Nigerian solar-based internet service provider Tizeti has launched its 4G LTE network, with plans to extend it to leading cities in Nigeria and West Africa in 2020.
Tizeti, an alumnus of the Y Combinator and XL Africa accelerators, has been expanding its operations since raising US$3 million in funding last year, which took its total investment to more than US$5 million.
The startup has now announced the rollout of high-speed 4G services to Rivers, Ogun and Edo States, in a first phase launch. This launch follows the build of brand-new, solar-powered, 4G-capable towers in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, where Tizeti will offer its first 4G and ISP services, to be followed by new towers in Ogun and Edo.
Tizeti chief executive officer (CEO) Kendall Ananyi said the 4G connectivity would empower people in Nigeria’s South-South and South-West states, stimulate economic activities, and provide unlimited access to affordable and reliable broadband services.
“Access to affordable and reliable unlimited internet connectivity has been an intractable problem for a lot of Nigerian businesses and residential customers, especially for people in Edo, Rivers and Ogun States,” he said.
“To address this and provide a sustainable and cost-effective solution, we leverage our solar-powered, always-on towers and robust internet bandwidth from MainOne to create a low CAPEX and OPEX network of owned and operated towers. This allows us to offer customers unlimited internet at 30 to 50 per cent of the cost of traditional mobile data plans.”
