Security Challenges Bane Of MTN Network Upgrade

MTN Nigeria last week said that security challenges in parts of the country were slowing down ongoing nationwide modernisation of its network.

The  Corporate Services Executive, Mr Akinwale Goodluck,said  in Lagos that the modernisation exercise commenced in June.

He said that the exercise was expected to be concluded by the end of the first quarter in 2013.

‘’It is going well, but again, we are stuck in some parts of the country where we are unable to do any work because of the insurgence in those parts of the country.

‘’We have to slow down a bit where people are being attacked, where base stations are being destroyed,’’ he said.

He said that the project was being implemented by MTN engineers and its technical partners – Ericsson, Huawei and ZTE.

Goodluck said that the exercise would significantly enhance the network’s capacity and provide improved quality of service to subscribers.

According to the MTN executive, the project entails upgrading and replacing key network components with the latest.

He said that the exercise would affect the network’s architecture which included the radio transmission, core network and power systems.

The MTN official said that the telecommunications company had envisaged that the exercise might cause inconveniences to customers.

‘’We appeal to our customers to please bear with us, things will definitely get much better when the modernisation is concluded,’’ he said.

Goodluck said that the company had put in place measures to minimise the negative effects on subscribers.