LAGOS: Controversy is surrounding Niger's fiber optic cable network that had been aimed to boost overall coverage and speed in the country. State-owned Societe Nigerienne des Telecommunications (Sonitel) and its subsidiary operator SahelCom have lashed out at private companies for establishing independent fiber optic networks across the country. The state-owned operator said that the cable network was already in place and by having multiple cables it could threaten the overall telecommunications infrastructure in the country. According to a Afriquinfos report, the Niger Parliament had previously voted to maintain Sonitel as a state-owned company in May this year and had granted it the exclusive rights to establish the cable network as well as its monopoly for international calling, however Orange and Airtel the country condemned the move and have set up their own networks. The result has seen the government then award Sonitel a contract for a 900 kilometer fiber optic network that was to be the backbone of the country. Sontel has reported that it has called on the government to ban the duplicate networks in an effort to ensure revenue from their operations. The government has yet to make an official statement on the matter. It also comes as Sonitel has canceled an agreement with the Libyan government in the hopes of boosting its local presence. The company said that it believes the Niger market needs to become more stable before they can assist other regional nations with boosting their telecom infrastructure.
