http://www.techtimesnews.net/articles.asp?id=588

The Federal Capital Territory Authority (FCTA) and Suburban Broadband Limited (b2) have formed an alliance in a $5 million project to roll out Nigeria’s biggest city Wi-Fi service in Abuja.

FCTA through the Abuja Investment and Property Development Company (AIPDC) holds a 20 per cent stake in the wi-fi service while 80 per cent is held by Suburban Broadband (b2).

Corporate Affairs Manager, Ijeoma Nwogwugwu, Suburban Broadband Limited, says the project cost which excludes marketing costs will enable users to communicate effectively and on the move in Abuja, the nation’s seat of government.

Under a Private-Public Partnership (PPP), the FCTA and Suburban Broadband Limited (b2) will flag off what they described as Nigeria’s first cost effective city-wide Wireless Internet Network (WIN).

Nwogwugwu says the pilot phase of the project completed earlier this year saw the deployment of six hot spots in the city at sites like Millennium Park; FCDA (Federal Capital Development Authority) Secretariat in Area 11. Others include Model Secondary School, Maitama; National Children’s Park and Zoo, Asokoro; Kadanya Street, Life Camp and Old Federal Secretariat, Garki Area 3.

She says that residents within the vicinity of these locations have been allowed to enjoy the free service under a pilot to run till 2006 when the CT Access project shall be commercialised.
Suburban Broadband Limited says another 14 hot spots have since been rolled out thus bringing the total to 20 bringing within coverage such sites as Abuja Sheraton Hotel & Towers, Wuse Zone 4; Parks & Recreation Office, Asokoro.

Others include Force Headquarters, CBD; Aso FM, Katampe Hill; Ministers’ Quarters, Mabushi; Penniel Apartments, Wuse II; Officer’s Mess, Wu Bassey Barracks; Senior officer’s Quarters, Niger Barracks; Brigade of Guards HQ and Aminu Kano/Ahmadu Bello Way Junction Park, Wuse II.
Other locations (both indoor and outdoor) where access points will be set up with the intervention of FCTA by next year are other public parks; Nnamdi Azikiwe Airport (international and local wings); Le Meridien Hotel and the International Conference Centre; National Assembly; Federal Secretariat; Presidential Banquet Hall; Schools undergoing computerisation; Fast Food restaurants; Musa Yaradua Centre; Public Libraries and other locations where mobile professionals and other residents congregate.

Nwogwugwu says the company plans to triple the number of hot spots to 60 before the end of the first half of 2006 to enable users enjoy enjoy broadband data via an access device plugged into the PCMCIA slot on their laptops.

She says that mobile IP phones can also be used by customers to make voice calls and “customers can surf the internet, even while moving at speeds of up to 100 km/hour. Also, customers utilising an IP based PABX can through the company’s Managed IP PABX (voice) Services plug their voice network directly to an access device and route their internal office calls wirelessly over the network.

"Others using next generation applications like Skype on their mobile phones can benefit from having their calls routed over the wireless network, which connects them to their VoIP service provider”, she adds.

Also, residents requiring high speed Internet access through the wireless network in their homes or businesses will have to contact the firm to get access devices installed at their premises. Help lines and call centres will be set up for customers to make enquiries or lodge complaints. A link for the abujactaccess.com website has also been established on the www.b2broadband.net and www.fct.gov.ng websites.

Under the project plan, the Nwogwugwu says the company plans to triple the number of hot spots to 60 before the end of the first half of 2006.

By the beginning of 2006, the CT Access project will be commercialised through the sale of scratch cards which will be sold at affordable rates and enable users access the Internet with their laptop computers at public places where hot spots are available.

Scratch cards, depending on the price value determined by the firm may be sold in denominations as low as N500. Higher denominations will also be sold for resident needing Internet access for longer periods.

On the benefits of the project, Nwogwugwu says that “this technology enabler will help bridge the digital divide that now exists due to unavailability and affordability of Internet and data related infrastructure and services.”

She says the network will also contribute to FCTA’s objective of making Abuja a tourism haven, increase socio-economic activities within the city and enhance visitor’s experience.

where una want get bandwidth from you think it is easy like that.
any way the other reader will find this intresting but for my as a
man in the field, i think there are untold story from this contract
cos i imagine so many things like the support,coverage,signal strent
and so many other thing.....i know it may work for little time but i can
bet with my life ,if this works for more than six month then i will
be giving you guy thumb up,but am sure what you guyz are embanking
is to spread wifi only at key location,s like the million pack,Abuja garden,
and so on and not a home to home uses.

any way una well don,e no easy to chop government money.

Get the list of places in Abuja already connected to free wi-fi
www.fctaccess.com

Na wa oo,

So does this mean there is no need for cyber cafe in the areas ?

@koloman

I too share your concern on this but since Suburban Broadband holds 80% stake, the bulk of maintenance and service will naturally be left to them and i'm sure they're not goin to allow the business to die.

@larger_20

You can still operate cyber cafe business profitably around the area since majority of Nigerians don't have mobile devices to utilize the free service.

I cant see how mobile devices like cell phone are needed to use wifi. This is signal in the air, provided you have a computer with the card they will give you, you can connect very weel. Phone line is only important one category of "LAN"

I wasn't just refering to cell phone. When i said mobile devices, i meant pda or laptops with integrated, SD or PCMCIA wireless enabled card. You will agree with me that most Nigerians can't afford a laptop or even have a need for pda.

People can buy wireless LAN cards for their desktop computers, right?

Yes, people can. However, certain areas are WiFi enabled and some are not. Besides, most WiFi enabled lappy's or PDA's are quite expensive in the market. If you have about an hundred grand though, you could get a fair one, (a new one too) The HP NX6110 is a very decent bargin, schools like ABTI give them out free upon admission.
I hear globacom is doing some broadband thing, i dunna how far along they've gotten. It's sad really, not having fast enough bw.

all you need to connect to wifi is just a computer, it doesn't matter if you have a notebook or a pda or even a desktop, and your laptop must not be wifi enabled because you can buy wifi adapters and they cost from 20-200 euros, i have one conceptronic wireless 54mbps usb adapter,
in standard Wireless-G (802.11g) ,and i bought it very cheap, 23 euros with vat added. Even pcmcia cards are cheap too

Elite.

What ISP's are in Abuja now, that supply broadband speedz? I don't really anticipate moving to lagoz anymore, I'm in ABJ now. Organizing my blackhat community! its moving , slowly but surely. :p

Hi all,
We are eyeing the development very carefully and we are in touch with the Suburban Broadband Limited to provide their customers with unlimited international calls up to 50 countries from our specially configured wi-fi cell phones.
This phone has a dedicated American number and will only work at any area with open wi-fi access.
Madakowireless is a WISP compamy not only specializing in IP telephony but also in seting up developing and setup wireless hotspots in a box to cyber cafes all over the world.
In fact if you call This number, it will ring in Lagos nigeria on one of our wi-fi phone. (313)263-0897
So to answer your question on, YES the Abuja network will be able to work with any wifi phones but you have to secure the services of a WISP or IP telephony provider.
I cannot wait to see this system implemented in Nigeria finally.

Madako

hi guys,
   Not interested in the topic but very interested in d location.

there is free wireless internet in millenium park the wholeof abuja should be connected by the end of the month. peace

There is free wireless internet in Lagos - I used my PDA to connect wirelessly to the internet in Ikeja, Allen avenue and some other parts.

I browse for free with my PSP at Millenium Park!

pls at what area can som1 browse in millenium park.or can anybody tell me how i can easily connect to a wireless network with ma psp, TANX

when yar'adua comes back, you'll "bwouse"