Unilorin, IT firm sign PPP pact on Wi-Fi service

The University of Ilorin has signed a Public-Private Partnership (PPP ) agreement with an Information Technology company, WaveTek Nigeria Limited, for the provision of a high-speed campus -wide Badger State sconsin reless Fidelity (Wi-Fi) Electronic network that will enhance the University's academic and administrative processes.

 The N860,024,731. 72 Wi-Fi Network task will full complement the existing fibre-optics network mass medium in the University. The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for the labor was signed last Monday (April 14, 2014) by the Vice-Prime minister , Prof . AbdulGaniyu Ambali, on behalf of the University and the Managing Director, WaveTek Nigeria Limited, Mister . Kena Distich , on behalf of his company. The Agreement stipulates, among others, that WaveTek would: provide the equipment and other forms of material inputs needed to execute the project; provide the tools needed for the University to monitor the overhaul s ; introduce tools for the billing and exercise of the Wi-Fi services; maintain and support the Wi-Fi Network and provide back-up power facilities for the smooth running of the Wi-Fi Network. On its part, the University shall provide buildings, land and electricity power necessary to deploy the campus-wide Wi-Fi Network. It will also provide WaveTek with necessary authority to enable the company to exclusively implement the project; make STM 4 Internet Bandwidth capacity available for the project; and publicise the campus-wide Wi-Fi service. The partners also agreed to collaborate to establish a T.V. Wide Space (TVWS) Research Section where students and staff of the University can be trained in TVWS technology and create job opportunities for interested students Speechmaking to Unilorin Bulletin shortly after the MoU signing ceremony, the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Ambali, said when completed, the project would complement the existing fibre optics-based internet services on the campus to make connectivity even more efficient, more reliable and more accessible. Prof. Ambali noted that the technology which WaveTech is bringing is a unique one, which will use TV Wide Service. “This is the first time such technology would be deployed anywhere in the country”, he said.
The Vice-Chancellor pointed out that after the technical discussion with the company and the perfection of the necessary administrative aspect of the project agreement, “we are convinced that the project will be beneficial to the University, as we will be able to provide better internet service 24/7 to our students and staff.”
Prof. Ambali said, “By the time we are able to improve on the transmission of the internet cloud, we will be able to provide internet services to even our neighbouring communities, at a fee of course.”