Rural Telephony: Loofca International, VANU Inc. to roll out 10,000 mast sites in Africa

A partnership that will ensure connection of ten thousand rural communities in Nigeria and across Africa to telecoms services in the next five years, has been consummated between Loofca International Ltd, UK and VANU Inc., United States.

Engr. Femi Olukoya, Chief Executive Officer, Loofca International, disclosed this during the signing of an agreement with VANU Inc., United States, on Monday.

Olukoya said within three to five years, 10,000 sites across Africa and 2000 in Nigeria will be deployed, adding that, for Tier 1 operators, it means many more Nigerians will have access to data, and will be able to use telephones in rural areas to connect the world.

He stated that the project is a positive step, while admitting that it is capital-intensive, but assured that the two organizations are up to the task and ready for it, with the nation being better for it. 

According to Olukoya, ten thousand sites across Africa will bring a positive impact, as most Tier 1 operators have signed in on this.

Speaking further, he said: “What we have done is that we are making our sites available for them. Tier 1 operators, you all know, from MTN, Orange, GLO, and AIRTEL, across Africa. Whoever is interested comes on board, but first, it is our sites".

In his remarks, the Vice-President of VANU Inc., Anoj Singh, said connectivity is a “must have and no one should be left out”, noting that the rural communities also need access to the external world.

He stated that connecting the unconnected is also part of the mandate of Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), assuring that with the partnership, telecoms regulator will get faster to its goal of connecting a certain percentage of the nation.

Singh said: "We are working together as a coverage services provider for Africa, where we will be extending the coverage of  Tier 1 operators.

“The partnership is for decades. We are working with Loofca International and the purpose is to connect the unconnected across Africa. Together, with the technology divide, which is currently there, we are going to minimise this by deploying solutions to connect unconnected rural communities in Africa.

“We are providing operators with voice and data services, so these communities can be connected to their dear ones and families outside the rural communities.

“We decided to partner Loofca because they are spread across Africa and their wide reach. They are inclined to generate a sort of employment for rural communities and that can be possible by connecting these communities to the world.”

A director at Loofca, Moshood Shehu, said the technology to be deployed has been designed for rural areas.

Shehu said: “The technology will cut emissions and this contributes to our climate goal. Another thing is that these sites are going to deploy the proprietary technology of VANU. If you notice, when you go out of Lagos, your bar will drop to 2G or 3G on your phone and you may be unable to connect to the Internet. But these sites will be able to carry data, Internet, voice calls without being affected, with the latest technology. It is one of the best that can happen across Africa.”