MainOne Is Laying the Foundation for Digital Lagos

By Nnamdi Odumody

Broadband infrastructure and services are essential for the GDP of Lagos, as Africa’s fifth largest economy. With an estimated population of 25 million people, a rising middle and upper class, high concentration of educational institutions, a growing young population and an estimated $2billion startup ecosystem, poor broadband infrastructure as a result of inadequate fiber networks has hindered its potential.

MainOne Communications will invest $70million (25 billion naira) over the next three years in its Digital Lagos Initiative to solve this paralysis by deploying critical broadband infrastructure across Lagos State. This will impact all sectors of the economy, create innovation, and attract foreign investment in its financial and economic hubs across the state, generating high skilled jobs.

Its Digital Lagos plan will deploy world-class, open access, fiber-optic networks through all LGAs and business districts in the state including zones such as Alimosho, Ajeromi Ifelodun, Kosofe and Ikorodu. MainOne’s existing 700km network covers 2.2 million people within a kilometer of its existing fiber footprint, major population centers, and Yaba, where it provides connectivity for the technology corridor based there.

The resulting network from Digital Lagos will provide connectivity to critical Lagos State infrastructure and can easily be extended to other locations such as:

• . 94 percent of 1,259 known healthcare centers
• . 97 percent of 3,046 public educational institutions
• . Over 300 Government Ministries, Departments and Agencies
• . 10,000 state CCTV location
• . Unlimited public Wi-fi hotspots and components

With its  Infraco license to deploy broadband and shared infrastructure, MainOne will drive network expansion, connect mobile network operators assets to fiber, improve the quality of service, lower costs, facilitate additional 4G and later 5G coverage, allowing Lagos citizens to enjoy smart services.

Broadband is a critical enabler if Lagos State must transition to an Intelligent Economy for the future, and MainOne wants to make this a reality.