Airtel’s Commitment to Nigeria’s First Research and Education Network, NgREN

  In a strategic partnership with Computer Warehouse Group, Airtel Nigeria has demonstrated its commitment to empower Nigerians by deploying the country’s first research and education network called the Nigerian Research and Education Network (NgREN). The unique programme is the first research and education network in the whole of West and Central Africa. It uses information and communication technologies (ICT) to drive inter-institutional communication, collaboration and shared access to knowledge across national and international boundaries. The NgREN is an outcome of the National Universities Commission’s (NUC) partnership with the Committee of Vice Chancellors of Nigerian Universities and support of the World Bank to establish a foundation that will redefine research and learning in tertiary institutions across the country. During the inauguration of the programme, the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Airtel Nigeria, Segun Ogunsanya commented on the company’s role in deploying the NgREN and expressed delight at the initiative saying that Airtel is passionate about the development of the education sector which is in agreement with the company’s major corporate social responsibility agenda. He remarked, “At Airtel Nigeria, we are committed to creating an innovative Enterprise Business and Mobile Communications Solutions that will enrich lives and empower Nigerians to fulfill their dreams. Airtel will continue to support programmes and initiatives that will deepen learning, research, innovation and digital content in Nigeria.” Airtel, under the NgREN programme, will connect first 27 older federal universities through the provision of 1Gig of core backbone connectivity across four geographical zones in the country to include Kano-Abuja, Abuja – Port Harcourt, Port Harcourt – Lagos and Lagos – Kano. It will provide 155mbps from the regional aggregation point to each of the selected universities in those regions and 155mbps Duplex dedicated internet service will be shared centrally by the universities selected in those regions. This is the first phase of the NgREN project and a critical part of it is the implementation of a full-mesh, high performance national backbone network interconnecting all member campuses to provide high performance/broadband network with Internet access.