Business a.m
In a historic first, the Nigerian telecommunications company MainOne has landed its submarine internet cable in Akwa Ibom, outside of the traditional landing site of Lagos.
MainOne’s statement on the landing of its cable in Akwa Ibom highlighted the significant impact it will have on the South-South, South-East, and North-Central regions of Nigeria. According to the company, improved broadband connectivity will drive economic development in these regions, as it will increase access to information, resources, and opportunities. MainOne also noted that it will help improve the efficiency of businesses and institutions in these regions, making them more competitive on a global scale. At 45,000 kilometres long, the cable will interconnect Europe, Asia, and Africa.
MainOne further highlighted the role of the cable in accelerating the deployment of 4G and 5G networks, as well as fixed broadband connectivity, noting that the high-capacity cable will enable internet service providers to offer high-speed, reliable, and affordable internet services to end-users.
Abayomi Adebanjo, Regional Business Head of MainOne, an Equinix Company, explained that the reason for landing the cable in Akwa Ibom, a coastal state outside of Lagos, is to provide broadband internet capacity to underserved and unserved markets in Nigeria.
Adebanjo stated that by bringing the cable to Akwa Ibom, MainOne is democratising broadband as well as providing robust connectivity and technological advancements, which will empower businesses, educational institutions, healthcare facilities, and other sectors to thrive in the digital age as well as achieve their potential.
“Digital infrastructure stands as the integral backbone for a thriving digital economy, and the unveiling of this submarine fibre optic cable, spanning 45,000km in length, with a design capacity of up to 180Tbp interconnecting Akwa-Ibom and the South-South Region to Europe, Asia and other parts of Africa, signifies the creation of a limitless gateway that will bridge the digital divide by democratising access to millions of people in both underserved and unserved areas of Nigeria,” he said.
In response to the submarine cable landing, Governor Umo Eno of Akwa Ibom state expressed his excitement and appreciation for the project, calling it a “monumental project” that would put the state on the map in terms of ICT innovation. Eno stated that the project will boost the state’s technology drive and will be an important part of the ARISE agenda of his administration. He also called on the youth of Akwa Ibom to take advantage of the infrastructure and use it to explore their potential in the field of information and communication technology.
Governor Eno assured MainOne of the state’s full support, promising to create an enabling environment for the company to operate in the state.
