Liberians in the diaspora will now have access to alternative means of remitting money home with the launching of MoMo international money transfer by Lonestar Cell MTN Liberia. With this development, Mobile Money customers in Liberia can receive money from their family and friends anywhere in the world directly to their MoMo accounts, free of charge with the launch of International Remittances. The International Remittances allows customers in Liberia to receive money from their family and friends anywhere in the world directly to their MoMo accounts according to the telecoms firm.
Acting GM of Lonestar Cell MTN Mobile Money Christopher Ssali
Confirming this, the Acting GM of Lonestar Cell MTN Mobile Money Christopher Ssali said that “many Liberians rely on international financial remittances from abroad. Most people endure long lines in packed banking halls to receive the cash sent to them by their loved ones. Now, with MTN MoMo Remittances, they can avoid the stress and the risks by receiving their remittances directly to their Mobile Money accounts.” He added that MTN is growing the MoMo family “so that our customers can enjoy a truly digital financial lifestyle where they can use the money they receive to pay bills, buy goods and pay for services they need with Mobile Money on *156#.”
“We are excited about this because it makes our customers’ lives easier and better and we are supporting the government’s aim for a cashless digital economy. This is our promise to our customers: when it comes to safe, secure and convenient digital payments, with MoMo, we’ve got you.” MTN says that the standard Mobile Money fees will apply if customers cash out the remittance or perform any other MoMo transactions.
Kelechi Deca
Kelechi Deca has over two decades of media experience, he has traveled to over 77 countries reporting on multilateral development institutions, international business, trade, travels, culture, and diplomacy. He is also a petrol head with in-depth knowledge of automobiles and the auto industry
The IT services major ITC Infotech has finalized plans to set up shop in South Africa in what observers described as taking its long-standing association with South Africa to the next level. To this end, the company will soon inaugurate a new global delivery centre in Johannesburg. In this short interview, Vishal Kumar, President and Regional Head at ITC Infotech spoke about their plans including the launch of their 10,000 sq ft facility. Excerpts.
Vishal Kumar, President and Regional Head at ITC Infotech
What inspired the need for ITC Infotech’s delivery centre?
ITC Infotech established its presence in South Africa in 2010, and we have steadily expanded our operations across the region. Over the years, we have witnessed firsthand the evolution of South Africa into a very attractive destination for IT service delivery, both for our clients in the region, as well as our global clients.
South Africa offers a rich & diverse talent pool with the right skills and industry domain knowledge. Couple these encouraging developments with state-of-the-art infrastructure and South Africa’s cultural affinity with global standards, and we have a strong contender in South Africa for efficient IT service delivery.
We are positive that our IT service delivery centre in South Africa will grow and expand into a sustainable destination for ITC Infotech to provide cutting-edge technology solutions & services to clients globally.
What kind of investment is ITC Infotech making in South Africa with the launch of the delivery centre?
We are witnessing a huge uptick for specialized technology services & solutions from our clients in South Africa. This includes Automation, Digital Workplace, End User Computing as a Service (EUCaaS), Automated Application Management Services (AMS) and moving from Monolith to Microservices. We are strengthening our expertise in these cutting-edge technologies with a layer of deep industry domain knowledge, to provide clients with ‘Business-friendly Solutions’.
We are investing in building significantly differentiated value propositions on these pillars. These are areas where we will continue to stay invested in. We are exploring partnership opportunities to nurture niche startups in these areas. We will also continue to invest in our people, to strengthen the skill sets of our people and stay at the very cutting-edge of technology. Additionally, over time, we will continue to expand our presence in Cape Town and Johannesburg, which will bring us even closer to our clients in the region.
What challenges has ITC Infotech faced when launching the delivery centre?
We had to innovate and put in place several digital interventions, in view of the global COVID-19 pandemic. We continue to be guided by our core philosophy of employee centricity & client centricity, as we navigate these challenging times. So, all decisions and actions really stemmed from our commitment to ensuring the health and safety of our employees, while delivering on our commitments to our clients, seamlessly.
In fact, more than challenges, this has been a huge learning experience – right from collaborating virtually to delivering services through our distributed workforce. At ITC Infotech, it’s not just Work From Home (WFH), we practice Secure Work From Home (SWFH). And we have been able to partner more closely with our clients, rallying together from ensuring business continuity to now delivering business resilience and recovery.
What employment opportunities will the delivery centre provide and how many people is ITC Infotech aiming to employ?
