Nov 22 2007
NIGERIA's Second National Telecom Operator, (SNO) Globacom yesterday commissioned first phase of a $700 million (about N83 billion) nationwide fibre optic project in Minna, Niger state, bring it closer to the vision of becoming 'Africa's leading telecommunications carrier' to a higher level.
The Globacom fibre cable network covers the entire Lagos-Abeokuta-Ibadan route, Lagos-Ijebuode-Ore-Benin and Abuja-Kaduna-Zaria-Kano routes. Upon completion of the first phase, the network will span 10,000 km, covering all the major cities in the country, including Benin-Warri-Port Harcourt,
Port-Harcourt-Aba-Umuahia-Owerri, Owerri-Onitsha-Enugu, Enugu-Oturkpo-Makurdi, Markudi-Lafia-Abuja and Ibadan-Ilorin-Jebba-Mokwa-Bida-Minna-Abuja routes.
The Minna-Abuja route of the fibre backbone which was launched Thursday carries all the traffic for Niger, Kebbi and Sokoto states and adjoining cities and communities.
Governor Mu'azu Babangida Aliyu, of Niger state who commissioned the project described it as a "new dawn in telecommunication services in Niger and neighbouring states", noting that the facility would boost government and private businesses in the region.
The governor stated that only the best of telecommunication infrastructure would enable Nigeria catch up with the rest of the world in the match towards the digital age, describing the Glo Optic Fibre project as a "step in the right direction". "I recall that Glo pioneered per second billing, made GSM affordable and introduced a number of value added services such as multimedia messaging and Blackberry. Glo has indeed made us proud as Nigerians," Governor Aliyu said.
Mohammed Jameel, Globacom Ltd, Chief Operating Officer, (COO) said the optic fibre backbone had the ability to transmit data at higher transmission rates with lower losses as well as the ability to do this at lower error rates. He disclosed that the network would boost communication in Nigeria as it would eliminate the problems associated with satellite and microwave transmission mediums. "At present, service providers rely on satellite based operators for their bandwidth requirements. These are dependent on weather and therefore not completely reliable.