Calabar, the Cross
River State
capital, has
become Nigeria’s
first digital city,
following the
completion of
installation of its
metropolitan dark
fibre optic
network
infrastructure.
This feat was
accomplished
through a
partnership
between the
Cross River State
Government and
telecommunicatio
ns giant, MTN.
The
infrastructure,
which consists of
120 kilometres of
96 core fibre cable
and open access
ducts, spans the
length and
breadth of the
capital city.
Calabar has,
therefore,
become the most
comprehensively
wired city for
voice, data and
video
telecommunicatio
ns and various
technology-driven
services in the
country.
The Special
Adviser to
Governor Liyel
Imoke for
Communications
Technology
Development, Mr.
Odo Effiong said
the infrastructure
would not only
facilitate
improved
telecommunicatio
n services but
also overtime,
offer a variety of
technology driven
services and
improvements
including access to
information on
tourism,
innovation,
security,
transportation,
education, health
care, land title,
social services,
financial inclusion,
entertainment,
among others.
He said: “The
installed
infrastructure is
an important
instalment of
Governor Imoke’s
vision of a non-oil,
service-driven
economy for the
state. The
development of
‘Calabar Smart
City’ is a
significant
component of
Cross River State
building on its
foundation as the
nation’s tourist
destination as it
seeks to become
the business and
lifestyle
destination as
well.”
