Pioneer Consulting awarded MainOne contract
US based Pioneer Consulting has been selected by Main Street Technologies (MST) to oversee the project management and engineering of its MainOne submarine cable system, SOA Magazine has reported.
According to the report, the firm will be providing expert advice while tracking the design, engineering and implementation of Main Street Technologies’ investment. Hired as an integral part of the management team, Pioneer Consulting will supervise the implementation of the network while supplying comprehensive support.
When completed, the MainOne undersea cable system will span 14,000 kilometers and will provide direct international connectivity for West African countries to Europe and beyond.
“Our team of experts is delighted with the opportunity to work with the strong management team at Main Street Technologies,” Howard Kidorf, Managing Partner of Pioneer Consulting told the magazine. “We are pleased that MST has recognized that Pioneer Consulting can deliver the comprehensive project management and engineering services that this project needs to be successful.”
Speaking to the magazine, Keith Schofield, Director of Submarine Networks at Pioneer Consulting and lead project manager, described the progress. “MainOne is progressing ahead of schedule, with marine route survey activities underway and key licenses being confirmed. We have also undertaken a full contract review audit of the system supplier. Pioneer Consulting and MST are gearing up for the busy manufacturing schedule and construction of cable stations in both Ghana and Nigeria, to complement the Portuguese station already in place. Pioneer Consulting’s long experience in submarine networks makes us the natural choice for soundly implemented projects.”
News broke in October 2008 that Nigeria, Ghana and the rest of Africa were set to experience a major boost in Internet access and a hefty reduction in tariffs with the commencement of the Main One Cable Project, following the granting of licences by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) and Ghana’s National Communications Authority (NCA) allowing the company to land its intercontinental undersea fibre-optic cable in the two countries.
Reports described the project as a major milestone especially for the West Africa sub-region.
The Main One Cable Project is an ambitious under-sea fibre optic cabling project that will extend from Portugal to the west and southern coasts of Africa.
The first phase of the project was expected to span 6,900 kilometres, extending from Portugal to Nigeria and Ghana on the West Coast of Africa.
By Emmanuel K. Dogbevi