Telecom
FG Commends Zinox Commitment to Local Content Adoption
Dr. Isa Ali Ibrahim Pantami, Director General of the Nigeria Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), has hailed Zinox as an indigenous technology giant with the human capital potential and technological prowess to grow the adoption of local content in Nigeria.
Dr. Pantami, who paid a working visit to the headquarters of the company in Gbagada, Lagos on Friday November 16th 2018, expressed his delight with the massive infrastructure and technological facilities on display, noting that Zinox has the capacity to rival other global tech giants and extend its products and solutions beyond Nigeria to other markets.
Accompanying the DG was a technical entourage including Director e-Government Development and Regulatory, Dr. Vincent Olatunji; Director, IT Infrastructure Solutions, Dr. Usman GamboAbdulahi and National Coordinator – ONC, Barr. KasimShodangi.
Other members of the entourage include Mrs Chioma Oke-Agugo, Mr. Yusuf Yisa-Doko and two members of the media team.
Dr. Pantami said, “I am impressed with the huge capabilities, human and material resources and technological innovation available here in Zinox, which has remained an unassuming indigenous company that has recorded so many landmark strides in the Information and Communications Technology sector.”
“In addition to the excellent work done with INEC in improving the electoral process in Nigeria, we are also aware of the acceptance of Zinox products in other countries which they have been exported to and in major multinationals operating here such as Shell, Total, Chevron, among others.
“The Federal Government is eager to correct the imbalance in the consumption of local content by encouraging and supporting indigenous capacities in the IT sector.
“We are focused not only on increasing local content adoption but also ensuring that a major percentage of our indigenous technology software and products are exported to other African countries.
“Zinox possesses the resources, products, human capital and sheer equipment capacity to take the lead in this area.”
The NITDA DG who was led on a guided tour of the company by the Leo Stan Ekeh, Chairman, Zinox Group, witnessed first-hand the various infrastructure and facilities within the premises including the digital computer hardware manufacturing and assembly plant, telecoms e-Hub unit, Data Centre, bandwidth aggregation and digital security infrastructures, warehousing facilities as well as after-sales service and support centre, among others.
“From what I have seen today, I am confident that, given the right support from the government, Zinox can play a significant role in putting Nigeria on the global technology map.
“You can count on my support and that of the entire agency in this regard,” he enthused.
Also speaking, Ekeh who expressed appreciation to the NITDA helmsman for accommodating the visit within his busy schedule, disclosed that the Zinox Group remains the single largest 360 degrees ICT conglomerate in the sub-region with advanced competencies in the entire spectrum of the sector, ranging from hardware manufacturing, distribution, integrated ICT solutions, Telecoms, retail, world class support and much more with offices in many other countries and hubs in four continents.
He also reiterated the Group’s commitment to advancing local content adoption within Nigeria and beyond through the creative design and manufacture of digital products which anticipate the yearning and taste of the future consumer.
“We are an indigenous technology group that is absolutely committed to local content development and adoption.
“This has for several years informed our business practices as well as the design and manufacture of our products and solutions.
“While Zinox Technologies Ltd. as a company clocked 17 in October, the Group itself has been in the business of technology for over 32 years and not once have we embarked on retrenchments, even in the face of some of the difficult and challenging business cycles.
“Instead, we have taken the pains and even recently, increased staff salaries across board,” he disclosed.
The serial digital entrepreneur also seized the opportunity to plead for more institutional support and level playing ground for Nigerian tech companies.
“Government needs to come to the aid of tech companies in the country by giving them the wings to fly and achieve more through tax breaks or holidays and other incentives.
“The technology sector is one of the biggest employers of labour as entry requirements are not as stringent, when compared to other sectors.
“Presently, we face huge challenges in clearing our shipments and other technological components due to the heavy congestion at the ports.
“This has resulted in crippling demurrages and a tripling of transportation costs from the ports to our production plants and offices over the past few months, making it harder to compete and survive.
“The Government needs to find a solution to these issues.”
While presenting the Zinox Core i7 and GTX Legacy – two products from the Zinox Future Visions stable– to the DG, Ekeh restated his commitment and support for the government’s drive to create more employment opportunities for millions of Nigerians, while urging the media to partner with the agency in transforming the country’s communications narrative for the benefit of all.
With close to two decades of pioneering efforts and excellent service delivery, Zinox enjoys widespread acclaim as Nigeria’s foremost ICT Company.
In addition to its enviable status as pioneer manufacturers of Nigeria’s first internationally certified branded computers and mobile devices, the company has deployed some of the biggest projects in the continent, while institutionalizing high-end ICT solutions which have contributed in moving the sector and the Nigerian economy to the next level.
WIOCC, Africa’s Carriers’ Carrier, has partnered with Galaxy Backbone Limited (GBB), a leading digital infrastructure and shared services provider, in a strategic infrastructure collaboration aimed at enhancing high-speed internet connectivity across the country. This partnership supports digital inclusion and drives Nigeria’s digital transformation.
