SAT-3 Services to Bounce Back as Lagos, NITEL Agree on Repairs

Lagos State government and Nigerian Telecommunications Limited (NITEL) have resolved their differences and agreed to work together to relocate South Atlantic 3/West Africa Submarine Cable (SAT-3) ‘Beach Manhole’ which was cut in the process of  reclaiming Bar Beach for a new town known as Eko Atlantic project.

Nigeria CommunicationsWeek investigations revealed that NITEL made representation to the Lagos State government when the cable was cut and stated modalities for its repair which the state government disagreed with

A staff of NITEL working at the SAT-3 section who does not want his name mentioned said that after several meeting with the state government they have now agreed to work with them to ensure that the infrastructure is back to service.

“They are now cooperating with us. In the next three months SAT-3 will be up again,” he added.

It was gathered that repair of the cut section of the cable became impossible as a result of the depth of the sea which has become shallow and cannot carry cable ship that repair cut section of undersea cable.

This has therefore necessitated the relocation of the undersea cable infrastructure according to the NITEL staff.
 
Nigeria CommunicationsWeek learnt that repair of cut on undersea cable would taks a maximum of three weeks because it would involve; renting of a cable ship from Cape Town in South Africa which is the only country where the ship is available in Africa; processing of custom papers; as well as obtaining NIMASA and other agencies permits required to allow the ship to come into the country’s waters.

Engr. Lanre Ajayi, president, Association of Telecommunications Companies of Nigeria (ATCON), said that: “If it were some years back when we relied much on SAT-3, the impact would have been felt by many, but today not many people are aware that SAT-3 is down.”

“This is why it is not good for government to be in business, if SAT-3 is own by an entrepreneur it would have been repaired and get back to business long ago,” he noted.

Deolu Ogunbanjo, president, National Association of Telecommunications Subscribers of Nigeria (NATCOMMS) while agreeing with Engr. Ajayi, blamed the time it took for NITEL and Lagos state government to reach a truce on the repair to bureaucracy in government system which he said was not good for business.