MainOne to invest N25bn in Lagos

West Africa’s leading connectivity and data centre solutions provider, MainOne (www.MainOne.net), is to invest N25 billion in Lagos, Nigeria through its Digital Lagos: Broadband for All campaign initiative to enable Lagos’ digital transformation through deployment of ubiquitous broadband infrastructure across the state.

MainOne’s campaign is inspired by the vision of Lagos Governor-elect Babajide Sanwo-Olu who noted presciently that “technology will improve the rule of law, education, ease of doing business and government processes of Lagos.”

At the launch organized in Lagos to announce its plans, Funke Opeke, Chief Executive Officer, MainOne, said the company is keen to collaborate with the Lagos State Government and all other relevant stakeholders to build a Digital Lagos and help citizens from all walks of life realize the benefits of broad sustainable economic growth, modernized education, health and other services delivery, and improved quality of life.

“MainOne is pleased to have the opportunity to present its plan for Digital Lagos, a proven path to ubiquitous broadband connectivity. This plan will involve the investment by MainOne of over N25bn over the next 2-3 years to develop critical fiber optic infrastructure to enable broadband services across Lagos State,” she said.

A presentation was made by Judah Levine, CEO HIP Consult, a Washington DC-based independent management consulting firm with specialization in ICT in emerging markets. HIP Consult worked with MainOne in developing a concept paper and implementation plan for Digital Lagos, and Levine touched on the research done for Digital Lagos, its implementation plans and expected subsequent impact.

Opeke added that MainOne has pioneered investments in critical internet-enabling infrastructure across West Africa, Nigeria and Lagos.

To date, the company has invested over N120bn funded by leading African banks and has proven its capabilities in expanding and densifying localized fiber networks in neighboring Ogun and Edo States by deploying almost 1,000kms of fiber in partnership with Facebook to expand broadband access and connect government institutions and other areas of interest.