A Global System of Mobile telecommunications operator, 9Mobile (formerly known as Etisalat Nigeria), has said the change of its brand name will not affect the quality of its services, even as it is open to new investors.
The Chief Executive Officer, 9Mobile, Mr. Boye Olusanya, said the company would continue to make more positive contributions to the telecommunications sector and deliver better value to customers.
Olusanya, who stated this while unveiling the new brand identity at a press briefing in Lagos on Wednesday, said, “The change in name has no bearing on the quality of service that you are going to get from this network. This is a continuation of our excellence. Our name has changed only to something that we believe will resonate more with our customers and stakeholders.
“In our nine years of operations, we have remained at the forefront of innovation and take pride in consistently delivering superior experiences to our subscribers. We continue to establish meaningful partnerships with our customers and partners by providing platforms that support their goals and aspirations.”
Commenting on the departure of one of the former shareholders, he said all the services from the company “are run, operated, managed and maintained by the same team that exists here today.”
According to Olusanya, there is currently no service that is being run with the support and help from anybody outside the shores of Nigeria.
He said, “So, the departure of any partner has absolutely no bearing on the quality of service that you will continue to get.
“The people that exist within the business today are the ones who have offered that service; the same ones who have been resilient and dynamic to cope with the need for this change, who will also be the ones who will continue to offer you service and if they show the same dynamism that they’ve shown over the last few days, then the service will only get better.”
Asked if the company was open to new investors, Olusanya said, “Like any business, we are always available for someone with a good offer. But we are prepared to manage this business for the long haul.
“If at any point in time someone does come in with an offer that is attractive, then that person will have the right to do whatever they want to do with the brand. But this brand was not developed with the mind-set that it’s a two- or three-month brand.”
He said the company was going through a process of removing and replacing all materials that referred to what it was before, adding that the process would be concluded as soon as possible.
Olusanya said the company would not change old SIM cards being used by subscribers, adding, “We have to acknowledge that that is part of our history and it is there for you to continue to use.”
He stated that the company would continue to put data at the forefront of its business and deliver more platforms, products and services, using the power of technology.
“The vivacity of our new brand is an affirmation of our creativity and the recent launch of a volley of value-adding services, such as our BlazeOn and Kwikcash service, is testament to this,” he added.
Also speaking, the Chief Financial Officer, 9Mobile, Mrs. Funke Ighodaro, said, “The immediate focus of the business is to drive value for the benefit of its customers. The approach and timing of the rebranding is evidence of the agility and responsiveness of the business.”
