Daily Independent (Lagos)
Aaron Ukodie
16 September 2009
Lagos — A NIGERIAN firm, Phase3, the provider of transmission and IP services using the aerial fibre optic transmission, has signed an agreement with the Republic of Benin to extend fibre optic cable network across West Africa.
The deal gives Phase 3 an exclusive right of way Concession Agreement with the CommunautÈ Electrique du Benin (CEB), the authority responsible for the operation of High Voltage Power lines in both Benin and Togo Republics.
The Director General of CEB, Djibril Salifou, and Chief Executive Officer of Phase3 Telecom, Stanley Jegede, both signed the deal in Cotonou, Benin Republic.
With the development, Phase3's network now becomes the longest regional terrestrial fibre network linking Nigeria to the Republic of Benin and Togo, with potential for connections to Ghana and Burkina Faso from Togo. By this development, Phase3 becomes the first regional fibre optic cable network provider in West Africa to operate national fibre optic cable backbone interconnecting six\West African countries.
Already, Phase3 has commenced the expansion of the aerial national infrastructure in the two countries to extend their current combined length of fibre from 600km to over 3,000km within next few months. This infrastructure targets existing regional telecommunication service providers currently operating in these countries, as well as the transmission needs of operators who plan to interconnect with operators in Togo and Benin. This also positions Phase3 as the infrastructure provider for the distribution of broadband services to various locations in these countries.
Phase3's aerial infrastructure in Nigeria is deployed on the 330kV and 132kV high voltage lines, whilst aerial infrastructure in Togo and Benin are deployed on 161kV high voltage lines. The regional network will be equipped with state-of-the-art 10G DWDM systems, providing multi services platform for all carriers for layer 1 and layer 2 operations.
This great feat is a major step in achieving the implementation of the Intelcom II programme of ECOWAS, which aims at developing, modernising, coordinating and standardising the telecommunication network of member states and a fulfilment to the partnership between ECOWAS and Phase3.
The partnership between the two organisations is geared towards the provision of cross border telecommunication infrastructure in ECOWAS member states to drive down high cost of telecommunication services to consumers.
Commenting on the development, Chief Executive Officer, Phase3 Telecom, Jegede, said the development was a major milestone for the ECOWAS region, especially in terms of telecommunications infrastructure. He added that with this project, the region should begin to realise the much-desired economic integration and progress.
He said: "We are elated at the prospect that the extension of our aerial optic fibre cable would bring to the West African region. Connectivity remains one of the region's greatest needs and with what we are doing with the aerial optic fibre cable; this problem should be a thing of the past. Phase3 is indeed bringing to reality the regional vision to distribute IP capacities across the West African region with its unique Aerial network."
According to the CEO, the infrastructure will further enhance redundancy on the transmission cable network, from which all Telecommunication Operators and Internet Service Providers in the region can immediately benefit.
Jegede said Phase3 is also placed at the forefront of achieving the 'Connect Africa' crusade of the ITU. This is an initiative of the International Telecommunications Union (ITU), which aims at bridging the major gaps in information and communication technology (ICT) infrastructure across the African region, with a bid to enhancing affordable connectivity, and improving provision of telecommunications applications and services to stimulate economic growth, employment and development throughout Africa
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