Title: Status and impact of strategic technology alliances among telecommunications firms in Nigeria

Authors: Blessing Funke Ajao; Timothy Oyebisi; Helen Aderemi; Oluseye Jegede

Addresses: National Centre for Technology Management, Obafemi Awolowo University Ile-Ife, Nigeria ' African Institute for Science Policy and Innovation, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Nigeria ' Department of Management and Accounting, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Nigeria ' National Centre for Technology Management, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Nigeria

Abstract: This paper examined strategic technology alliance among telecommunications service providers in Nigeria and the benefits accrued to service providers and subscribers from the alliances. This was with a view to providing appropriate recommendation to improving the services rendered to subscribers. Primary data were collected from four GSM network operators, two CDMA network operators and three telecommunications service vendors in Nigeria. Findings revealed the existence of strategic technology alliances such as licensing, joint venture, turnkey, venture capital, franchising, merger and acquisition. Benefits derived from the strategic alliances in decreasing order were improved network coverage, decrease in call drops, decrease in signal down time and decrease in tariff of data and voice services. Furthermore, the allies enjoyed increased turnover when they engaged in strategic technology alliance. The study concluded that a well-structured strategic technology alliance relationship among telecommunications firms can bring about better services for sustainable development in the country.

Keywords: strategic technology alliances; STA; licensing; global system of mobile; GSM; CDMA; telecommunications service providers; Nigeria; subscribers; strategic alliances; joint ventures; turnkey; venture capital; franchising; mergers and acquisitions; M&A.

DOI: 10.1504/IJBPM.2015.068723

International Journal of Business Performance Management, 2015 Vol.16 No.2/3, pp.339 - 351

Received: 26 Apr 2014
Accepted: 15 Nov 2014

Published online: 10 Apr 2015 *

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