Telecoms firm Globacom plans to leverage its infrastructure and international partnerships to connect tertiary institutions across Africa.

Speaking at the third Annual Conference and fourth Annual General Meeting of the West and Central African Research and Educational Network (WACREN) held in Abidjan, Cote d'Ivoire, Folu Aderibigbe, Globacom's Enterprise Group Commercial coordinator, outlined the company's activities to date.

According to Aderibigbe, Globacom is already providing connectivity to organisations and higher institutions in Nigeria, Ghana and Benin Republic.

He said the company's international submarine fibre optic cable originating from Europe and crossing through West African countries is being deployed for Africa's tertiary institutions.

Also speaking at the event, hosted under the theme Catalysing Quality Higher Education and Research, Togo's Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research, Professor Octave Nicoué Broohm stressed that African countries need to step up to the growing need for research in higher institutions by rapidly building digital capacities.

He disclosed that the government of Togo is currently building data centres in state universities and restoring fibre optic cable connections to all universities.

The Professor added that on 1 April 2017 the government removed taxes levied on computers to facilitate greater access to ICT and boost research.