West Africa is to get a telecom boost after Phase3 Telecom inked a deal with INEO Energie DU Export of France to improve and expand the current communications network coverage in West Africa. According to a company press statement, the move hopes to bolster development of its West Africa One network to cover all countries in the region. Currently the network is an aerial optic fiber transmission system and the new deal will run from Nigeria to different countries across West Africa. Phase3 said it would provide physical telecom infrastructure throughout the region. A major supporter of the network, the West Africa Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (WATRA), said that it believes the boosting of the network will “provide affordable and reliable telecommunications links in the West Africa sub region.” Phase3 CEO Stanly Jegede said the move to award the deal to INEO was based on the company's strong track record in installation. “INEO Energie is the global leader when it comes to installation of power line infrastructure,” he began. “We went through a very tedious process before, and we eventually settled for them. We are quite happy to have chosen them to fulfill our efforts of providing the West Africa region with a robust telecommunications infrastructure that is second to none.” He added that the company would maintain its high quality fiber optic connections through electricity power transmission lines. “We have already showed the benefits of aerial optic fiber in Nigeria and its effectiveness in helping to ensure high quality communications services to customers,” he added. BM
