Glo (company)

Globacom Limited, commonly known as Glo (Global communication), is a Nigerian multinational telecommunications company founded on 29 August 2003 by Mike Adenuga.[2] As of June 2018, the company employs more than 3,500 people worldwide.

Globacom Ltd. (Global communication)
TypePrivate corporation
IndustryTelecommunications
Founded29 August 2003 (2003-08-29)
HeadquartersLagos, Lagos State, Nigeria
Key people
ProductsIntegrated telecommunication services, etc
Revenue$1.178 billion (2013)
OwnerMike Adenuga[1]
Number of employees
3,379 (June 2019)
Website

Overview

GLO has over 45 million subscribers (December 2018), making it the second largest network operator in Nigeria.[3]

In 2011, GLO became the first telecommunication company to build an $800 million high-capacity fibre-optic cable known as Glo-1, a submarine cable from the United Kingdom to Nigeria.[4] It is the first successful submarine cable from the United Kingdom to Nigeria.

Globacom has the following strategic business units: Glo mobile, Glo Broad Access, Glo Gateway and Glo-1.

Ownership

GLO is privately owned by the Mike Adenuga Group which also consists of Cobblestone Properties and Estates, a real estate and property development company, Conoil PLC, a petroleum marketing company, and Conoil Producing, a crude exploration and production company.[5]

Strategic business units

Glo Mobile

Glo Mobile, a subsidiary of Globacom, is Nigeria's second largest Mobile Network Operator. In the first year of operation, it had one million subscribers in over 87 towns in Nigeria and over 120 billion Naira in revenues.[6] Glo Mobile has now spread to other African countries, namely Benin[7] and Ghana.[8] Glo Mobile's subscriber base in Nigeria stood at over 45 million by December 2018.[9] As at November, 2020, the subscription level has hit 54 million.

Glo 1 submarine cable

GLO-1 is the first successful submarine cable from the United Kingdom to Nigeria, and GLO is the first individual African company to embark on such a project.[10][11]

GLO-1 has the potential to provide high speed internet services, faster, more reliable and cheaper telecom services.[12] Glo-1 will potentially facilitate foreign investment and employment opportunities especially to Africans.

The 9,800 km long cable originates from Bude in the UK and is laid from this origin to Alpha Beach in Lagos, where it will have its landing station.[13] Glo-1 will also improve teleconferencing, distance learning, disaster recovery and telemedicine among several other benefits for Nigerians and the people of West Africa.[14]

By country

In August 2003, Glo Mobile was launched in Nigeria. Glo Mobile introduced lower tariffs, pay per second billing and alongside other value added services. Although Glo Mobile was the fourth GSM operator to launch in Nigeria, within seven years of the company's operation, its subscriber base has grown to over 25 million.[15]

In June 2008, Glo Mobile was launched in Benin. Glo Mobile showed unprecedented growth through the sale of 600,000 SIM cards in the first ten days of operation.[16] Glo Mobile offered Per Second Billing, which charges subscribers for the exact airtime used. They also offered other value added services such as MMS (Multimedia Messaging Service), Glo Magic Plus news and information, vehicle tracking, musical ring-back tones and mobile banking.

In May 2008, GLO acquired an operating license through its Glo Mobile division in Ghana and plans to capture 30% of the current 11 million subscriber market within 18 months of launch.[17] They plan on achieving this goal by launching with bundled voice and Internet services for Ghana and through specifically targeting ‘un-serviced’ areas outside Ghana's two major cities, Accra and Kumasi. Glo Mobile was set to launch in Ghana the first quarter of 2010.[18] This has however been postponed to the third quarter of 2011, and again to 2012. In January 2012, Glo Ghana opened the "Reserve your number" campaign, but still without opening the network. On 8 April 2011 GLO launched the sub-marine optical fiber GLO1, one part of its maiden operation in Ghana, to usher in another major player in the Ghana telecommunication industry.

In October 2009, GLO acquired submarine cable landing rights and International Gateway Services in Côte d'Ivoire.

History

In 2005, Glo Mobile introduced the Glo Fleet Manager which is a vehicle tracking solution. Glo Fleet Manager helps transporters/fleet operators manage their fleet. They also introduced the Glo Mobile internet service which provides subscribers with access to internet sites which have been customized for mobile phone browsing.

In 2006, Glo Mobile introduced BlackBerry. GLO started the sponsorship of the Confederation of African Football African Player of the Year Award. The company also started the sponsorship of Glo Lagos International Half Marathon.

In 2009, Glo Mobile launched Blackberry prepaid services which gives subscribers options to pay daily, weekly or monthly for the service. Blackberry prepaid service gives subscribers free yahoo mail access and free blackberry messenger. The company also launched 3G high speed internet services through the sale of its 3G modem. Glo Mobile 3G network is available in Lagos, Abuja, Benin and Port Harcourt.

Sponsorships

GLO sponsors sports events.

Nigerian supporters in GLO-Shirts at 2010 FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup

In Nigeria, GLO sponsored in 2009 the Nigerian Premier League, Nigerian National Football Teams, Nigeria Football Federation (NFF),[19] Glo Lagos International Half Marathon,[20] Glo People Police Marathon,[21] Eyo Festival, Ojude Oba Festival,[22] Eleghe Festival[23] and the Confederation of African Football African Player of the Year Award.[24]

In Benin, GLO sponsors the FITHEB and CAF African Player of the Year Award.[25]

In Ghana, GLO sponsors the Glo Ghana Premier League, the Ghana National Football Teams and the CAF African Player of the Year Award.

