Leading provider of innovative telecom services and network solutions for businesses in Africa, Main One Cables and London-based independent phone-tower operator, IHS, have won the bid as infrastructure companies (InfraCos) in Nigeria.

“After due consultations and evaluations, MainOne Cables and IHS Communications have been selected as InfraCos for Lagos and North Central zones respectively.” Dr. Eugene Juwah, the Executive Vice Chairman of the Nigerian Communication Commission (NCC), said while answering questions at the Fourth Industry ICT Stakeholders Forum held in Lagos this week.

Why InfraCos?

InfraCos are companies that will improve provision of broadband services through the use of critical Information and Communication Technology infrastructure across the six-geopolitical zones in Nigeria.

As part of NCC’s plan to deliver affordable and prevalent broadband service across Nigeria, it sent an invitation last year for interested bidders to tender for the first phase of the programme.

The first phase of the programme will cover Lagos and North central zones of the country including Abuja. The InfraCos would be expected to deploy metropolitan optic fibre infrastructure and associated transmission equipment in North Central zones and Lagos State on an open access, non- discriminatory, price regulated basis.

“The InfraCos are expected to further drive penetration and fast track Nigeria’s 30 per cent penetration by 2018.” Juwah said at the event.

The bid to become InfraCos

In October last year, it was reported that MainOne Cables, Africa’s biggest independent phone-tower operator, IHS Consortium, Zinox Telecoms and Trussnet Limited submitted proposals to become InfraCos for the first phase of the programme. However, MainOne cables and HIS Consortium emerged the preferred bidders.

Some facts about MainOne and IHS

MainOne is headed by a Nigerian woman, Funke Opeke, who founded it. This month, the company launched its N7 billion ($37 million) Tier III data centre, the largest in West Africa.

Last year, IHS, acquired 9151 mobile towers from MTN Nigeria to the tune of $2 billion and 1269 network towers from MTN Rwanda and Zambia. In the same year it also signed a deal to acquire Etisalat Nigeria’s 2136 network towers to the tune of $400 million. In 2012, it bought 827 network towers in Cameroon and Cote d’ivoire to the sum of $284 million.

Privatization of Nigerian Communications Satelite (NigComSat)

At the event, the Minister of Communications and Technology, Dr Omobola Johnson, who assumed office since 2011 said, that the industry has witnessed tremendous changes during her administration.

She also confirmed that NigComSat would be privatised by the federal government in order to perform its role efficiently.

“If the full benefits of NigComSat must be realized, it must be privatized. We hope to complete this process in another two years from now”, she stated.

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