main one supports Ngren initiatives

MainOne, the leading communications service company and first private undersea cable company to land in Nigeria and Ghana, has identified National Research and Education Networks (NREN) services as a factor for the increment of knowledge development in Nigeria.

MainOne CEO Funke Opeke, represented by Gbenga Osinoiki, the head, public sector sales,  said this in a presentation titled “Sustainable National Development through Research and Education Networks: The MainOne advantage” at the Obafemi Awolowo University, Research Education Network (REN) held at the ICT Centre in Software Engineering in Ile-Ife.

Opeke said the Research and Education Network was a transformation vehicle, innovation incubator, an economic development engine and an essential global platform for national and educational development.

She commended the efforts of the UbuntuNet Alliance for Research and Education Networking schemes across Kenya, Malawi, Rwanda, Mozambique, South Africa and eight other NRENs, and noted that though they are successful, there is still need for the provision of high speed internet connectivity to universities at even lower costs.

She also acknowledged efforts by the National Universities Commission (NUC) and the Committee of Vice Chancellors of Nigerian Universities (CVC) for their support of the Nigerian Research and Education Network (NgREN), noting that the Network service would be beneficial for the development of e-education and social networking.

MainOne’s contribution to the propagation of ICT development in education and tertiary institutions form a part of its Corporate Social Responsibility tripod of Education, Information and Communications Technology, in addition to mentoring of the girl child.

MainOne is also leading sponsor of the annual Software Competition organised by the Institute of Software Practitioners of Nigeria, the Girls-In-ICT Day, TENT as well as supports ideation and innovation clubs, such as the Co-Creation Hub, among others.

source: www.biztechafrica.com

mainone to open west Africa's biggest data centre

MainOne has officially broken ground for what it says will be West Africa’s biggest Tier III + Data centre.

The plan for the MainOne Data Centre, the largest of its kind in West Africa at 1,500 square meters with a 600 rack capacity, was unveiled at the ground breaking ceremony in the Cable Landing Station in Lagos.

The event was witnessed by dignitaries including representatives from LASG, the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Captains of Industry, the media and company stakeholders.

The Chief Executive Officer of MainOne, Funke Opeke, said: “We are delighted with this project because of the immense benefits it will provide our customers. Internet penetration has been a huge issue in Nigeria especially to the hinterlands. The new Data Centre will leverage on MainOne’s network which is peered with leading operators and internet exchanges worldwide to provide global reach to our customers across all locations’.

Opeke also stated that the Data Centre, when completed would have redundancy built in to ensure no single point of failure within the facility. She added that the MainOne Data Center at Lekki would pave the way for the establishment of additional Data Centres and Point of Presence (POPs) across Nigeria and other West African nations.

Also commenting on the MainOne Data Centre, Chief Sales and Marketing Officer, MainOne, Folu Aderibigbe said that the project is further proof of MainOne’s commitment to enhance infrastructure within its primary markets. According to him “the MainOne Data Centre will help transform Africa into a digital economy. The project will also aid reduction of information technology costs and risks while enhancing business efficiency and profitability”.

Aderibigbe pointed out that one of the unique features of the MainOne is its direct access to MainOne Metro and International fibre and all the major interconnection with telecom networks in Nigeria and Ghana.