wiredInUSA February 2019

Chinese venture growing

Nigerian network growth

Image: Ibrahim Dikko

Image: Kobe Steel

Nigeria’s Backbone Connectivity Network (BCN), through Fleek Networks Ltd, plans to build approximately 10,000km of broadband fiber optic network, beginning in 2019. The CEO of BCN, Mr Ibrahim Dikko, who spoke during the launch of a free, high- speedpublicWi-Fi hotspot inAbuja, created in partnershipwith Google, said the network is expected to link about 200 points of access across all local government areas in the seven northwestern states of Jigawa, Kaduna, Kano, Katsina, Kebbi, Sokoto and Zamfara. The free Wi-Fi station marked the start of Google’s plan to roll out free Internet services in northern Nigeria. BCN owns and operates a network of over 2,000km of fiber optic broadband cable, including the largest broadband fiber infrastructure in Abuja to serve network broadband carriers, Internet service providers, business enterprises and retail households. Dikko stressed the social impact of the BCN- Google partnership. He said BCN is working with Google to activate more sites in Abuja and the northern region this year.

Kobe Steel and shareholders of Kobe Special Steel Wire Products (KSP) have agreed to increase the production capacity of their Chinese joint venture. The other venture partners are Shinsho, Osaka Seiko, Meihoku Kogyo, Metal One and Kyodo Shaft. KSP was established in 2007 to supply cold heading steel wires to manufacturers of automotive bolts, nuts and bearing products. Full-scale operation began in 2009. Kobe Steel provides 100 percent of the special steel wire rods used by KSP, so the same material is available for parts manufactured in Japan and China. This will be the fifth capacity expansion to help meet the needs of KSP. Around $8 million will be invested in three additional wire drawing machines, making a total of 11, and two additional heating furnaces, bringing the total toeight. Thenew equipment is scheduled to start in March and June 2020, respectively. Production capacity will increase to 5,500 metric tons per month.

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wiredInUSA - February 2019