LASIMRA, Glo enter deal on fibre optic deployment

The second national operator (SNO), Globacom and the Lagos State Infrastructure Maintenance and Regulatory Agency (LASIMRA) have entered deal on modalities for the execution of its Glo1 optic fibre cable project around the centre of excellence.

The deal was struck last week in Lagos, following the announcement on the landing of Glo1 submarine cable in September and subsequent readiness of Glo to lay its fibre cable across the country for broadband service penetration as earlier promised with particular reference to Lagos State and its environs.

ICTRealms Online recalls that LASIMRA is the agency responsible for the regulation and maintenance of telecom infrastructure in Lagos, which covers the granting of right of ways for underground cable laying in Lagos metropolis.

The outcome of the deal as confirmed by the General Manager, LASIMRA, Mr. Joe Igbokwe showed that key decisions reached include the modalities for utilising the permit to execute optic fibre cable project in Lagos, which was granted to Globacom recently by the State Government.

Both LASIMRA and Glo1 also agreed that the project should be executed at minimal pain to the citizenry of the state, and that in deploying the value of the permit, any damage to the state infrastructure such as roads and existing underground facilities of service providers should be avoided in the interest of all.

Mr. Igbokwe said LASIMRA would monitor the project closely and requested Globacom to forward its work plan to the agency ahead of the commencement of the project.

It was agreed that LASIMRA should publish the project in all national dailies to intimate and seek the cooperation of all and sundry.

Just as Globacom should simultaneously at not more than three project sites at a time so as to minimize the attendant pain to the public, for ease of traffic management and for effective monitoring of project execution by LASIMRA officials.

“It is expected that LASIMRA should mount its site boards at the project site, so as to stamp its authority on the project,” Igbokwe explained.

Other deal reached at the meeting included that none excavation across roads; execution of overnight project be carried out in critical high traffic areas so as not to compound the chaotic traffic situation in such areas; deploying trial pits before embarking on wholesale excavation of project sites will enable confirmation of the existence of underground facilities such as telecom and electric cables, water and gas pipes.

This, he further said, will help to avoid damaging them and the active involvement of LASIMRA in attendant road reinstatement works, upon project completion, so as to ensure standard.

ICTREALMS Online ... delivering news for ICT4D