MainOne secures license to expand its connectivity services in Cote d’Ivoire
MainOne has secured a license to expand national and international connectivity services in Cote d’Ivoire, according to Bruno Koné, the country’s Minister for Communication, Digital Economy and Postal Services.
The license will enable MainOne land its trans-Atlantic submarine cable and build transmission infrastructure in Cote d’Ivoire, to strengthen connectivity, reduce international capacity costs and support wholesale customers, major operators and Internet Service Providers.
Cote d’Ivoire authorities believe that the construction of a fourth cable authorised by the government will improve the international connectivity of the country and will provide a lot more opportunities for the national market while increasing competition.
“MainOne cable will have an impact on price and quality and will strengthen the security of our infrastructure”, stated Minister Bruno Koné.
The company is said to be investing close to $20 million in Cote d’Ivoire with a focus on the provision of wholesale connectivity services, which would provide open-access infrastructure within Cote d’Ivoire and other WAEMU countries to expand internet access for all users in the region.
Funke Opeke, Chief Executive Officer of MainOne says the decision to invest in Cote d’Ivoire was based on the dynamism of the national economy and accelerated development of the digital economy in Cote d’Ivoire as well as its leadership in the West African region.
“Cote d’Ivoire is the largest economy in the West African Economic and Monetary Union (WAEMU) and a very important hub for business and transport in West Africa,” she stated.
The construction of the digital transmission cable is expected to commence in June 2018 and would be concluded in the second half of 2019.
The company currently operates in 10 countries including Nigeria, Ghana, Cote d’Ivoire, Burkina Faso, Togo, Cameroun, Benin, Niger, Senegal and Chad, with its 100G international submarine cable system that guarantees highly reliable connectivity.
Its entry into Cote d’Ivoire will further democratize the international bandwidth market and drive down bandwidth costs for local Internet Service Providers, Telcos and indigenous businesses.
[via: Press Release]