Ever since the inception of our operations in South Africa in 2010, we always had sales, marketing and administrative presence, along with a growing team of IT experts. We are now consolidating our presence by setting up a full-fledged service delivery operation, with aggressive plans to double our local workforce in the next 18 months.
The quality of technology talent in South Africa is top-notch. In fact, we are now hiring locally for senior positions, including Project Leads and Programme Managers, in addition to entry & mid-level opportunities for technologists.
Our service delivery centre offers multiple opportunities for the right-skilled talent, in addition to numerous training & learning opportunities for our people to grow continuously. This helps our people move up the technology value chain quite rapidly.
What is ITC Infotech’s role in reskilling young South Africans?
ITC Infotech has been running a very successful campus to corporate programme in South Africa for over 6 years now. Through our Graduate Business Programme, South Africa, a Talent Immersion Programme which provides a holistic learning experience to young graduates, we are building digital leaders of tomorrow.
Our Graduate Business Programme in South Africa is one of the institutional capabilities we are investing in, to create an inclusive and culturally diverse organization. This has also resonated very well with our clients in South Africa.
ITC Infotech’s mantra of creating a future-ready workforce is to ‘Source Locally, Deploy Globally’. And this, in fact, opens a world of possibilities for our people to move laterally across our global organization.
Kelechi Deca
Kelechi Deca has over two decades of media experience, he has traveled to over 77 countries reporting on multilateral development institutions, international business, trade, travels, culture, and diplomacy. He is also a petrol head with in-depth knowledge of automobiles and the auto industry
The need for simple and very affordable communications gadgets that are not hindered by the network challenges of normal GSM systems across Africa has inspired Motorola Solutions to launch a new two-way radio device specially designed for small and medium businesses in Sub Saharan Africa. The MOTOTRBO™ DP540 two-way radio is built for cost-conscious businesses looking to transition to digital technology for reliable and efficient communications.
As demand for digital radio communication rises, small and medium businesses are looking for simple and affordable solutions for their communication needs without the need to compromise on quality. MOTOTRBO™ DP540 is the perfect tool for users in need of an entry-level digital radio, offering ease of use and powerful digital-enabled features. The new device, available through certified Motorola Solutions resellers in Sub-Saharan Africa, is based on the ETSI Digital Mobile Radio (DMR) Standard, proven worldwide in affordable digital systems with low complexity.
“In today’s economy, small and medium businesses are constantly under pressure to deliver more, and deliver fast, all while keeping a conscious mind on reducing costs,” said Laurent Tribout, director of Motorola Solutions indirect sales for Sub-Saharan Africa. “With this in mind, we’ve developed a communication solution that holds all the necessary features in one affordable device”
One of the risks of migrating from analogue to digital technology is the transition period which can potentially interrupt business operations. To make this transition smooth and easy, the MOTOTRBO™ DP540 can operate on both digital and analogue modes. In this way, radio users can operate and communicate on their new MOTOTRBO DP540 radios while on the job, as the business transitions to digital technology.
The compact, ruggedly-engineered device is built to withstand harsh conditions and resist corrosion even in the saltiest environments such as seaports and harbours. It boasts superior audio output and unique features, such as voice announcement customization, allowing users to customize the default voice announcement languages using their own audio files. MOTOTRBO™ DP540 is also built for multi-language working environments, with special audio profiles designed to deliver enhanced audio quality when speaking languages with distinct rolled “R”s such as French or Afrikaans.
As in many mission-critical work areas, healthcare workers rely on two-way radio communication for many of their daily tasks. Whether it’s coordinating patient arrivals, or briefing an ambulance team on the way to a scene. In many circumstances, such as medical staff treating COVID-19 patients, it is not ideal for personnel to be handling their radio devices.
The portfolio of MOTOTRBO devices, including the new DP540 model, is equipped with a Voice-activated Transmit (VOX) feature, which allows users to operate their radio without the need to press the Push-To-Talk (PTT) button. Along with compatible earpieces designed for handsfree operation, healthcare workers and other essential workers can keep their hands free and clean.
Kelechi Deca
Kelechi Deca has over two decades of media experience, he has traveled to over 77 countries reporting on multilateral development institutions, international business, trade, travels, culture, and diplomacy. He is also a petrol head with in-depth knowledge of automobiles and the auto industry
As global ride hailing firm Uber continues efforts at innovating its services in line with shifting market demands and rising competition, the company has launched its first intercity bus service in Egypt. Uber said the Egyptian experiment aims to connect cities with the Uber app in what it terms ongoing efforts to adapt its technology to build a wide range of products that meet the needs of local markets. Ahmed Khalil, General Manager of Uber Egypt said that the company is honoured to witness another global product launch from Egypt, especially following the last few tense months across the country and the world. Egypt is an innovation hub and a fantastic environment for testing new products.
