Ambitious project to create one telecom network in Africa

TELECOMMUNICATION systems in Africa could soon operate under one network if plans by a Libyan company, LapGreen Networks come to fruition, an official has announced.

LapGreen Networks; a subsidiary of Libyan African Investment Portfolio, is working towards improving telecommunication on the continent following its successful history in the Eastern African region, particularly in Uganda and Rwanda.

Managing director for LapGreen Networks and Uganda Telecom, Engineer Abdulbaset Elazzabi, told a local paper that his company now deemed it necessary to expand its network from one country to the other with the sole purpose of boosting communication in Africa.

“We are expanding our network daily from country to country. By 2010/2011, we will be one network from East to West Africa and this network will be built by Africans, bringing countries together,” said Elazzabi.

LapGreen Networks owns 80 percent of Rwanda’s official telecommunication company Rwandatel, and plans are at an advanced stage to introduce 3G networks to the country, which is still rebuilding after the genocide war that claimed more than 800 000 lives.

Apart from having operations in Rwanda and Uganda, LapGreen Networks is also specializing in telecommunication activities in Ivory Coast, Gabon, Niger and Togo.

It was not clear how LapGreen Networks would rope in other top mobile and telecommunication companies from around the continent into supporting this ambitious project.

Africa is expected to have made strides in information communication technology by the time the FIFA 2010 World Cup roars into life in South Africa.