[size=14pt]Is Bharti a blessing or a curse to Nigeria?

Zain Nigeria yesterday rolled out a virtual photocopy of MTN's tariff plans. Did anyone see that in the Nation newspaper? Almost everything was copied, even the advert that was used to announce it was like that of the competitor.

Question is, what value precisely is Bharti adding to Zain Nigeria.  Before now, many people were happy that Bharti would give operators in Nigeria a tough time by introducing innovations that would take the industry to the next level.  At least the company is known as price crunchers. The opposite seems to be the case as they are now the ones copying those already in the market.

To make matters worse, I hear that many of our brothers and sisters working either in Zain or *Ericson are living on borrowed time. Most of their jobs are being outsourced to India. Na wah o! [/size] [size=12pt]

Daily Independent (Lagos)

Nigeria: 300 May Lose Job Over Bharti Airtel Acquisition of Zain
Emeka Umejei
9 June 2010

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Lagos — Over 300 employees of Zain Nigeria, who were hitherto outsourced to Ericsson Alcatel, technical partners of Zain Nigeria, may have lost their jobs following the acquisition of Zain Africa network by Bharti Airtel of India.

According to inside sources at Zain Nigeria, the 300 workers lost their jobs, following what they describe as Bharti Airtel's decision to monitor their core network from India, while maintaining a few staff on ground.

" As you know, the Indians are guru in IT, so they can decide to do anything with the networks and they have the competency," the source, who pleaded anonymity told Daily Independent.

Infact, the source also informed Daily Independent that most of the IT support workers in Zain are only leaving on borrowed time, because according to him, with the coming of the new Indian owners, many would lose their jobs .

Zain is known to have outsourced its technical services to Ericsson-Alcatel in preparation for the eventual acquisition of the network. Though, some of the outsources workers had grumbled with the development then, they could not help it since they had no option. However, the acquisition of Zain by Bharti Airtel is believed to have complicated their situation.

When Daily Independent contacted Emeka Oparah, Head, Sponsorship and Corporate Communication of Zain, to confirm the development, he said he works for Zain not Ericsson, stressing that he cannot make any comment.

Blessing : 1) Cut in tariffs 2) Creating price wars as it created in India. 3) Better services as Bharti are known for good networking and Tower business

Curse : Jobs of Nigerians goes to Indians. More number of stupid indians in our country

smilyhand:

Blessing : 1) Cut in tariffs 2) Creating price wars as it created in India. 3) Better services as Bharti are known for good networking and Tower business

Curse : Jobs of Nigerians goes to Indians. More number of silly indians in our country

LWKMD

@Smilyhand.

Hmmm. But the so called tariff cut is yet to kick in. Maybe it will come in the future. In the meantime, the Indians can have Nigerians' jobs. May God help us in this country.