By David Akinmola
Liquid Intelligent Technologies (LIT) has expanded its operations in Nigeria to assist the Federal Government achieve the objectives of the National Broadband Plan (2021 – 2025) and transform the country into a leading digital economy as enshrined in the National Digital Economy Policy and Strategy (2020 – 2030).
LIT, with operations in 20 countries, is a provider of digital infrastructure, such as offering high-speed connectivity, cloud and cybersecurity, unified communications, Internet of Things (IoT) and Artificial Intelligence (AI) solutions through strategic partnerships with leading global players such as Microsoft, Facebook, Amazon and Google.
Speaking at the launch of LIT’s operations in Nigeria, the Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Prof. Isa Ali Pantami, commended the firm for years of achievements in the technology space, while also creating positive impacts in the African cross-border fibre network and supporting digital penetration in the Nigeria digital ecosystem.
He said the rapid development of emerging technologies such as blockchain, cloud computing, AI, IoT, and associated technologies have enabled heterogeneous economic sectors to be more integrated, leading to a significant effect on the nation’s growth across countries.
Pantami was represented at the launch by the Architect Manager, National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Dr. Falilat Olaitan Jimoh.
“Across global supply chains, financial services, healthcare, government, and many other industries, innovators are exploring and leveraging the Internet to disrupt and transform traditional process models. Many industry leaders have already achieved significant business benefits, including greater transparency, enhanced security, improved traceability, increased efficiency, speed of transactions and reduced costs,” he said.
According to the minister, connectivity has become a necessity and a key driver of the Fourth Industrial Revolution, hence, the government’s commitment to ensuring the unserved and underserved have broadband access, which is in alignment with the implementation of the National Digital Economy Policy and Strategy (NDEPS) for a Digital Nigeria.
He said to achieve this, there is a need to create an enabling environment for organisations such as LIT to promote universal access to digital infrastructure, enhance digital penetration, and support access to devices and address affordability.
The Executive Vice Chairman, Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Prof. Umar Danbatta, said much more attention has been placed on the Information and Communication Technology (ICT) sector and ICT- enabled activities to contribute to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of the country.
Danbatta said growing the ICT ecosystem is a priority and to further these objectives, the expansion of broadband coverage and penetration as well as having a fully-fledged e-government and building skills holistically in the sector.
Danbatta was represented by the Director, Technical Standards and Network Integrity, Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Wakil Bako.
According to him, the Nigerian National Broadband Plan 2020-2025 indicates the need for ubiquitous broadband networks and services taking into account the very important point that for every 10 per cent increase in broadband penetration, growth of between 2.6 to 3.8 per cent towards GDP can be realised.
He said noble targets of data download speeds of about 25mbps in urban areas and 10mbps in rural areas have been aggressively identified for the sector, adding that further targets of achieving coverage of 90 per cent of population with broadband penetration rates of 70 per cent are to be accomplished by 2025, among other targets in relation to costs.
He said this cannot be achieved without existing players in the telecommunications market and even more critical for Nigeria are the entry of new players committed to digitising the nation.
Danbatta said NCC has facilitated the licensing of Liquid Intelligent Technologies for the provision of wholesale, enterprise and retail services.
Speaking earlier, the Group President/ Chief Executive Officer, Cassava Technologies, Hardy Pemhiwa, said the acceleration of digital transformation and the rising demand for cloud services has made Nigeria ripe for investment for Liquid Intelligent Technologies.
According to him, LIT, as the first African company to lay over 100,000 km of fibre network across the African continent, is extending its reach and operations in Nigeria, while working with the government to achieve the objectives of Nigeria’s National Broadband Plan (2021 – 2025), as well as transform the country into a leading digital economy.
Also speaking, the Chief Executive Officer, LIT Nigeria, Wole Abu, said in the last two years, Nigeria has benefitted exponentially as businesses transform digitally, adding that the need now is to elevate local businesses with increased access to digital solutions that will level the playing field compared to their European and United States counterparts.
Abu said through partnerships with international tech giants like Microsoft, Meta, AWS, and Oracle, LIT is redefining network, cloud and cyber security offerings, bringing innovative business applications, intelligent cloud services and world-class security to Nigeria.
According to him, the organisation will replicate the success that it has realised for its customers in other countries by bringing its world-class services to the doorsteps of Nigerian businesses and individuals.
