The use of internet service providers by cybercafÃ?s in Nigeria: an update

Purpose – This paper sets out to investigate cybercafÃ?s' change of internet service providers (ISPs) in Nigeria. Design/methodology/approach – Employs a survey design using questionnaires to collect data from 89 cybercafÃ? entrepreneurs/managers in four states of Nigeria (Delta, Edo, Lagos, and Ogun), and analyses the data using frequency counts and percentages. Findings – The findings reveal that most cybercafÃ?s were established between 2002 and 2003. The majority of the cybercafÃ?s have ten PCs connected to the net, while a greater number of them are connected to the net via wireless means. A good number of cybercafÃ?s have changed ISPs once. The lack of or poor technical support and frequent loss of contact/signals with the ISP were two of the reasons reported for cybercafÃ?s changing their ISP. CybercafÃ?s would like ISPs to increase their speed of transmission, etc., to serve them better. It is recommended that cybercafÃ?s should obtain adequate information before engaging ISPs, and that ISPs should conduct periodic customer assessment of their service in order to improve on their services. Originality/value – This research and its findings will assist Nigerian (and other) ISPs to improve their services to their clients. Using the results of this study, cybercafÃ?s and other ISP clients will know what to take into consideration before signing up with any ISP.