Abuja — The Dangote Group has rolled out fibre optic transmission network on power lines belonging to the Transmission Company of Nigeria (the transmission arm of Power Holding Company of Nigeria). When completed, the facility is expected to improve the quality of GSM services in Nigeria.

PHCN had about three years ago concessioned its dormant capacity on power lines across the country to two companies - Phase3 Telecoms and Alheri Engineering Limited (a member of the Dangote Group) - for commercial roll out of optic fibre transmission network.

At a ceremony in Benin recently, President of the Dangote Group, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, said Alheri Engineering had decided to collaborate with Phase3 Telecoms to build a 1,4000 kilometre fibre optic network across the country.

The network is expected to cover Edo, Plateau, Borno, Enugu, Delta, Imo, Akwa Ibom, Cross River, Bauchi, Abia and Anambra states, while Phase3 network would covers Lagos, Oyo, Kano , Kaduna , Abuja , Kwara, Katsina, Kogi, and Niger States.

According to Dangote, when completed the capacity of the two companies would be the largest fibre optic network in Nigeria and would provide unprecedented capacity, security, reach and flexibility to network providers in Nigeria.

"Our optic fibre network which connects to the Phase3 Telecoms fibre optic network here in Benin and at two other locations (Akwanga and Jos) will provide the infrastructure that will be the bedrock for a developed information society in Nigeria", Dangote said.

Dangote disclosed that the subscriptions to mobile telephony and broadband services in Nigeria are the highest in Africa and are increasing on a daily basis, adding that Nigeria need reliable and affordable infrastructure to transmit these payloads of capacity. "This is where fibre optics technology comes in as the answer".

Continuing, he said "Alheri Engineering and Phase3 Telecoms which currently operate over 4000km of fibre optic cables on the PHCN power lines in the western half of Nigeria are collaborating to jointly create 'one network' of aerially deployed fibre optic cables on the PHCN power lines".

The businessman disclosed that the mode of deployment would ensure that the fibre cables are free from vandalism and from common damage caused by contractors laying new underground cables.

"Our infrastructure has infinite backbone capacity with high redundancy that gives telecom operators, financial institutions, industry players government ministries and parastatals and corporate bodies a unique opportunity to build and offer reliable services on the most reliable electronic bridge.

"The neutrality of our network guarantees equal access to every company. This will ensure stability of transmission and will promote the private, public sector collaboration through use of this crucial infrastructure", he disclosed.

The Managing Director of Phase3 Telecom, Mr. Stanley Jegede, said with the collaboration, telecom operators in Nigeria would experience high connectivity across the country. "We are extremely delighted to be part of this great effort," Jegede stated.

The Chief Executive Officer of Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Engr Ernest Ndukwe said: "Whenever there is a new rollout, we get excited at NCC because consumers get the opportunity of more choice. There is some measure of reliability that comes with transmission along power lines. People do not climb power poles to cut cable because they stand the risk of being electrocuted."

Ndukwe who challenged the two companies to cover the entire country within a short period of time, also urged them to look beyond Nigeria to be able to provide connectivity in the African region along power lines on the continent.

Minister of Information and Communications, Prof. Dora Akunyili, however, said the fibre optic network would boost e-learning, telemedicine and e-government services of the nation which are part of President Umar Yar'Adua's 7-Point Agenda.

Akunyili who was represented by the Minister of State for Information and Communications, Alhaji Ikra Bilbris, said the use of fibre optic cable for telecom transmission would significantly improve the quality of service delivered by GSM operators.

She said, "The Federal Government has set as one of its main objectives, the development of a comprehensive strategy that would allow the country to re-brand and reposition itself."

"Responsible dissemination of information and highly efficient communication networks are critical to national development."

Executive Vice Chairman, PHCN, Mr. Bello Suleiman, said transmission of telecom traffic through power lines provides a cost effective and efficient telecommunications infrastructure.

"Our decision to commercialise part of the excess capacity of this valuable infrastructure was borne out of the desire to ensure optimal utilisation of existing and proposed fibre optic cable facilities."

He added that the development would not only help PHCN solve its communications problems but also bring telecommunications services nearer to the entire Nigerian citizenry.