IHS Nigeria, part of the IHS
Holding Limited (IHS Towers) group, one of the largest independent owners,
operators, and developers of shared communications infrastructure in the world
by tower count, has completed rollout of more than 10,000 kilometers of optic fiber
cables (OFC) across Nigeria’s 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT)
through its subsidiary, Global Independent Connect Limited (GICL). This is an
important milestone that serves to support the Federal Government’s National
Broadband Plan targeting 70 per cent broadband penetration in Nigeria by 2025.
More broadly, IHS Nigeria
continues to deploy fiber-to-the-tower (FTTT) to provide increased transmission
capacity to help improve the performance of fiber access networks and
introduction of next-generation technologies, such as 5G services.
By connecting towers, IHS Nigeria
is helping bring fiber infrastructure to core metropolitan areas and support
the delivery of digital services to homes, corporates, and public institutions
in partnership with its customers.
In addition to GICL’s fiber optic
network, IHS Nigeria has also implemented mobile network coverage in over 580
previously unconnected rural communities in Nigeria through its rural telephony
program. By helping deliver voice and data services to these communities, IHS
Nigeria is working to meet MNO’s rollout targets and support the Federal
Government’s digital inclusion agenda.
GICL Vice President, Kazeem
Oladepo, said dearth of metropolitan and long-haul cable networks has continued
to impede communications in the country.
He said: “Limited metropolitan
and long-haul fiber optic networks continue to be an obstacle to the
improvement of existing communication services, and the introduction of
emerging technologies and digital services in Nigeria. Our approach to fiber
optic cable deployment concentrates on implementing networks on an open access,
shared infrastructure basis, providing robust and scalable fiber pairs and
alternate ducts to ensure multiple operators can utilize the infrastructure.
“Through collaborations with
multiple stakeholders, including our customers, state and federal agencies, we
have achieved a significant volume of fiber optic cable network delivery in
under three years. We are committed to supporting the Federal Government's
digital economy objectives, and this milestone demonstrates the possibilities
of accelerated critical infrastructure roll-out when key stakeholders align
their objectives.”
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