Nikhil Shah- Multilinkworld

Multi-Links is a private limited liability company incorporated in Nigeria in 1994 to provide telecommunication services. On 6th November 2006, the Sector Regulator, the Nigerian Communications Commission (“NCC”) issued Multi-Links a Unified Access Service Licence (“UASL”) with an initial 10 years validity with an option to renew for a further 5 years and enabling it further expand its services and provide a wide ranging bouquet of services covering Digital mobile & fixed telephony, ISP, VAS and payphone, Full international gateway and National long distance services In May 2007, Telkom South Africa, a large African integrated communications company extended its footprint to West Africa through the acquisition of a 75% majority stake in Multi-Links. Telkom increased its ownership interest in Multi-Links to 100% in January 2009, extending its total acquisition costs to $400 million. In August 2011, HIP Oils, an affiliate of Helios Towers Nigeria entered into a binding agreement with Multi-Links’ previous shareholders, Telkom South Africa (“Telkom”) to acquire 100% of the equity interest in Multi-Links from Telkom. This transaction and change in the shareholding of Multi-Links was concluded on 3rd October 2011. Multi-Links’ current shareholder is HIP Oils, an affiliate of Helios Towers Nigeria. BUSINESS UNITS The Multi-Links business is primarily comprised of: A Mobile Business utilizing CDMA technology with more than 800,000 subscribers. A fibre optic network offering national data transmission capacity and limited metro and last mile connectivity. Significant investment including total capital investment in excess of $1 billion has been made into Multi-Links’ fibre optic network, increasing the footprint of the network more than six fold over the past 4 years. MULTI-LINKS’ OPTICAL FIBRE CABLE TRANSMISSION NETWORK Multi-Links constructed its terrestrial fibre optic network connecting 21 of Nigeria’s 36 states, as well as the Federal Capital Territory at a cost of over $150 million. Multi-Links’ terrestrial fibre optic network is one of only four active national networks and the only open access and independent national fibre optic transmission network in Nigeria. Multi-Links’ terrestrial fibre optic network spanning 8,232 kilometres provides access to circa 160 tower sites and covers several major cities in Nigeria. Of the 8,232 kilometres network, 5,417 kilometres is owned by Multi-Links while 2,815 kilometres is accessed via swap arrangements with leading Nigerian telecommunications operators. A further 9,000 kilometres of STM-1 equivalent bandwidth has been swapped with another operator to provide additional redundancy in case of dual failures on owned infrastructure. Critically, the fibre network is accurately mapped and well maintained. Multi-Links’ terrestrial fibre optic network includes a 670 kilometres metro network concentrated in Lagos that provides critical and much needed access to large enterprise customers and connectivity to fibre swap partners. Multi-Links’ terrestrial fibre optic network has last mile capabilities via microwave transmission. High-Speed Data: Release 0 supports bi-directional peak data rates of up to 153 kbps and an average of 60-100 kbps in commercial networks in a 1.25 MHz channel. Release 1 can deliver peak data rates of up to 307 kbps. MULTI-LINKS’ SERVICES Multi-Links’ products and services being provided on voice and data platforms include retail and wholesale services to both end users and operators/service providers. The Company is currently undergoing rebuilding for greater participation in Nigeria’s telecommunications market. To support this rebuilding strategy, our tariffs have been further simplified to enable us deliver more value to our customers and our network is currently being optimized to serve our customer base better. Multi-Links’ Business Plan reflects a focus on its profitable turnaround strategy, by selective penetration and targeting of medium to high-end customer acquisition and retention. MULTI-LINKS’ CORE BRAND VALUES Multi-Links subsists on the core brand values of its operations namely our can-do-spirit, pride and passion about and in what we do through promotion of innovation, the value we deliver to our customers and Nigerians and giving back to our customers and Nigerians, our key partners.