Africa and the Internet: Submarine Cables
Tue, Mar 24th 2009, 10:49
An assortment of submarine fibre optic cable laying projects are set to revolutionise internet connectivity on the African continent, which to date has been notoriously slow and ineffective.
Africa lags behind the rest of the world when it comes to internet connectivity and usage. Internet users across the continent have been starved of cheap connectivity that is taken for granted elsewhere in the world. East Africa is the only region in the world that has no link to international communication networks and users have to rely on slow, expensive satellite communication. This has hindered economic growth and starved the continent of internet and technology developments that it so needs.
West Africa has a high speed connection through the SAT-3 cable but prices have been astronomical and a deterrent to many potential users. To date, Africa represents just 3% of worldwide internet usage. However, a recent study suggests that this number could quadruple in the next 5 years. This is a vast untapped market.
At the moment there are a flurry of undersea cable projects underway. Seacom, a Mauritius-registered private consortium, is making good headway with their laying of a submarine fibre optic cable along the east coast of Africa. They plan to launch their cable by June 2009 in time for the Fifa Confederations Cup tournament to be held in South Africa.
The cable will connect the east and southern coast of Africa with India, Europe and the Middle East. Already, demand for Seacom's services in Mozambique and Tanzania has far exceed expectations, not to mention the more internet savvy Kenya and South Africa.
2010 should see delivery of the East African Submarine Cable System (Eassy), another project that involves a special purpose vehicle representing smaller African telecommunication companies. Essay should be live in time for the 2010 Fifa World Cup kickoff.
The ultimate dream is to have Africa encircled by undersea cable. There are projects in the pipeline for the laying of cables down the west coast of Africa but to date these are still beset with uncertainty and politicking.
Recently South African Trade and Industry Minister Mandisi Mpahlwa announced that the West African Cable System Consortium (WACS) was due to conclude its construction and maintenance agreement. It is far from clear when and if cable laying will begin.
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