is upgrading its backhaul capacities via microwave and fibre enhancements and improving its core network performance to meet rising demand and future-proof the system.
In alignment with sustainability goals, Glo is deploying hybrid energy solutions to power its sites, gradually reducing reliance on generators in favour of battery-powered systems to minimize carbon emissions.
These investments and innovations highlight Glo’s dual focus on expanding affordable, reliable connectivity and supporting Nigeria’s broader digital economy growth. Through enhanced network quality and coverage, Glo is enabling greater access to digital services including healthcare, education, and e-commerce, bridging the digital divide between urban and rural communities.
This thorough infrastructure enhancement and strategic network densification clearly signal Glo’s ambition to remain a major player in Nigeria’s competitive telecom sector while prioritizing customer experience and national development imperatives. The coming months will be critical in witnessing the tangible impact of these transformative projects on Nigeria’s connectivity landscape and inclusive digital future.
