Nigeria’s ipNX recognised for innovation in FTTH deployment

Nigerian ICT service provider ipNX has received the Frost & Sullivan Award for Competitive Strategy Innovation and Leadership, based on its deployment of Fibre-to-the-Home (FTTH) broadband infrastructure.

The company was recognised based on its ability to innovate and address challenges, and the ability to overcome issues with reliable power supply. “ipNX has consistently remained ahead of the technology curve by implementing forward-looking growth and market penetration strategies…,” Frost & Sullivan, a global analysis firm, says.

Frost & Sullivan says that in 2013 ipNX became the first Nigerian network provider to deploy a FTTH network covering the three major cities of Lagos, Abuja and Port Harcourt in the country.

“The launch of ipNX’s FTTH networks placed Nigeria in a league of a select group of African countries offering the FTTH network technology,” Naila Govan-Vassen, research analyst, Frost & Sullivan.

“The bandwidth upgrade also improved customer experience with the company’s fiber optic service (FOS) and eventually, strengthened the ipNX brand and position as a market leader.”

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IpNX has employed gigabyte passive optic network (GPON) architecture, based on passive (unpowered) optical splitters between ipNX’s point of presence and a customer’s location.

IpNX strategically sought to lower costs by spear-heading an advocacy group that obtained the government’s buy-in, as the high costs of Right Of Way (ROW) were translating to high broadband service costs for customers.

“This decision paid off, with ROW charges decreasing drastically from $300 to $50 per metre and ultimately, enabling the company to offer reliable and more cost-effective services to customers,” the statement continues.

“In addition to its FOS package, ipNX launched its IP Television (IPTV) in 2014, which means that consumers get a consolidated bill for Internet, telephony and IPTV services,” said Govan-Vassen.

“This service will make the company Nigeria’s first multi-service operator to deliver Triple-play services (Internet, television and telephony).”

Josephine Okojie