He added that “by leveraging Uber’s technology, the new intercity service will introduce a convenient setting to move users between governorates. As we continue to invest in the Egyptian market, we remain committed to broadening our product range to provide convenient transportation solutions within and across cities.”
The Bus intercity service will launch with roundtrip routes between Cairo and Alexandria, with plans to expand to connect other governorates over the coming months. The service operates seven days a week, with eight journeys per day. For the convenience of frequent travelers, riders can also pre-book their trips through the app. The route provides up to nine pickup and drop off points across Cairo and Alexandria. The service is available on the Uber app under ‘Bus routes’ in the menu bar, or when selecting the trip destination.
As on-trip safety remains a priority, intercity buses will follow Uber’s COVID-19 safety measures, where riders and drivers are required to wear face masks during trips, the maximum seating capacity has been reduced to encourage physical distancing between riders, and sanitizer dispensers have been installed in all the buses.
Kelechi Deca
Kelechi Deca has over two decades of media experience, he has traveled to over 77 countries reporting on multilateral development institutions, international business, trade, travels, culture, and diplomacy. He is also a petrol head with in-depth knowledge of automobiles and the auto industry
To forestall the rate of fraudulent activities within the nation’s real estate sector and also to help create reliable database for the industry, a tech innovation blockchain startup, HouseAfrica.io focusing on real estate, has signed a partnership agreement with Nigeria Mortgage Refinance Company (NMRC), to deploy a digital land or property title authentication and verification system called Propvat.com. The system will make it possible for individuals and organizations – including Financial Institutions – to authenticate, validate or confirm the value of any Property or Land across Nigeria and ultimately improve the amount of mortgage financing transactions in Nigeria.
Mr. Nnamdi Uba, co-founder and CEO of HouseAfrica.io
The NMRC made this known during the just concluded Virtual Abuja International Housing Show. According to Taofeeq Olatinwo, head of ICT and Business Process Operations at NMRC, “NMRC is delighted to partner with HouseAfrica in solving the land titling issues to strengthen the housing market in Nigeria.” Reacting to the partnership, co-founder and CEO of HouseAfrica.io Mr. Nnamdi Uba, noted that the partnership will unlock a lot of opportunities for Nigerians.
The partnership he added will help to unlock trapped assets and capital in residential real estate valued at over $300 billion to $900 billion and then wealth creation through increased access to credit and growth in mortgage penetration by as much as 3 percent to 5 percent of GDP over a 5-10-year period (subject to increased adoption and user rates). On the overall significance of the partnership between NMRC and HouseAfrica.io, the Chief Operating Officer of HouseAfrica.io Ndifreke Ikpoku, pointed out that the partnership is another milestone for us, the Nigerian real estate space and blockchain family, adding that with the quality of highly trained professionals comprising of Lawyers and Estate Valuers on the portal at Propvat.com.
Kelechi Deca has over two decades of media experience, he has traveled to over 77 countries reporting on multilateral development institutions, international business, trade, travels, culture, and diplomacy. He is also a petrol head with in-depth knowledge of automobiles and the auto industry
The emerging role of the internet in almost every aspect of individual and national lives, especially as virtual activities become primary across board, internet service providers are in for a very fierce competition in providing top notch services across the world. To this end, Tizeti has started upgrading its systems to provide additional capacity to support services as well as future upgrades. This follows efforts aimed at accelerating access to affordable broadband connectivity in Africa’s underserved populations and more recently, due to the increased customer demand for connectivity solutions.
Tizeti’s Chief Executive Officer, Kendall Ananyi
Tizeti, which pioneered West Africa’s solar-based internet service, has announced the successful upgrade of its core network infrastructure capacity to 100Gbps. This upgrade according to company sources will provide additional capacity to support services as well as future upgrades. It will also ensure that customers continue to enjoy high-quality and reliable internet services that meet the demands for the exponential increase in unlimited internet data consumption due to the surge in the numbers of customers working from home.
The project involved upgrading Tizeti’s existing Gigabit fiber connection of its Lagos Points of Presence (POPs) to 10Gbps and relocating from its owned and operated data center to a world-class Tier III data center. With this increased fiber capacity, Tizeti is poised to continue to offer its affordable and unlimited wi-fi internet service to its customers, while expanding its service offering to include enterprise and business customers.
