The federal government has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), with West Indian Ocean Cable Company (WIOCC) to connect three million Nigerian homes with internet facilities and services.
The Minister of Communications, Innovations and Digital Economy, Dr. Bosun Tijani, signed on behalf of the government, while Mr Darren Bedford, WIOCC’s Group Chief Business Development Officer signed for his company.
The MoU which was signed at the Minister’s office in Abuja would ensure the connectivity of fibre optic cables to Nigerian homes, schools, hospitals and public offices to power internet services.
The project would cost WIOCC about 10 million dollars, while it would also provide opportunities for training of Nigerians and manufacturing of assessories, such as batteries locally.
Speaking with reporters at the event, the Minister said internet connectivity across Nigerian homes and offices would in a shortwhile crash the prices of data, calls and SMS, as Nigerians would have alternative platforms for internet connections across the country besides their phones.
Dr Tijani said the development was an integral part of the steps taken by the present administration to ensure that Nigeria attained the status of one trillion dollars economy within the next few years as government and the private sector invest in digital infrastructures aggressively.
The Minister said the project when delivered would allow Nigerians have a minimum connectivity of 25mbp at homes of downloads especially in cities, while people in rural areas would have a minimum of 10mbp downloads in their homes.
Tijani said: “This is a company that is already investing in Nigeria significantly. They obviously started through the submarine cable investment that they’ve made. But I think beyond that is the fact that they’re bringing something to the country that is long overdue for our people, which is fiber to home.
“So our goal is to ensure that this will become mainstream, that it’s not only just for a few homes in highbrow estates or places like in certain part of Lagos. And they’re committing to connecting about 3 million homes in the next couple of years.”
In his remarks, Mr Darren Bedford, the Group Chief Development Officer for WIOCC, said the MOU signed with the Federal Government is expected to take internet direct to homes, hospitals and schools among others.
He said the investments would cost his company about 10 million dollars at the initial stage as more states, local governments and institutions would be covered.
Source; (TheNation)
