One of the leading Telecommunications Companies in Sierra Leone, Airtel, on Friday 3rd February 2012, officially launched the 3G (Third Generation) Cellular Technology in Sierra Leone. The ceremony took place at the Miatta Conference Hall in Freetown.

Chairing the ceremony, Mr. Nelson Streeter said, assures Airtel’s commitment to provide substantial coverage that will bring communication opportunities to the door steps of its subscribers. Telecommunications, Mr. Streeter said, is one of the continent’s fastest growing industries, with a rapidly expanding cellular phone market that now includes internet access, mobile banking and mobile commerce.

The logo of the newly launched mobile platform

“3G technology will give customers the opportunity to interact with cellular technology in different ways, and for this reason, Airtel doesn’t see 3G as a product, but rather as a platform that enables there subscribers to experience data better.” Mr. Streeter Said.

The Deputy Minister of Information and Communication, Mr. Sheka Tarawallie said Airtel is in no doubt, one of the leading Telecommunications in the country, because according to him, Airtel satisfactorily meets its corporate social responsibility, and by meeting there corporate social responsibilities, he went on, they are contributing to the socio-economic development of the country. He revealed that Airtel reaches were other networks are unable to reach. Minister Tarawallie said the company has moved from Celtel to Zain and now Airtel and yet, they are still giving the best to the country.

The Managing Director Mr. RVS Bhullar making a statement

“Airtel has taking the lead in making cellular technology accessible to all Sierra Leoneans” the Minister maintained, adding; “communication should be a basic right, not a privilege”

He maintained thus, that connecting the unconnected population through telecommunications will enhance social, cultural and commercial participation. The 3G cellular technology in Sierra Leone, he said will provide convenient and innovative services to all Sierra Leoneans. Minister Tarawallie expressed President Koroma’s appreciation of the works of Airtel, of which he is a proud subscriber. He assured that his ministry has creates a level playing field for all networks.

The Deputy Minister of Information and Communication Mr. Sheka Tarawallie making a statement on behalf of Government

For his part, Managing Director of Airtel, Mr. RVS Bhullar  said he is highly honored for the 3G Mobile Platform to be launched under his leadership. He said 3G is the third generation of cellular technology, adding that it follows the 1G (First Generation) which began in the early 80’s and the 2G (Second Generation) which emerged in the 90’s. In essence, he went on, 3G is simply the evolution that gives subscribers the opportunity to interact with cellular technology in an entirely new dimension.

“This is why to us, unlike our competitors, 3G is neither a product nor an improvement of an existing product but a platform, a different universe that enables our subscribers to do and experience more without limits, Mr. Bhullar explained, adding; “to us at Airtel, it is a borderless universe for our subscribers”.

He said it is a borderless universe for Sierra Leone to adequately experience a new type of accessing internet through phones. As from the day of the launch, he maintained, Sierra Leone will join other African countries to experience the internet like they have never experienced it before. He said Africa, especially Sierra Leone, will experience it the “Airtel way”.

Explaining the importance of 3G, the Commercial Director of Airtel Sierra Leone, Mr. Keith G. Tukei, revealed that that when Alexander Graham Bell first conceived the telephone in 1876, he touted it as the ‘miracle discovery of the age’, yet the public was mostly unaware of its possibilities. Today, he went on, the concept of the telephone has given way to a slew of other inventions, including the cell phone.

The ceremonial depiction of the 3G mobile platform

He said mobile voice and high-speed data services are fast surpassing the economic importance and relevance of wired communications. In the near future, he went on, as is already happening now in some parts of Africa, the wireless internet will contribute to uplift and reshape the economies of emerging markets across Africa.

“Unfortunately, in some parts of Africa, only few subscribers or other industry players are fully aware of the potential and possibilities that can be realised,” Said Mr. Tukei, adding; “we at Airtel want to change this.” He said Bridging the digital divide and connecting Africa is Airtel’s mantra, noting that creating new experiences and new opportunities is something they want to achieve for all Airtel subscribers around the continent. To achieve this, he went on, Airtel want to provide a communications platform that will facilitate universal, ubiquitous, equitable and affordable access to information.

Nigerian comedian &Musician “Bash” entertaining the audience

The Commercial Director said the 3G platform will help customers make video calls, download music, and even watch live TV, using their mobile phones, adding that the benefits of this technology cut across business, personal and public sphere, driving the internet revolution in Africa. Mobile banking, M-Commerce, the social media space all will be significantly boosted by the availability of the 3G network. 

At Airtel, Mr. Tukei revealed, they are confident that the growth of broadband wireless networks and the wide availability of inexpensive internet-enabled handsets, in addition to third generation (3G) broadband technologies will continue to give developing countries a level of internet access that can sufficiently bridge the digital divide. He said the economic importance of enabling access to basic telecommunications service, has long been recognized around the world as critical for development, yet such access is still unobtainable by many on our continent.

Minister Tarawallie receiving a “Thank you package” from Airtel M.D Mr. RVS Bhullar

© Copyright by Awareness Times Newspaper in Freetown, Sierra Leone.