Daily Trust - the online edition

Nigeria’s leading telecommunications company, MTN and Multichoice Nigeria recently took telecommunications partnerships to new heights with the launch of Mobile Television on the MTN network.

With the launch, MTN becomes the first cellular network to offer its subscribers an opportunity to watch television, while on the move, from their mobile devices.

According to Mr. Bola Akingbade, MTN’s Chief Marketing Officer, who stood in for the company’s Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Ahmad Farroukh, "MTN is again taking the driver’s seat in making mobile television available to our customers as a practical demonstration of its consistent commitment to enabling customers optimize value on the MTN network."

Speaking in the same vein, Mr. Collins Khumalo, Managing Director of Multichoice Nigeria expressed delight at the opportunity to partner with Nigeria ’s leading telecommunications company. A bouquet of 10 channels spanning movies including the immensely popular Africa Magic channel, news, sports and children’s programs (cartoons) will be available on the mobile phones of customers who choose to subscribe to the new Mobile TV service on the MTN network, tagged DSTV from MTN.

The new Mobile TV service which is a first in Nigeria is currently available in Lagos and Abuja , but will add other Nigeria locations subsequently.

MTN, said Akingbade, has been able to launch Mobile Television on account of the increasingly sophisticated technology which it is deploying. Last year, the company paid $150m for a third generation mobile licence (also known as 3G licence) and by December the company clearly demonstrated the possibilities of this technology to key segments of the public including the media. Broadcast content on DSTV from MTN will however be delivered via Digital Video Broadcast Handheld, DVBH, technology.