Starcomms invests N1.35b on network expansion, infrastructure upgrade

LEADING Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) operator in Nigeria, Starcomms Plc, has said that it has invested $9 million (N1.35 billion) on network expansion, infrastructure upgrade and marketing in the last  10 months in the country.According to Starcomms, the need to invest on networks became imperative, because of the increasing subscribers base the network witnessed in the last six months of operation.The Chief Operating Officer, Logan Pather, who told newsmen in Lagos, said the roll-out will further help to demonstrate the strength of the networks.Pather listed some of the new towns covered by the companys new investment to include Abuja; Jaji; Suleja; Ikot Ekpene; Eket; Oron; Maiduguri; Umuahia; Tinapa; Agbor among others.According to Pather, with effect from today (Monday) and in the next three weeks, the company will be engaged in commercial launches of the cities to formally kick-off Starcomms presence in them.The chief operating officer said the company would soon build would also build more base stations in the affected cities .    However, a source in the telecommunications company told The Guardian that, the company aimed at building about six more base stations across the towns affected in the expansion drive, stressing that a CDMA base station could cost as much as  $400,000.I think Starcomms would build about six more base stations to boost our expansion in those cities mentioned. For CDMA base stations, the cost is between $300,000 and $400,000, if you value that in Nigerian currency, you will agree with me that it is no small money at all. We are quite serious about this market, because we know the potentials it has, stressed the source.Besides, Pather said that, with the new investments and expansion, we are targeting an increase in our subscribers base by 200,000 in the next one month. We shall improve greatly both on the voice and data services. I must tell you customers are really enjoying our data services, we noticed substantial growth in that area. 
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