Etisalat introduces prize for Innovation

INNOVATIONS

By Kokumo Goodie, Lagos, Nigeria

Etisalat has announced the launch of the first edition of the ‘Etisalat Prize for Innovation’ to reward the most innovative existing mobile broadband product or service in Africa. The award which will be one of the major attractions at the 15^th Annual Africa Com Conference scheduled to take place in Cape Town, South Africa in November 2012.

The ‘Etisalat Prize for Innovation’ is aimed at encouraging and celebrating valuable innovation in the African market and will be awarded in 2 categories; both prizes will be for driving or facilitating mobile broadband use in Africa. The first prize of USD25,000 is for the most innovative product or service launched in the last 12 months and a second prize of USD10,000 for the most innovative idea.

The Chief Executive Officer, Etisalat Nigeria, Steven Evans said: “The importance of Africa as a growth market for mobile broadband is clearly evident, as the continent remains the fastest growing telecommunications market in the world. Over the past few years, Africa has witnessed a dramatic increase in mobile broadband connections mainly due to the surge in mobile broadband connections in Nigeria. At Etisalat, we believe that the next big thing in telecommunications in Nigeria and Africa in general is broadband and we are pushing this agenda very seriously being the first to launch a 3.75G network in Nigeria”.

Evans further explained that the ‘Etisalat Prize for Innovation’ Award seeks to reward corporate organisations; small and growing businesses as well as individuals developing advanced mobile broadband solutions and platforms in Africa.

“We have launched this award because we realise the importance of innovative broadband projects, products and services which have improved the way we live and work. Innovation is core to our business strategy at Etisalat and we see ourselves as a young and innovative business setting the pace for others in the Nigerian telecommunications industry.” He concluded.

Entries for the award open Thursday 16^th of August till the 6^th of September 2012 and should be made via the Etisalat website on http://www.etisalat.com.ng/innovation/ The entries must show demonstrable impact on broadband usage, impressive uptake from customers and would have made a visible commercial or social impact in the community. Entries are open to African Mobile Network Operators (MNO) and Mobile Virtual Network Operators (MVNO) with innovative Broadband products or services using the GSM network family (2G GPRS & EDGE, 3G, HSPA, LTE), Handset and/or Device manufacturers, App Developers and other Software service providers making use of mobile broadband capability, Radio and Core network Infrastructure suppliers enabling broadband products and content developers.

Further information can also be obtained from www.youtube.com/EtisalatNigeria.