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EP23: Connectivity in Africa: data centers, networks, subsea cables

In this episode, Mattias Fridström is meeting with Funke Opeke, founder and CEO of MainOne, the leading provider of telecom services and network solutions for businesses in West Africa. With its 7,000km subsea cable system, including landing stations in Nigeria, Ghana and Portugal, and its growing metropolitan infrastructure and data center ecosystem, MainOne is uniquely positioned to accelerate the development of digital infrastructure in the region. In April 2022, Equinix announced that it’s entering Africa by closing the acquisition of MainOne.

Learn about:

  • The story of MainOne
  • Challenges of running a data center and a network in Africa
  • The building on MainOne’s subsea cable to Europe some 15 years ago
  • Status of the African market: data centers, connectivity on land, international sea cables
Mattias Fridström
Mattias Fridström—
There’s a certain kind of person who gets a little bit too excited about networks. Mattias is that guy. If he had a tattoo, it would be of a network. Mattias holds an MSc in Electrical Engineering from the University of Wollongong, Australia. He joined Telia in 1996 and has worked in a number of senior roles at Telia Carrier (now Arelion), most recently as CTO. Since July 2016 he has been Arelion's Chief Evangelist. Mattias’ passion isn’t limited to networks: He has played golf professionally and competed on a high level in both football and floor hockey.
Funke Opeke
Funke Opeke
CEO, MainOne—

Funke Opeke is the founder and CEO of MainOne, West Africa’s leading communications services and network solutions provider. Opeke is an experienced telecommunications executive who returned to Nigeria in 2005 as the Chief Technical Officer of MTN after a twenty-year career in the United States. Prior to her return, she was the Executive Director of Verizon Communications Wholesale Division. Subsequent to MTN, Opeke advised Transcorp on the acquisition of NITEL and briefly served as the interim Chief Operating Officer, post-acquisition of NITEL. She obtained a first degree in Electrical Engineering from Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife Nigeria and a Master’s degree in Electrical Engineering from Columbia University, New York.

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