Being the driving force behind the establishment of companies such as Fiberway, based in Luanda providing specialist support in fibre optic cabling and distribution, Fernando Fernandes is also the managing director of TelCables Nigeria.
Fernando is also the Founder and Board Member of the Angolan Renewable Energy Association (ASAER).
The entrepreneur said, his achievements in Information and Communication Technology(ICT) sector were driven by his passion to create jobs, impact humanity and providing solutions to people’s problems.
Need For Strong Internet Connectivity For Businesses
While the 72 active submarine cables across Africa, Nigeria inclusive, do help in providing basic internet connectivity across Africa, he said, there’s still room for improvement. “With several cables approaching end-of-life, it’s essential to invest in new infrastructure that enhances redundancy and resilience to meet the growing demands. Africa’s digital future will rely on an increasing need for secure and stable networks, for its future,” he pointed out.
To achieve truly robust internet connectivity, he said, it’s vital to focus on both local and cross-border infrastructure, noting that, hosting content locally is key, as it minimises latency and reduces the impact of potential disruptions. Additionally, he said, seamless cross-border interconnectivity is crucial for resilience across the continent as this requires collaborative efforts from regulators, policymakers, and the private sector to establish policies that encourage investment in infrastructure.
For us, we continue to strengthen local hosting options, which allows for better, more stable connectivity and supports the local tech ecosystem in Nigeria, he stated.
“Each type of infrastructure comes with its own risks; however, undersea cables have proven to be among the most reliable. We also need to consider alternatives like cross-border fiber networks and terrestrial links, which add another layer of redundancy,” he observed.
Leveraging Opportunities To Excel
In Nigeria, he said, his company, TelCables, has been instrumental in enhancing connectivity through strategic infrastructure projects, saying, “we are implementing a high-capacity terabit ring that interconnects the nation’s major data centers—Lekki CLS, MDXI, 21st Century, Rack Center, Medallion, and back to Lekki CLS. This initiative significantly enhances the resilience and redundancy of our capacity offerings, providing secure and uninterrupted service to clients.
“Additionally, our locally hosted cloud service, Cloud2Africa, allows businesses to operate seamlessly with low-latency access to data and applications, billed directly in Naira to avoid foreign exchange fluctuations. We also offer disaster recovery solutions, underscoring our commitment to providing scalable, resilient ICT infrastructure that’s crucial for business continuity in the Nigerian and wider African market,” he said.
Looking ahead, he said, TelCables is focused on building metro rings in countries where we operate, including Nigeria, noting that, metro networks will enhance local connectivity, improve latency, and support the growth of digital services.
We are also dedicated to ensuring resilience in our subsea infrastructure by continuously adopting best practices and partnering with other subsea cable providers for shared redundancy.
“In Nigeria, these initiatives align with the nation’s digital transformation goals, enabling more efficient business operations, supporting startups, and creating new economic opportunities that contribute to long-term growth,” he stressed.
Through his Telcables Nigeria, a multinational telecommunications company operating in the wholesale market., he said, he has been able to provide the best-in-class solutions for people’s business, ensuring robust and reliable connectivity and business continuity.
“As a global network with multiple presences in the most important IP Hubs in Nigeria, our dedicated and experienced team can assist in developing and deploying the right ICT solutions for your enterprise. Whether a large-scale, multinational company or a growing enterprise, our flexible and innovative solutions are adaptable to your budget and resource requirements,” he stressed.
Increasing digitalisation of industries to create jobs
“Reliable data infrastructure is absolutely essential for Nigerian startups aiming to thrive in today’s digital economy. As industries digitize rapidly, access to stable, high-quality data services is crucial for business continuity, scalability, and competitiveness. Without reliable infrastructure, startups face challenges in maintaining uninterrupted services, handling peak loads, and meeting growing user demands—all of which are critical to their success and growth.
“We recognises these needs and is committed to empowering startups with the robust data connectivity and cloud solutions they require. Through our low-latency, cost-effective connectivity solutions to major global content delivery networks (CDNs) and essential data resources, we ensure that startups have seamless access to the tools they need to compete effectively, not just locally but also internationally.
.”With a consistent 100% uptime since its inception, Cloud2Africa offers Nigerian startups a reliable platform for hosting applications and data close to their user base, reducing latency and improving response times. Additionally, the proximity of our infrastructure means that startups can comply more easily with data sovereignty regulations, which is increasingly important as data privacy concerns grow across sectors,” he noted.
Furthermore, he stressed that, TelCables is developing metro rings and interconnections between major data centers across Nigeria, creating a resilient and redundant network that supports uninterrupted access to data even as this infrastructure strengthens the foundational network that startups rely on, enabling them to innovate, expand, and adapt to new opportunities with confidence.
Through these initiatives, he noted that, TelCables not only addresses the need for reliable data infrastructure but also plays a pivotal role in Nigeria’s digital transformation, helping startups overcome traditional barriers and positioning them for sustainable growth in a digital-first world
“Through Cloud2Africa, which operates nodes in Nigeria, Angola, South Africa, and Brazil, TelCables provides startups with the connectivity and infrastructure needed to enter international markets and scale their operations. By leveraging our robust connectivity, startups can access new markets, streamline operations, and expand globally without interruption. This is a clear example of how TelCables empowers businesses to grow and position themselves competitively on a global scale, driving innovation and economic development in Nigeria,” he emphasised.
Advise To Upcoming Entrepreneurs
To make inroad in whatever sector one decides to play in, he charged upcoming entrepreneurs to be vigilant for opportunities and be focused and hard working at execution of these opportunities.
He said, ICT sector has lots of opportunities for individuals to excel, urging interested persons to carry out necessary research on the businesses to do, seek funding and be Produzent in resources management, ensuring that the business are not mismanaged,
Biography
Being the driving force behind the establishment of companies such as Fiberway, based in Luanda providing specialist support in fibre optic cabling and distribution, Fernando Fernandes is the Managing Director of TelCables Nigeria.
Fernando is also the Founder and Board Member of the Angolan Renewable Energy Association (ASAER).
Having held senior positions across the international telecoms and ICT industry and worked for companies from Alcatel to Unitel and undertaken project and consulting work across Africa, Portugal and Spain, Fernandes is, no doubt, a thoroughbred professionals and a distinguished entrepreneur.
He has accumulated extensive experience in leadership, business planning, project management and product development. he has also played an instrumental role in providing specialist consulting and guidance to companies such as Anglobal S.A. and start-ups like Advanlink that provide dedicated services within the telecoms and renewable energy sectors.