Tizeti’s Chief Executive Officer, Kendall Ananyi said that the upgrade will increase the reliability of its services by providing multiple routes for network transit to the internet. Ananyi confirmed the 100Gbps upgrade meets wider connectivity requirements, such as low latency as a result of hosting its 4G LTE core servers within its network in Nigeria. This guarantees faster, more reliable connectivity, as well as reduced operational costs.
“Our consistent investment in our core infrastructure shows our dedication to meeting the global challenges of increased data use driven by teleworking, distance learning, remote gaming, video chat, and streaming. We are committed to ensuring that our customers remain ahead of the digital transformation curve with the most resilient internet service. We are committed to reducing the cost of data and accelerating internet connectivity across the continent while maintaining our competitive edge with quality unlimited internet service” Ananyi said.
Adding his perspective to the development, Tizeti’s Chief Operations Officer, Ifeanyi Okonkwo, said the company has consistently delivered on its mission to provide unlimited internet to our customers and this upgrade will allow our customers enjoy better browsing experience during this time of increased data consumption. We are proud to announce that our customers can do more on our network, from streaming their favorite movies and series to working and staying connected from home”.
Tizeti enables millions of Africans to access the internet through its solar-powered towers in Nigeria and provides residences and businesses with unlimited high-speed broadband internet; covering Lagos, Ogun, and Rivers state. Dubbed the “Comcast for Africa”, Tizeti has installed over 25,000 public Wifi hotspots within Nigeria with 1,500,000 users and partnered with Facebook to offer Express Wi-Fi, rolling out thousands of new internet hotspots across Nigeria’s capital. The company has since expanded its services to Ghana with new consumer-facing brand GhanaWifi.com and its Voice service WifiCall.ng is available for download on Google Playstore and Apple Store. The company also recently launched its 4G services in selected Nigerian cities.
Kelechi Deca
Kelechi Deca has over two decades of media experience, he has traveled to over 77 countries reporting on multilateral development institutions, international business, trade, travels, culture, and diplomacy. He is also a petrol head with in-depth knowledge of automobiles and the auto industry
Amid rising tensions between the US and China, Huawei is expanding its 5G network and influence in North Africa. As US-China relations become more heated and more and more Western powers turn their backs on the Asian giant, Huawei is gaining ground in the shifting sands of North African geopolitics. The still-developing relationship between Huawei and its North African partners is not merely transactional — with Huawei’s increased presence in the region, China is rapidly gaining diplomatic and financial influence.
Li Jie, Chairman of Huawei’s Supervisory Board
On March 28, 2020, the US announced new regulations in the tech industry designed to ban Huawei from using US manufactured (or owned) technology and software. Though the move was far from unexpected, it came as a blow to Chinese tech giant Huawei. President Donald Trump and his administration have alleged that Huawei is an arm of the Chinese government and its technology is part of a spying network. Trump has encouraged US allies to stand together against Huawei and deny the firm access to 5G networks. New Zealand, Australia, and most recently the UK, have followed Trump’s lead.
Earlier this week, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced that Huawei products would be off the British market by the end of 2020 and clear from the UK’s 5G network by the close of 2027. China, meanwhile, has threatened to reciprocate by imposing restrictions on certain US tech exports, prompting speculation that a long-term economic war could be on the horizon and North Africa may be among the battlefields.
Huawei’s foothold in North Africa
Huawei has already gained significant ground in North Africa and has a strong presence in a number of countries in the region. Huawei has been active in Egypt since 1999, and the Chinese company has a strong foothold in the North African country already.
In April 2019, the Egyptian government and Huawei entered talks about the launch of a 5G network in the country. Egyptian Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly welcomed Li Jie, Chairman of Huawei’s Supervisory Board at his office to discuss future collaboration, pointing to the fact that Huawei’s North Africa foothold is about more than business.
The Egypt-Huawei relationship going forward will include partnerships in education, training, and industry. Looking forward, the Egyptian government is interested in engaging actively with Huawei on strategic planning for rolling out 5G across the country.
Huawei’s North Africa hold is not limited to Egypt: Tunisia’s Ooredoo Tunisie has engaged Huawei to develop the necessary infrastructure to roll out 5G across the country in 2021. Tunisia plans to use Huawei’s 5G Single RAN radio solutions with advanced Massive MIMO technology and its 5G Cloud Core technologies to develop the 5G network.
