Abuja-based Backbone Connectivity Net work (BCN) Limited, has began laying fibre optic cables to connect the Northern region of Nigeria with bandwidth telecommunication connectivity.
The project aimed at providing the region with bandwidth network for easy access of internet connectivity and other support services for Cellular will cost about $200 million (about N25.6 billion) when completed . Addressing newsmen in Abuja on Monday, the managing director of the BCN, Dr. Kwame A Boakye said his company was determined to provide high quality broadband connectivity to all including private telecom operators, internet service providers, cable TV and video services.
He said the project would start from Abuja - Kaduna - Zaria - Kano with seedlite network from the last quarter of this year and would be completed in two years. According to him, the second part of the project would start from Kano - Katsina - Malumfashi - Funtua - Zaria - Abuja - Akwanga - Jos - Bauchi - Gombe - Biu - Yola - Bamboa - Maiduguri - Damaturu - Potaskum - Azare - Dutse and Kano. The last part of the project which would called NiLite 11 network would begin in the second quarter of 2007 with Sokoto - Birnin Kebbi - Kamba - Yelwa Yauri - Kontagora - Bida - Minna - Abuja.
He explained that seedlite network has 19 node sites and would cover over 800 km, 36 fibre optic cables and 700 km, 100 mm duct with 4 sub- ducts as well as 15,3 meters by 4 meter equipment shelters. He said the main objective of the project is to improve information and telecommunications technology in Nigeria through backbone technology.
He said as the need for ICT increases daily, provision of infrastructure becomes necessary to support it. He said the BNC services would enable internet service providers and private telecom operators with low cost and reliability of services.
Daily Trust.