Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) networks are disappearing from
the Nigerian telecommunication scene. The last one to dissipate, when
many thought that it had a strong customer-base was Visafone which was
recently taken over by MTN. As these networks vanish from the data
arena, Jovago.com, Africa’s No 1 hotel booking portal examines reasons why CDMA networks are liquidating.
Limited reach
Despite the fact that many of these CDMA networks attempted to offer
fantastic largesse to their customers, one shortcoming for them was
their limited reach as their capacity only carried major Nigerian cities
like Lagos, Port Harcourt and probably Kano. If you want to call your
business partner in the East, you may not reach him because of the
network limitation.
Fierce competition from GSM networks
Obviously,
if the reach is limited, it will be difficult to compete with the GSM
networks whose services are reasonably received throughout the nooks and
crannies of Nigeria. This aside, there is a sweeping competition among
the GSM network making it very difficult for CDMAs to enter into the
race. Visafone tried but it could not maintain the momentum. You do not
require a fortune-teller to predict the demise of CDMA.
Their rates
A CDMA phone is the mini-version of the famous landlines. Although
calls between CDMAs are substantially cheap, if you attempt to use it to
dial a GSM number using this network, the interconnection rate became
quite expensive. As a result, many stuck to using their GSM phones.
Permanent SIM card
Many techies found using a phone tied to a permanent SIM card
uncomfortable. Many Nigerians who owned CDMA phones oftentimes had
second mobile devices that gave them the freedom to switch between GSM
networks. The additional cost accrued from owning two phones had most
people opting for the more flexible GSM platform.
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