Orange Sierra Leone, the telecom leader in the country on Thursday 21st October, 2021 turned sod for the construction of an ultra-modern Bo Data Center in Sami Section, Tikonko Chiefdom, Bo City, Bo District.
The Data Center which will be hosting USD15M investment of Orange (SL) will be constructed within 12 to 15 months by the best selected construction company, Global Services Limited and architect, Ing. Manilius Garber.
The Bo Data Center will be the second transmission center and back-up to the existing infrastructure in Freetown as the company endeavours to avoid traffic in communications across Sierra Leone.
Speaking at the ceremony, Orange (SL)’s Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Aminata Kane expressed happiness, saying she was proud to select the best place in Sierra Leone, best architect and construction company for the data center.
She disclosed that the company chose Bo because of its strategic location and importance in the country, with assurances that their investment will be safe there.
The CEO disclosed that Bo will be hosting an investment of 15 Million Dollars for not only Orange Sierra Leone but Orange Group in general.
“Data is very important because without data there will be no internet and it’s a big problem.
With this data center in Bo, the traffic of communications will not have to go in Freetown data center and come back in Bo. All these communications will now stay here in Bo,” she explained.
Madam Kane stated that Bo data center will be an ultra-modern centre, state of the art and of international standard built by local skills with support of Orange Group.
She noted that Orange is an international group; one of the largest groups worldwide which skills will be helpful in the construction of the centre.
She further expressed gratitude to the government for creating the enabling environment for the company to thrive, acknowledging the role of Orange staff and partners in taking the company to another level.
Minister of Information and Communications, Hon Mohamed Rahman Swarray reiterated that the construction of the data center in Bo would enhance better communications in the region.
He further spoke about President Bio’s commitment to leaving a digital footprint of rural connectivity in the country.
He said that government was curious to mainstream E-service to communities.
Hon Swarray assured Orange of government’s commitment to creating the enabling environment for network operators to thrive in the country, and further highlighted the development interventions of Orange across the country in complementing the development aspirations of government.
Hon. Sama Sandy of Constituency 080, Bo District was upbeat that Orange has made it possible for his entire constituency to be covered by Orange network.
The legislator said that Orange has cemented the love he had for the company with the construction of the data center in his constituency.
He said that his constituency has already started benefiting from Orange’s presence there with support for the ongoing construction of community center in the community.
He pledged that the road leading to the data center in the community will be named and registered in Council as Orange Road.
He lauded the development strides of Orange in the country and promised to relay the message in the well of parliament.
The architect of the building, Ing. Manilius Garber disclosed that the construction of the data center was a complex project which will serve as the engine of the company.
He said that the center would be the first data center to house equipment and communications machinery of the company in the provinces.
Resident Minister-South, Hon Mohamed Alieu said that Orange was everywhere in the country as most of the people in remote communities use Orange network.
He further commended Orange for choosing Bo to construct the data center in the region.
