The French Telecoms company, Orange and
leading West African Connectivity; and Data Centre services provider,
Main One have signed an MoU to boost Internet access in francophone
countries in the West Africa sub-region.
leading West African Connectivity; and Data Centre services provider,
Main One have signed an MoU to boost Internet access in francophone
countries in the West Africa sub-region.
The Chief Executive Officer of MainOne, Funke Opeke, said in Abuja that the agreement was recently signed in France.
The partnership deal according Opeke
would see Orange co-invest in two new cable landing stations in Dakar,
Senegal and Abidjan, Cote D’Ivoire while MainOne would provide
additional capacity via its 7000km cable system from Europe
to Africa with landing stations in Nigeria, Ghana and Portugal.
would see Orange co-invest in two new cable landing stations in Dakar,
Senegal and Abidjan, Cote D’Ivoire while MainOne would provide
additional capacity via its 7000km cable system from Europe
to Africa with landing stations in Nigeria, Ghana and Portugal.
This according to the statement would reinforce the position of both companies in the African telecommunications ecosystem.
It added that with the new cable
connection, several countries in West Africa would benefit from better
connectivity, lower prices and access to new services.
connection, several countries in West Africa would benefit from better
connectivity, lower prices and access to new services.
It added Orange would benefit from
multiple Terabits per second of additional bandwidth for the development
of fixed and mobile data in Africa to meet the increasing demands for
internet access via 3G and 4G network.
multiple Terabits per second of additional bandwidth for the development
of fixed and mobile data in Africa to meet the increasing demands for
internet access via 3G and 4G network.
“More specifically, this cable extension
is an opportunity to improve connectivity and offer a broader range of
services for both Orange Côte d’Ivoire & Senegal’s Sonatel.
is an opportunity to improve connectivity and offer a broader range of
services for both Orange Côte d’Ivoire & Senegal’s Sonatel.
“In addition, neighboring countries of Burkina Faso, Mali and Mauritania will benefit from enhanced capacity.”
The statement quoted Opeke as saying said that the partnership underscored the company’s vision for a better connected region.
“MainOne continues to lead the digital
transformation of our sub-region by investing in affordable connectivity
to drive economic development.
transformation of our sub-region by investing in affordable connectivity
to drive economic development.
“Our objective is to bridge the digital divide between and within West Africa and the rest of the world.
“We are committed to deepening broadband penetration across West Africa.
“We believe our investments in
technologically advanced subsea infrastructure will continue to
liberalize the international bandwidth market.
technologically advanced subsea infrastructure will continue to
liberalize the international bandwidth market.
“It will further support Orange and other
wholesale customers, and ultimately result in improved digital services
in the region,” Opeke said.
wholesale customers, and ultimately result in improved digital services
in the region,” Opeke said.
It also quoted the Chief Executive
Officer of Orange Middle East and Africa, Alioune Ndiaye as saying that
the development of new digital services in Africa had fostered huge
social and economic developments over the past few
years.
Officer of Orange Middle East and Africa, Alioune Ndiaye as saying that
the development of new digital services in Africa had fostered huge
social and economic developments over the past few
years.
“As barriers to access continue to fall
with improved networks and more affordable equipment, Orange, as part of
its multi – service strategy, is seeking to position itself as an
important partner in the continent’s digital transformation.
with improved networks and more affordable equipment, Orange, as part of
its multi – service strategy, is seeking to position itself as an
important partner in the continent’s digital transformation.
Through this new partnership, Orange is
set to secure and improve direct access to high – speed broadband
services in two of its most important countries, Senegal and the Côte
d’Ivoire.”
set to secure and improve direct access to high – speed broadband
services in two of its most important countries, Senegal and the Côte
d’Ivoire.”
The MainOne Submarine Cable System links West Africa with Europe, bringing ultra-fast broadband in the region.
It runs from Seixal in Portugal through
Accra in Ghana to Lagos in Nigeria, with capacity to land branches in
Morocco, Canary Islands, Senegal, and Cote D’Ivoire.
Accra in Ghana to Lagos in Nigeria, with capacity to land branches in
Morocco, Canary Islands, Senegal, and Cote D’Ivoire.
The cable system, which now has an
upgradable capacity of over 10 TBPS, first went live in July 2010,
becoming the first private subsea cable to bring open-access, broadband
capacity to West Africa.
upgradable capacity of over 10 TBPS, first went live in July 2010,
becoming the first private subsea cable to bring open-access, broadband
capacity to West Africa.
