Modupe Gbadeyanka
Leading data centre solutions provider, MainOne, has promised to make investments worth over N25 billion in the next 2-3 years for the development of critical fibre optic infrastructure to enable broadband services across Lagos State.
This pledge was made on Tuesday by the Chief Executive Officer of MainOne, Ms Funke Opeke, at a campaign initiative tagged Digital Lagos: Broadband for All.
The company explained that the aim of the campaign is to enable the digital transformation of Lagos State through deployment of ubiquitous broadband infrastructure across the metropolis.
According to her, the ambition was inspired by the vision of Lagos Governor-elect, Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu, who noted presciently that “Technology will improve the rule of law, education, ease of doing business and government processes of Lagos.”
She said the company was keen to collaborate with the Lagos State government and all other relevant stakeholders to build Digital Lagos and help citizens from all walks of life realize the benefits of broad, sustainable economic growth, modernized education, health, and other services delivery, and improved quality of life.
“MainOne is pleased to have the opportunity to present its plan for Digital Lagos, a proven path to ubiquitous broadband connectivity. This plan will involve the investment by MainOne of over N25 billion over the next 2-3 years to develop critical fiber optic infrastructure to enable broadband services across Lagos state,” she said.
During the flag off yesterday, Mr Judah Levine, CEO HIP Consult, a Washington DC based, independent, management consulting firm with specialization in ICT in emerging markets, touched on the research done for Digital Lagos, its implementation plans and subsequent impact in Lagos State.
Ms Opeke said MainOne has pioneered investments in critical internet-enabling infrastructure across West Africa, Nigeria, and Lagos.
To date, the company has invested over N120 billion funded by leading African banks and has proven its capabilities in expanding and densifying localized fibre networks in neighbouring Ogun and Edo States by deploying almost 1,000kms of fibre in partnership with Facebook to expand broadband access and connect government institutions and other areas of interest.
She said, as the licenced InfraCo for Lagos zone, the resulting network to be built by MainOne would provide essential connectivity to critical State institutions, cover over 300 government agencies, up to 10,000 State CCTV locations, Telecom operators and ISPs, public Wi-Fi hotspots, Smart City components / IOT devices, in addition to Enterprises.
In Lagos, MainOne’s existing 700-kilometer network already covers major population centres and Yaba, where it provides connectivity for the majority of the Yabacon ecosystem and has connected startups like Andela, ccHub, Paga, and Flutterwave and others that have raised up to $500 million Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in Nigeria.
