MainOne extends submarine cable system to Cameroun

AS part of efforts to deepen Internet penetration in West Africa, MainOne has extended its submarine fibre optic cable network from its cable landing station in Lagos, to Kribi, Cameroun.

This new extension, the Nigerian Cameroun Submarine Cable System (NCSCS), will also branch out to two strategic points in Nigeria’s South-South region, Escravos in Delta State and Qua Iboe in Akwa Ibom State.

MainOne, which recently celebrated five years of service in upgrading West Africa’s Information and Communications Technology (ICT) services through a $300 million investment with plans for additional $300 million investment, said the new system spanning approximately 1,100 km, is being built in partnership with Cameroun Telecommunications (Camtel) and Huawei Marine Networks, with investment provided by the Cameroun Government. It is expected to deliver capacity of up to an additional 12.8Tbps to broadband users in that country by the end of 2015.

In his comments, the Cameroun Minister of Posts and Telecommunications, Jean-Pierre Biyiti bi Essam, said: “The Government of Cameroon has embarked on putting in place the necessary facilities to boost the demand and supply of services in quality, in quantity and at affordable prices, as well as to increase telecommunications universal access and universal service”.

Essam noted that the installation of the NCSCS further demonstrated the willingness of the government to implement a true broadband infrastructure development policy throughout Cameroon’s national territory.

Commenting on the development, General Manager, Cameroon Telecommunications Corporation (CAMTEL), David Nkoto Emane said: “The NCSCS system enables us to provide users with faster bandwidth connectivity at a significantly lower cost. By providing direct connection to Nigeria, the cable system will also serve to enhance Cameroon’s position as the major bandwidth hub in the region and internationally to Europe and beyond.”

Speaking on the milestone, MainOne’s Regional Executive for West Africa, Kazeem Oladepo, reiterated the company’s vision for a better connected West Africa: “MainOne supports initiatives to expedite the penetration of reliable and affordable broadband internet services in the West African region to drive economic development. We have, and will continue to invest significantly in projects to accelerate broadband access, which is part of our strategy to boost the economic and commercial development of West Africa.”