If you’ve moved round in recent weeks, you may have noticed construction along some streets in the bustling city of Lagos, Nigeria. Apparently, fibre optic cables are being laid to provide Internet connection across the city.
So far, different estates and residential areas are receiving notices of the government’s intention to lay Internet fibre cables.
Lagos is home to several Internet services providers and the laying of fibre optic cables is not strange. That the Lagos State government commissioned the project made it particularly interesting. This suggests that the implementation of a smart city initiative is entering high gear.
On Thursday, May 14 2020, the Lagos State House of Assembly approved the unification of fibre infrastructure for telecom companies. This meant the deployment of a single cable duct for all telecom companies and other utility providers operating in the city.
The report presented before the legislature clarified that this has nothing to do with the 5G network and is a mere extension and consolidation of existing Internet fibre networks in Lagos.
Apparently, a “dig once” policy is being implemented in order to prevent the fragmented and constant digging of state roads by different telecom operators and Internet service providers.
The Lagos State government partnered with two companies, Messrs Western Telecommunications and Engineering Services Metro Limited, to handle the project.
According to the partnership agreement, the project partnership will last for an initial term of 25 years which might later be extended, and the companies are to pay the state 10% of the revenue generated from leasing the fibre ducts to telecom operators.
Also, the companies are meant to provide the Lagos State government with fibre duct capacity to points of interest (POI) within the state.
– Techpoint
