WEST Africa’s telecommunications services and network solution provider, MainOne has expressed its commitment to further expand its level of investments in the region’s Information and Communications Technology (ICT) sector.

MainOne, which had invested about $300 million in the region, noted that more investments driven projects would further open the industry for growth.

Specifically, MainOne projected that the licensing of Infrastructure Companies (InfraCos) by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) will to a larger extent help Nigeria to deepen broadband penetration in the country.

The firm, which won InfraCo license in January 2015, along side IHS Communications for Lagos and North Central regions respectively, said it was currently working with the authorities to finalize the license, which it said will vigorously expedite broadband deployment and rollout in Nigeria via the NCC’s Open Access model.”

Indeed, in 2015, according to a survey by the International Telecommunications Union (ITU), out of the 189 member states, the country ranked 130. Nigeria actually finished last year with 10 per cent broadband penetration.

While speaking to journalists, the company’s General Counsel, Kazeem Oladepo, reiterated the company’s efforts towards infrastructure development in Nigeria and its contribution to driving the country’s Internet revolution in its five years of operation.

Oladepo said that since MainOne obtained its 20-year submarine cable license in 2008, the company has sought additional licenses and investment opportunities that have directly contributed to the rebirth and launch of Internet Service Provision (ISP) services in Nigeria.

He noted that its ISP license with an initial tenure of five years is currently undergoing renewal, and will enable the company further bridge the digital divide in Nigeria.

MainOne has received various permits from the Nigerian Communications Commission including International Submarine Cable Infrastructure and Landing Station License (August 2008 to July 2028); Metropolitan Fibre Cable Network Licenses, operational in Lagos, Abuja and Port Harcourt, Nigeria (June 2011 to May 2031) and Internet Service Provision License (June 2011 to May 2016), currently undergoing renewal.

In January 2015, the NCC also announced that MainOne won the bid process as the Fiber Infrastructure Company (InfraCo) for Lagos region, for a period of 20 years. We are currently working with the authorities to finalize that license which will vigorously expedite broadband deployment and rollout in Nigeria via the NCC’s Open Access model”, Oladepo stated.

He stressed that MainOne is a socially responsible company operating to highest levels of corporate governance, and the company remains fully committed to working with regulators and consumers to deliver the benefits of reliable broadband across Nigeria.