US, Main One sign pact on Lagos-Port Harcourt fibre extension

The grant which was signed by the U.S. Consul General Jeffrey Hawkins at his residence on behalf of USTDA with the Main One Chief Executive Officer, Funke Opeke, will enable the company to evaluate the technical and financial feasibility of extending approximately 300 miles of undersea fiber optic cabling and supporting infrastructure between two of […]

The grant which was signed by the U.S. Consul General Jeffrey Hawkins at his residence on behalf of USTDA with the Main One Chief Executive Officer, Funke Opeke, will enable the company to evaluate the technical and financial feasibility of extending approximately 300 miles of undersea fiber optic cabling and supporting infrastructure between two of Nigeria’s most important commercial centres.
The new investmen,t according to Main One, will connect Port Harcourt to its existing cable system, which spans 4,500 miles and provides capacity for international and local internet connectivity.
Opeke explained that the feasibility study will include an assessment of cable installation techniques and a recommendation for the cable route, an assessment of potential long-term maintenance hazards to the cable, and a detailed demand assessment for the extension.
She noted that access to the cable system at Port Harcourt and its environs will reduce the costs of bandwidth and enable the growth of businesses and consumers using telecom services in the whole of Niger Delta region.
Opeke said “We are appreciative to the USTDA for this important grant aimed at furthering the development of broadband services and economic development in the oil-producing Niger Delta region”.
Paul Marin, the USTDA Regional Director for sub-Saharan Africa, who was represented by the U.S Consul General, Jeffrey Hawkins said, “This project is an important example of Main One’s commitment to bring high-speed broadband access to Africa. We are proud to be supporting Main One in their efforts to provide the infrastructure for broad-based economic growth in Nigeria.”
The opportunity to conduct the USTDA-funded feasibility study will be competed on the Federal Business Opportunities (FBO) website. A link to the FBO announcement will be posted to USTDA’s website at www.ustda.gov. Interested U.S. firms should submit proposals according to the instructions in the FBO announcement.