As the curtains are about to be
drawn on the sale of 9Mobile, a discernible trend has emerged from the camp of
the two finalists; Smile Telecoms Holdings and Teleology Holdings Limited. On either side are former CEOs of MTN
Nigeria leading the charge. Smile
Telecoms Holdings has one of its leaders Ahmad Farroukh and Teleology Holdings
Limited is led by Adrian Wood.
Ahmad Farroukh who joined MTN as
Chief Executive Officer after 18 months from Wood departure, is currently the
Group Executive Director in charge of Operations at Smile Telecoms
Holdings. Given the preeminent role of Smile Nigeria towards
the realisation of the Federal Government’s quest for enhanced broadband
penetration, Ahmad spends most of his executive time in Nigeria and will be
central to Smile’s quest to acquire 9Mobile.
Farroukh had the arduous task of bringing MTN Nigeria to what is it is
today. His service record for the full
tenure he served is stellar. Between
July 2006 and April 2011 he increased MTN subscriber base to 40 million and achieved
62% healthy margin. He had the
distinction of managing 17 operations of the MTN Group after he left Nigeria.
As both Wood and Farroukh go
head-to-head in the quest to clinch the 9Mobile business it promises to be
battle royal. Beside the distinguished
record that favors Farroukh, he is armed with a local Nigerian operation and
presence and Smile 800 LTE Broad band frequency that will be a game changer.
The Contenders
Smile Telecoms Holdings Ltd And Teleology
Holdings
Smile
Smile Nigeria, a member of Smile
Telecoms Holdings Limited, launched West Africa’s true 4G LTE network in Ibadan
in 2013 thereby revolutionizing the way people access the Internet. Industry
Watchers have applauded Smile for bringing fast and reliable Internet service
to Nigerians. The company became the first operator in West Africa to offer its
customers Voice over LTE services and give them access to the growing global
standard for voice and video calling. It has a top drawer board headed by the
consummate investor Dr. Ernest Azudialu-Obiejesi
Smile Telecoms
Holdings Limited, founded in 2007, is a Mauritius-based Pan-African
telecommunications group with operations in Nigeria, Tanzania, Uganda, the
Democratic Republic of the Congo. Smile has the largest sub-1 GHz 4G LTE
commercial network in Africa, operating in the 800 MHz band, providing
SuperFast and Reliable broadband services to its customers.
Smile launched Africa’s first commercial 4G LTE network in Dar es
Salaam, Tanzania in May 2013 – revolutionizing the way people access
information online. Since then, Smile has extended its coverage in Tanzania
to 7 regions and also launched commercially in Uganda in June 2013, with
coverage expanded to 14 cities. In March 2014 Smile launched West-Africa’s
first 4G LTE mobile broadband service in Nigeria with coverage now extended to
8 cities.
By the end of 2015, Smile had the
biggest 4G LTE mobile broadband network in Africa and continues to expand its
network coverage. In 2016 Smile launched its SuperClear voice, video and
SMS services over LTE, enabling all our customers to use one data bundle for
SuperFast broadband and SuperClear voice services. Smile has
transitioned from a spectrum rich start-up to the most reliable data gigabyte
factory in Sub-Sahara Africa.
AHMAD FARROUKH
Ahmad
Farroukh is the Executive Director, Operations of Smile Telecoms Holdings
Limited. Most recently, he served as the rescue CEO of Mobily, Saudi Arabia’s
second largest telecommunications operator. Ahmad is
an experienced telecoms executive with a distinguished record of commercial
success, extensive experience working in Nigeria and Africa and an impressive
ability to drive strategy and profitability in accordance with international
standards.
He has held executive management positions at Investcom Holdings
and the MTN Group, including being CEO of MTN Nigeria for five years, CEO of
MTN South Africa and MTN Group Chief Operating Executive (responsible for 17
countries).
Ahmad holds a Master’s Degree in Business Administration and Accounting
from the Lebanese American University and is a Certified Public Accountant (New
York, USA).
TELEOLOGY
HOLDINGS LIMITED
Teleology Holdings Limited is a
consortium of companies with eminent Nigerians including frontline politicians,
revered traditional rulers and notable business executives as
shareholders. It is more of a Special
Purpose Vehicle designed specifically for the 9Mobile bid but lacks the much
needed requisite experience.
ADRIAN WOOD
Adrian Wood, lead promoter of Teleology Holdings Limited is an international
technology and investment executive. He
is currently the Chief Executive Officer of Brymedia West Africa Limited.
He has served as Chief Executive Officer of MTN Nigeria and Group
Managing Director of Daily Times Nigeria.
His career spans major operators such as Telstra, Portugal Telecom,
Telecom Finland-Sonera, France Telecom, Orange UK, Telenor,
Wood’s expertise extends to complex,
geographically and culturally diverse businesses, brand development, growth in
a regulated environment, capacity building, government & community
relations.
WHO IS THE BEST MATCH FOR BRIDE “9MOBILE”
CAPABILITY
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SMILE
TELECOMS HOLDINGS
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TELEOLOGY
HOLDINGS
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Experienced Management Team
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Management Capability of running a Big Operator
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Local Presence in an Operating Company
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X
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Nigerian Shareholding
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?
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Smile – 9Mobile combined
Best frequency rang to serve Data and LTE Broadband growth
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X
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