By combining WIOCC’s extensive wholesale fibre network and expertise with GBB’s national fibre footprint, the collaboration will improve scalability, efficiency and service delivery for businesses and government institutions. It also aims to bridge the digital divide by expanding broadband access to underserved regions and foster partnerships with Mobile Network Operators (MNOs) to advance Nigeria’s digital economy.
A signing ceremony was held at Galaxy Backbone’s Corporate headquarters in Abuja, with Darren Bedford, Group Chief Development Officer at WIOCC and Managing Director/CEO of Galaxy Backbone, Professor Ibrahim A. Adeyanju.
They highlighted the strategic alignment of both organizations in driving digital transformation to accelerate Nigeria’s digital future, setting a benchmark for innovation and connectivity that addresses the evolving needs of Nigeria’s digital ecosystem..
Professor Ibrahim A. Adeyanju stated, “Our mission is to provide robust digital infrastructure that underpins Nigeria’s digital economy. This partnership with WIOCC is a testament to our commitment to enabling digital inclusion and providing a platform for collaboration that transforms how businesses, governments and communities operate in today’s world.”
Darren Bedford added, “This collaboration with Galaxy Backbone reflects our shared vision for driving digital transformation. Together, we are creating a platform for innovation and economic growth that will benefit the country with world-class connectivity.”
Schneider Electric, has reiterated its commitment to accelerate growth in the data centre market across East and West Africa regions that have become vital due to rapid digitalisation and increasing Internet penetration.
Commitment on the company’s drive, End User Sales Director, Anglophone Africa, Schneider Electric, Rohan de Beer, said, the African data centre market is witnessing unprecedented growth, creating a fertile ground for resellers and distributors to enhance their capabilities and foster stronger relationships with local end users.
De Beer explained that previously, Schneider Electric relied solely on external channels for market development, which sometimes led to missed opportunities and increased competition.
He noted that the new dual approach adopted by the firm seeks to address these gaps by enabling closer engagement with end users to influence technology decisions and secure a larger share of the market.
He added, “Crucially, these engagements will still be fulfilled through Schneider Electric’s extensive channel network.This strategy allows us to influence project lifecycles at an earlier stage while maintaining our channel-driven fulfilment model,” explained De Beer. “Our goal isn’t to increase direct business but to expand our market presence and share while empowering partners.”
“In addition to self-paced learning resources, we are hosting instructor-led training sessions across the Anglophone cluster. The first half of the year saw successful training completions in East, West, and Southern Africa, focusing on technical solutions for partners and distributors,” De Beer added.
Meta, the parent company of Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp, reportedly plans to invest over $10 billion in a privately owned subsea cable network spanning more than 40,000 kilometers.
This ambitious project aims to enhance Meta’s control over its vast internet traffic, reduce dependence on telecommunications companies, and mitigate geopolitical risks.
The proposed route is expected to connect the U.S. East Coast to India via South Africa, and then from India to the U.S. West Coast through Australia, forming a “W” shape around the globe.
The initiative reflects Meta’s strategic move to secure its infrastructure amid growing geopolitical tensions and concerns about the vulnerability of undersea cable.
According to sources close to the company, the initiative, still in its early phases, would be Meta’s first fully owned and operated subsea cable.
This bold move underscores Meta’s focus on strengthening infrastructure to support its platforms, which generate 10% of fixed and 22% of mobile internet traffic globally, as first reported by TechCrunch.
Sunil Tagare, industry expert, who reported the plans in October, noted that the project’s initial budget of $2 billion will likely increase significantly.
“This is a monumental project in both investment and scale. The shortage of cable-laying ships and resources could lead Meta to build the cable in phases,” Tagare explained.
Although Meta has yet to publicly confirm the plans, an official announcement regarding the route, capacity, and objectives is anticipated in early 2025.
Logistical Hurdles: Meta faces difficulties securing the resources needed for a project of this scale. Cable-laying ships are in limited supply, with tech giants like Google already monopolising contracts with firms such as SubCom.
Tight Market Conditions: Ranulf Scarborough, a submarine cable industry analyst, highlighted the constraints. “The tight market for specialised resources means Meta may need to adopt a phased construction approach, potentially extending the timeline.”
Meta’s infrastructure initiatives are led by Santosh Janardhan, its head of global infrastructure. Reports suggest the project is being developed from its South African operations, indicating the growing significance of emerging markets in Meta’s strategy.
Traditionally dominated by telecom carriers, subsea cable construction has seen a shift as content-driven companies like Meta seek greater control over the infrastructure delivering their services.
If successful, this cable will strengthen Meta’s ability to handle data traffic independently, reduce reliance on shared networks, and unlock opportunities in underserved regions.
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