A venture to build a 400m telecommunications fibre optic cable ring from South Africa to Nigeria is expected to lower bandwidth prices dramatically, and also enhance communications for SA companies in Nigeria.

Main One, a Nigerian-owned undersea cable project, has signed an agreement with Seacom and South Africa’s eFive Telecoms to build the fibre optic ring, reports Business Daily.

West Africa is currently relying on Telkom’s Sat3 undersea cable for connection to the rest of the world, while Seacom links East Africa with Europe and India. Main One runs from Nigeria to London.

The new fibre ring cable joins Seacom and West Africa Cable Systems, initiatives meant to remove the international infrastructure challenge in Africa.

Main One’s 7000km cable from Nigeria to London will be launched in June, while the second partnership with eFive Telecoms and Seacom is expected to be complete by 2012.

It is expected to create competition in the region and also provide back-up in case of a failure by another cable.