Through Naij.com and Opera Software, one million subscribers of the MTN mobile network in Nigeria are eligible for a day of free Internet usage
Naij.com is a news, jobs and entertainment portal in Nigeria and is sponsoring the initiative with Opera, using the software company’s web pass that will provide 10 MB data bundles to MTN subscribers. The free data bundle to access the Internet, using the Opera Mini browser, will be valid for 48 hours and will have some restrictions on downloading and video streaming.
While mobile penetration is expanding rapidly in Nigeria, mobile data usage is still low at below 40 per cent. This initiative is aiming to give non-mobile data users a sample of mobile Internet and how it can benefit them, hoping to convert at least some of them into regular users. Referring to concerns of first-time mobile data users, Tsola Barrow of MTN Business said, “Opera’s Sponsored Web Pass helps take the fear out of using mobile internet for the first time.”
Richard Monday, vice-president for Africa at Opera Software, said, “Connecting more people, wherever they are and helping them to do more with their data will always be in the forefront of what we do at Opera. Partnerships like this are key to achieving our goals.” Goke Olaegbe, country group head at Naij.com, added, “As a company committed to providing engaging online content for Nigerians, we’re thrilled to also provide them with a day of mobile Internet.”
The initiative started on 17 June and will go on till all the free web passes run out. Forty thousand passes are being given out everyday and are available at webpass.opera.com using the Opera Mini browser on the MTN network.