However, France has also thrown its hat into the ring to develop 5G in the North African country. While Ooredoo Tunisie has a market share of 40.2% and is eying up Huawei as a 5G partner, Orange Tunisie, who holds only 25.9% of Tunisia’s mobile network, has ruled out the Chinese tech company as a partner. “We don’t foresee calling on Huawei for 5G,” Orange CEO Stephane Richard said. “We are working with our traditional partners – they are Ericsson and Nokia.”
Spotlight on Morocco
Huawei and Morocco have developed a positive relationship over many years and the Chinese tech company recently chose Morocco as the location for the launch of its new low-cost smartphone, Huawei Y7p. Though the phone comes without Google Mobile Services due to the US embargo, Huawei has developed Huawei Mobile Services to cover the need for Application downloads and basic services.
Huawei has been operating in Morocco since 1999 when it opened its headquarters in Rabat. The company then opened a regional headquarters in Casablanca in 2018, to cover all of Huawei’s operations in North Africa. The tech company also has eight active agreements with Moroccan universities to train 12,000 students over a period of three years.
On top of education, the Chinese tech giant has partnered with key companies, such as the National Railway Office (ONCF). Huawei provides ONCF with the technologies necessary for high-speed-line or LGV communication services.
In January, Huawei announced that it is ready to launch a 5G network in Morocco. The company’s vice-president for North Africa, Philippe Wang, said Morocco could become a hub for Africa’s digital sector. Morocco, he said, should increase efforts to encourage foreign direct investments in the technology sector and speed up digital transformation in the industry.
“Morocco must also further promote trade and partnerships with regional economics,” said Wang. While Morocco traditionally boasts a strong and historic relationship with the US, the North African country’s decision to shift towards China through developing technology partnerships with Huawei points to a wider geopolitical shift.
China, North Africa, and shifting geopolitics
“China is setting up North Africa to play an integral role in connecting Asia, Africa, and Europe,” a 2019 Brookings report on China’s “growing footprint in North Africa” argued. The Chinese Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) and Huawei’s increasingly strong grip on the region’s telephone networks, among other sectors.
The Brookings reports warned that “China’s growing role in North Africa is likely to have far-reaching economic and geopolitical consequences for countries in the region and around the world.” The research center’s theory is far from groundbreaking — it has been clear for some time that the US’ status as a global superpower and unquestioned diplomatic force is waning, and China is among the understudies waiting in the wings to step in.
However, as the US, China, and Russia continue to square up against each other, using economy and diplomacy as weapons in a new type of cold war, North African countries may have to decide which side of the virtual iron curtain they want to be on.
Kelechi Deca
Kelechi Deca has over two decades of media experience, he has traveled to over 77 countries reporting on multilateral development institutions, international business, trade, travels, culture, and diplomacy. He is also a petrol head with in-depth knowledge of automobiles and the auto industry
Airtel Africa plc, a provider of telecommunications and mobile money services in 14 countries across sub-Saharan Africa and Mukuru, one of Africa’s largest remittance organisations, have announced a partnership which will enable Mukuru customers to instantly send cross-border transfers directly to Airtel Money customer wallets in 12 African countries.
Raghunath Mandava, CEO of Airtel Africa
This partnership will be particularly beneficial for customers making intra-Africa payments from Southern Africa where Mukuru has a leading presence. Customers also benefit from no longer having to physically go to an Agent to receive cross-border payments.
Once Airtel Money customers receive the funds, they can be used to pay utility bills, goods and services, transferred to family or can be cashed out at any of Airtel Africa’s exclusive branches, kiosks and agents.
Raghunath Mandava, CEO, Airtel Africa, commented “This partnership empowers those without a bank account to be included in the formal financial ecosystem and to move money conveniently, seamlessly and securely. At a time when intra-Africa cross-border payments are of strategic importance, we are pleased to be working together on cross-country mobile money transfers, while also supporting local economies.”
Andy Jury, CEO, Mukuru, confirms: “This partnership exemplifies the collaborative spirit in which Mukuru is engaging with other industry leaders to provide universal access to cash and digital financial services across the continent. The enablement of digital money transfers between Mukuru and Airtel Africa customers means we can offer greater choice to the hardworking diaspora when providing for their families back home. The freedom to choose the solution best befitting your personal circumstances is pivotal to true economic empowerment.”
