By Alpha Abu
The technology company Zoodlabs has committed to improve internet connectivity in Sierra Leone. This was contained in a presentation by the company’s Chief Operating Officer David Kpakima to the Parliamentary ICT Committee, an event that took place at Radisson Blu hotel , Aberdeen in Freetown, on Wednesday 31 March 2021.
He highlighted the key accomplishments of the company in its first 90 days of operations in the country which include a 50% reduction in whole sale internet pricing , that he said has in turn seen a reduction in the retailing costs. Kpakima said this development has benefitted even the ordinary subscribers buying data from the telecom operators.
He disclosed that they have reinforced their systems in Accra Ghana via Lisbon Portugal and the French capital Paris. According to the Zoodlabs operations head, they have “made significant investment in network stabilization and optimization”, as a result of their purchasing of equipment to replace those that had become out dated from the facility they inherited here. He said continued modernization of their network would remain a priority and hinted of efforts directed at deploying “additional subsea cable system”, which would facilitate Sierra Leone’s direct connection to Nigeria, Ghana and the UK. He also spoke about plans by Zoodlabs to go green later in the year.
Zoodlabs has utilised parts of the existing facilities used by Sierra Leone Cable or SALCAB. Kpakima mentioned the salary payments being made to SALCAB workers and offsetting staff liabilities as the government entity goes through a transition. 22 of SALCAB workers have also been drafted into the Zoodlabs workforce.
Member of Parliament Ibrahim Ben Kargbo said the past civil conflict left the country behind in the cable landings that other countries like Ghana and Nigeria benefitted from at the time. He stressed the importance of private sector participation in the internet connectivity development and said “sensible policies” should be initiated by the government for investors in the cable business to sustain their operations. The Parliamentarians were later taken to Lumley for a conducted tour of Zoodlabs Cable landing Station.
Zoodlabs with its satellite office in Fort Lauderdale in Florida USA will supply wholesale bandwith to telecom operators and would not be involved in retailing.
Copyright © Politico Online (01/04/21)
