To enhance broadband connectivity and drive economic development in the South-South, South-East and North-Central regions of Nigeria, MainOne, an Equinix Company has announced the historic landing in Akwa Ibom State of the first and only submarine cable system in Nigeria outside of Lagos.
Tagged 2Africa and spanning 45,000km in length, the submarine will be one of the world’s largest subsea cable projects and will interconnect Europe, Asia, and Africa, with a design capacity of up to 180Tbps.
“With a commitment to consistently deploy financial capital and project resources towards infrastructure investments, MainOne is dedicated to improving internet capacity and driving various aspects of development, including economic growth, digital transformation, healthcare, security, agriculture, and increased state revenue in South-South Nigeria,” stated Abayomi Adebanjo, Regional Business Head, MainOne, an Equinix Company.
The significance of 2Africa lies in its capacity to address critical internet needs and enhance reliability across vast expanses of Africa. Furthermore, 2Africa catalyzes the advancement of 4G, 5G and fixed broadband accessibility, extending its impact to billions of people. Akwa Ibom’s selection as a landing site underscores its strategic importance in Nigeria’s digital transformation journey.
By offering cable diversity and resiliency, 2Africa contributes significantly to the country’s digital infrastructure resilience and MainOne’s role as the landing partner solidifies this endeavour. Notably, MainOne will facilitate the establishment of a terrestrial metro fiber network in Akwa Ibom State and entire South-South Nigeria, seamlessly connecting enterprises and people in the region to the submarine cable system.
The terrestrial metro fiber network will address internet distribution constraints across the Southern and North-Central regions of Nigeria, bridging the gap in unserved and underserved areas. By hosting the submarine cable system landing and the fiber cable interconnection, Akwa Ibom State, the South-South Region and Nigeria will unlock numerous economic and social benefits, fostering innovation, entrepreneurship, job creation, and improved public service delivery.