Andy Jury, CEO, Mukuru,
The partnership, subject to local regulatory approvals, will initially launch in Malawi, Zambia, Uganda, Tanzania, Kenya and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. It will then roll out to subsequent Airtel Money markets.
Charles Rapulu Udoh
Charles Rapulu Udoh is a Lagos-based lawyer who has advised startups across Africa on issues such as startup funding (Venture Capital, Debt financing, private equity, angel investing etc), taxation, strategies, etc. He also has special focus on the protection of business or brands’ intellectual property rights ( such as trademark, patent or design) across Africa and other foreign jurisdictions. He is well versed on issues of ESG (sustainability), media and entertainment law, corporate finance and governance. He is also an award-winning writer.
In a big observers say is a direct message to Africa’s biggest telecoms company, MTN, a smaller rival, Rain has rolled-out Africa’s first commercial standalone 5G network – powered by Huawei. The South African data-only provider currently covers suburbs in Cape Town including Sea Point, Claremont, Goodwood, Bellville, Durbanville and the CBD. “Standalone 5G will further improve 5G network performance with increased uplink rate, lower latency, and improved reliability, ushering in high-end cloud VR and cloud gaming services, more diversified enterprise and home broadband services,” says Khaya Dlanga, Rain Chief Marketing Officer.
Khaya Dlanga, Rain Chief Marketing Officer
“Standalone 5G will demonstrate how 5G is powerful in realising South Africa’s 4IR future. Powered by Huawei’s global leading 5G solutions, our Standalone 5G will enable the industry’s digital transformation in the future, such as smart healthcare, smart ports, smart mining and smart manufacturing in South Africa.”
“We will work with the trustworthy strategic partner to further expand our 5G networks and bring the best service and experience to our customers,” adds Dlanga. This comes as MTN is test running its 5G network deployment across South Africa. This move according to analysts will not only usher in competition, it will also crash the prices which are presently high.
Kelechi Deca
Kelechi Deca has over two decades of media experience, he has traveled to over 77 countries reporting on multilateral development institutions, international business, trade, travels, culture, and diplomacy. He is also a petrol head with in-depth knowledge of automobiles and the auto industry
With the present role Internet of Things (IoT) is playing in both personal and communal lives across the world, countries are working hard to improve on their national connectivity so as not to lose out on the new knowledge economy. This has prompted the Nigerian government to deploy $328 million funding towards the expansion of internet fibre to the northern parts of the country. This comes with the approval of a new initiative to extend fibre infrastructure to the 19 northern states of the country through a project, tagged the National Information Communications Technology Infrastructure Backbone, NICTIB II, aims to improve broadband infrastructure in the Northern parts of Nigeria.
Managing Director, Galaxy Backbone, GBB, Professor, Mohammed Abubakar
The Managing Director, Galaxy Backbone, GBB, Professor, Mohammed Abubakar explained that this particular Backbone infrastructure will move from Abuja to Plateau, Gombe, Bauchi, Maiduguri, Kano and the rest of Northwestern Nigeria.
Galaxy Backbone, an agency within the ministry of communications and the digital economy, is the digital infrastructure provider of the federal government. Its aim is to develop and implement a national Internet and data infrastructure for public and private institutions. Though it is fully owned by the federal government, it operates as a limited liability company. The NICTIB II is the second phase of its National fibre project which has been ongoing around Nigeria.
According to Abubakar, the first phase — NICTIB I — came from Lagos to some parts of the South-South (Port-Harcourt and Calabar), South-East (Enugu), and North Central (Markurdi, Nassarawa, and Abuja). With the second phase, the project is expected to extend to 19 more states in the country.
This approval comes two years after Nigeria’s Galaxy backbone Limited signed a memorandum of understanding (Mou) with China’s Huawei technologies Limited in 2018. As part of the agreement, China’s EXIM bank provided a $328 million (126.7 billion) credit facility to develop the NICTIB Phase II. Though not much has been said of the project since then, this approval comes at a telling time for Internet connectivity in Nigeria. Getting Internet infrastructure has been tough but that might soon be changing.
Several states have been crashing right of way charges for private Internet infrastructure providers, Lagos is building its own Internet fibre project, and other ICT related policies are being developed. For Northern Nigeria, this initiative if executed rightly, might bode well for innovation in the region.
Kelechi Deca
Kelechi Deca has over two decades of media experience, he has traveled to over 77 countries reporting on multilateral development institutions, international business, trade, travels, culture, and diplomacy. He is also a petrol head with in-depth knowledge of automobiles and the auto industry
