L-R: Divisional COO, ipNX Infrastructure, Bimbo Akinbaloye, Group Executive Director, Commercials ipNX, Bimpe Olaleye, Divisional CEO, Infrastructure, Uche Nnakenyi and Head, Infrastructure Planning and Quality, Victor Uzoechi at the signing of the partnership agreement between ipNX and USTDA at a virtual event held on Thursday, September 17, 2020.
On Thursday, September 17, 2020, Nigeria’s pioneering and leading information, communications and technology (ICT) company, ipNX signed a global partnership deal with the United States Trade and Development Agency (USTDA) to develop Nigeria’s ICT and broadband infrastructure.
According to ipNX Group Executive Director, Commercials, Mrs. Bimpe Olaleye, “ ipNX appreciates the trust, confidence and support of the USTDA to facilitate the design for the expansion of our fiber network. This will see us meet our strategic intent of being the bedrock of the Nigerian ICT ecosystem by providing solutions that help mankind thrive”. She furthermore elaborated on the five ways Nigerians will benefit from this partnership:
- Improvement of Nigeria’s ICT infrastructure: It will support the development of Nigeria’s Telecom’s infrastructure, bringing significant improvements to broadband access and speed to the last-mile.
- Expansion of fibre footprint: According to the World Bank, the fixed broadband penetration in Nigerian households was 0.04% at the end of 2018, below the African regional average (0.6%), and the world average (13.6%). The ipNX and USTDA partnership will drive the expansion of ipNX fiber footprint across major cities in Nigeria.
- Improved business processes: The infrastructure quality gains driven by the new partnership will enable more businesses embrace new technologies that enhance corporate efficiency such as the internet of things and cloud computing.
- Higher internet speed for all: The new partnership will give a boost to the deployment of higher-speed Internet connectivity and also boost digital innovations crippled by low internet speeds. This will allow users access internet services at significantly higher speeds than they presently experience.
- Digital entrepreneurship boost: For Nigeria not to be left behind and harness this growth like the rest of the world, the ipNX and USTDA partnership is providing better broadband infrastructure that will propel digital entrepreneurship in Nigeria and link individuals with markets in Nigeria and across the world.
In 2016, the global digital economy was worth about $11.5 trillion, equivalent to 15.5% of the world’s overall GDP. It is expected to reach 25% in less than a decade, the World Bank said, quickly outpacing the growth of the overall economy.
