The $115 million in federal stimulus funding was initially announced in September 2010 as part of Maryland’s plan to connect the U.S. East and West coasts with fiber-optic cable.

IPX said it was awarded the contract because of, “its history providing satellite communications to remote locations in West Africa. IPX plans to use this contract as a springboard for providing fiber to utilities, corporations, universities and telecoms in West Africa and ensuring that citizens in those countries have access to high speed internet,” according to a company statement.