Speaking at an event in Lagos to showcase the company’s metro fibre optic network, the Managing Director, Broadbased Communications, Prince Henry Ise-Okojie said that the NCC’s decision to make the Infrastructure Companies (InfraCos) responsible for providing a national broadband network to service providers would make broadband ubiquitous in the country.
He said the Open Access Model for fibre-optic network deployment is best suited to bridge the digital divide, facilitate the development of local content, and deliver fast and reliable broadband services to households and businesses.
He said the company’s strategy is completely aligned with the NCC strategy to take fiber optics infrastructure to the last mile.
Ise-Okojie noted that all 20 banks in Nigeria presently are either directly or indirectly utilising the company’s infrastructure.
He said that the company has been utilising a fiber optics open access non-compete strategy since its formation 5 years ago.
The MD/CEO said that the company will clearly play a key role in the initial roll-out of the Infraco strategy.
He explained that the NCC’s Infraco strategy caters for companies such as Broadbased who have existing fiber optic network infrastructure that can be leveraged by the Infraco to carry traffic to the last mile.
Isa-Okojie said, “In the next twelve to eighteen months we will continue to expand our reach and hopefully add 1500 to 2000 kilometers to our existing infrastructure. Again this is to make our platform available to all existing Telecom Operators and new players including InfraCos seeking to lease Fiber Optic links from an Open Access, Non Compete Metropolitan Fiber Optic Network Operator.”