In November 2009, GLO became an official sponsor of football club Manchester United. The sponsorship also includes young players from Benin, Ghana and Nigeria going to Manchester to train with the club.[26]

Globacom is also the sole sponsor of African Voices on CNN. The programme's objective is to project game changers on the African continent and also promote the Globacom brand globally on CNN's platforms.[27]

Globacom us known to engage the promotional services of youths and celebrities, both as brand ambassadors and for their technical know how. The likes of P-Square, Fatuntele Tunde, Phyno, Wizkid, May7ven Tobi Amusan, others, have been their ambassadors at one point or the other.[28][29]

Entertainment

GLO collaborated with MTV on The Big Friday Show in 2012. This alliance made the show more interactive and gave viewers the opportunity for live appearances on the show. There was an added benefit of GLO subscribers winning the network's products every week.[30]

In April 2013, GLO introduced the singing reality television show, the X Factor to Africa. The auditions were held in Nigeria and Ghana, with the ultimate prize being a $150,000 cash reward as well as a deal to be managed and produced by Sony Music to record an album.[31]

References
  1. "Nigeria's Dangote Tops a Very Short List of African Billionaires (By Devon Pendleton and Tom Metcalf) | Africanews". Archived from the original on 28 February 2019. Retrieved 28 February 2019.
  2. Kerry A. Dolan. "Fewer Billionaires, Poorer Billionaires On African Continent In 2019", Forbes, Jan 9, 2019.
  3. Ife Ogunfuwa. "Glo overtakes Airtel, emerges Nigeria’s second largest telco", Punch Newspapers, Dec 30, 2018.
  4. IT News Africa "Glo One Submarine Cable Debuts in Lagos", IT News Africa, 8 September 2009. Accessed 21 August 2015.
  5. "Glo makes test call", TeleGeography, 18 December 2007. Accessed 21 August 2015.
  6. "Globacom may acquire NITEL", Daily Champion, 16 September 2009. Accessed 27 August 2015
  7. Nkanga, Efem. "Benin: Glo Launches Network in Country Today", All Africa, 5 June 2008. Accessed 27 August 2015.
  8. Nweke, Remmy. "e-Readiness: Nigeria ranks 94", Daily Champion, 25 June 2008. Accessed 14 September 2015.
  9. "Globacom Limited". Retrieved 28 May 2020.
  10. "Glo One Submarine Cable Debuts in Lagos", IT News, 8 September 2009. Accessed 11 November 2015.
  11. "Glo 1 Submarine cable lands in Lagos", Vanguard, 6 September 2009. Accessed 11 November 2015.
  12. Eribake, Akintayo (6 September 2009). "Glo 1 Submarine cable lands in Lagos". Retrieved 27 December 2016.
  13. "Nigeria: GLO -1 Berths in Accra". 29 September 2009. Retrieved 27 December 2016 – via AllAfrica.
  14. "The Nation Newspaper Nigeria - Read Latest Nigeria News". Archived from the original on 26 July 2011. Retrieved 27 December 2016.
  15. Nkanga, Efem (14 September 2006). "Nigeria: Globacom is 100 Percent Nigerian Company - Jameel". Retrieved 27 December 2016 – via AllAfrica.
  16. "Cellular-News". Retrieved 27 December 2016.
  17. "IT Edge News". Archived from the original on 2 December 2009. Retrieved 2 November 2009.
  18. "IT Edge News". Archived from the original on 2 December 2009. Retrieved 2 November 2009.
  19. "Africa: GLO Congratulates Africa On Ghana's Victory". 19 October 2009. Retrieved 27 December 2016 – via AllAfrica.
  20. "Glo Lagos Marathon". Archived from the original on 15 March 2009. Retrieved 27 December 2016.
  21. "Nigeria: Glo People Police Marathon - Fighting Crime Through Sports". 27 April 2009. Retrieved 27 December 2016 – via AllAfrica.
  22. "Ojudeoba Festival". Archived from the original on 10 April 2011. Retrieved 27 December 2016.
  23. This Day Online Archived 2007-06-21 at archive.today
  24. "hotel luggage carts - Best Moving Equipment For Football Gear". Retrieved 27 December 2016.
  25. Giwa, Sherifat (1 April 2008). "Nigeria: Globacom Signs MoU With West Africa's Biggest Theatre Festival". Retrieved 27 December 2016 – via AllAfrica.
  26. Goal.com, 2009-11-02.
  27. "Glo Sponsors 'African Voices' On CNN". Modern Ghana. Retrieved 15 August 2018.
  28. "Tobi Amusan unveiled as Glo ambassador". TheCable. 29 September 2022. Retrieved 20 May 2023.
  29. "Top 10 Nigerian Celebrities Who Are GLO Ambassadors". Six9ja. 9 November 2022. Retrieved 20 May 2023.
  30. "Glo, MTV Base partner on "The Big Friday Show" - Ghana Business News". www.ghanabusinessnews.com. July 2012. Retrieved 15 August 2018.
  31. "Glo brings 'X FACTOR' to Africa, with $150, 000 starprize". The New Times | Rwanda. 22 April 2013. Retrieved 15 August 2018.
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