Comium’s story

Since it was established in 1994, Comium Group has witnessed an evolution, growing into a telecoms group spanning four continents with operations in a number of countries, from Cote d’Ivoire to Lebanon, France, Brazil and the US.

Founded and chaired by Nizar Dalloul, Comium has honed its know-how and expertise through the years, allowing it to manage and operate GSM networks in four West African countries while offering Data and VoIP services in the Middle East, Europe, Africa, and the Americas. Operating in Africa for over half a decade, Comium has served nearly two and a half million customers and has become a staple and an integral part of African communities.

The company seeks to leverage the powers of communication in bringing people closer together and in helping Africa capitalise on its vast resources and reservoir of human capital.

“Comium is investing in Africa, not only in the networks, but more importantly in the communities and people through programmes that entail training, transfer of knowledge, and opening up these markets to new possibilities,” comments Dalloul.

Comium currently employs more than 500 highly skilled African nationals in its operations, all working as part of one team and towards the fulfilment of Comium’s vision and business objectives.

Moreover, Comium’s commitment to Africa is evident in its investment in innovation. Indeed, the company has a proud history in being the first to introduce innovative products and services, always striving to address its customers’ needs and expectations. For example, in The Gambia, Comium’s network coverage was built to cover the entire territory from the first day of operations in an effort to fill an important gap in terms of network reach in this market.

Such a customer-centric approach finds its roots in the company’s corporate values and its mission to, “constantly develop its human communications expertise to deliver valuable and reliable services, beyond expectation, that benefit and enhance quality of life of its customers”.

In fact, by remaining at the forefront of the latest technologies, Comium has become known for setting new trends and introducing innovative products and services. Comium was the first operator in Cote d’Ivoire to introduce voice SMS, a service highly relevant in a market where people rely on such innovative services to stay in touch and do business on a daily basis. In February 2009, Dalloul was awarded “Les Bâtisseurs de l’Economie” prize as a tribute to the company’s contribution to social and economic development in Cote d’Ivoire.

Comium was also the first to launch MMS and GPRS services in The Gambia, while in Sierra Leone it led the introduction of e-vouchers and the “Friends & Family” feature that allows Leoneans to stay in touch with their loved ones at all times. In Liberia, Comium pioneered the launch of roaming services and was first-to-market with caller ring back tone and voice SMS. In January 2009, Comium Liberia was named “GSM operator of the year” by one of the leading newspapers in the country. The award comes as recognition to Comium for providing unmatched customer care and innovative services throughout the years to a population that has embraced Comium and its corporate values.

Comium’s commitment to innovation extends to the realm of customer support, a core element of the company’s strategic objectives, whereby Comium has always sought to offer its customers an unrivalled level of support, which has made it a preferred partner for their communication needs.

Comium’s commitment to Africa is similarly evident in its definite understanding of the social values, culture, and heritage of each country in which it operates, as well as its dedication to foster genuine affinities with its customers and partners. This is clearly demonstrated in the company’s introduction of locally flavoured brands, such as with “Koz” in Cote d’Ivoire, which translates into “talk” in the local colloquial language or “Nakam” in The Gambia, which boasts a culturally and linguistically relevant identity. Comium’s commitment to Africa goes hand in hand with the company’s dedication to corporate social responsibility, which is at the core of Comium’s values and modus operandi, as the company strives to enhance the social, cultural, and economic well-being of the communities it serves. Comium is actively engaged in educational, environmental, cultural, and welfare initiatives throughout the continent. Examples of these range from a children vaccination campaign in Cote d’Ivoire to fight meningitis and typhoid, to organising a mega-concert in Abidjan that brought together 100,000 cheering fans to celebrate the country’s musical legacy, as well as the sponsoring of an entertainment event to 300 orphan children affected with HIV.

Comium’s long-term commitment to Africa is best seen in the capital investment programme initiated by the company, which saw it invest in excess of US$200 million since it first launched operations on the continent back in 2004. In addition to operating GSM networks in Sierra Leone, Liberia, The Gambia, and Cote d’Ivoire, and as part of its strategy of offering customers integrated telecommunications solutions, Comium is introducing WiMAX services across East and West Africa. The company has been granted more than nine WiMAX licences, including in Lebanon, Cote d’Ivoire, Sierra Leone, Liberia, The Gambia, Democratic Republic of Congo, Burundi, Rwanda and Zambia, with efforts underway for further expansion.

Nizar Dalloul is looking at establishing an African communications network that utilises a number of different access technologies
www.nizardalloul.com

The WiMAX technology will allow everyone to access the Internet on the move, offering tailor-made solutions that provide access to a world of information and entertainment and allows them to overcome everyday difficulties in work and their free time, making their daily work, play and communication easy and fun.

To render that technology more accessible to all segments of society, Comium’s WiMAX customers will be in control of their products and services, choosing the most affordable and interesting packages to suit them. By providing the tools and resources to read news, research, play games, access their email, connect with friends and family, amongst other applications, Comium’s WiMAX services will strive to make Africans’ lives easier and even more lively.

Comium’s vision for Africa is driven by the unlimited potential that the continent has to offer, with the company aggressively expanding its operation there and seeking new licences across the continent. With tangible success stories behind it, Comium believes that success is to be built on and shared with its partners, the African people, and not to be sold. This is how Comium celebrates its success.

“Comium’s aim is not to stop at its achievements, but to continue to fulfil the needs of people around the world for communications by working hand-inhand with its customers, partners, and investors,” comments Dalloul. “With passion, dedication, and ambition, the sky is the limit when it comes to what Comium Group has to offer.”