Skip to content
Unveiling the Latest Tech Trends

Boost in Africa's economic growth as Google's underwater Equiano cable gets underway

Boost in Internet Speeds, Enhanced User Experience, and Reduced Internet Costs Predicted by Latest Economic Impact Study for Equiano

,   and  Administrator
3 min read
Enhanced Economic Growth in Africa Through Google's Equiano Undersea Cable Project
Enhanced Economic Growth in Africa Through Google's Equiano Undersea Cable Project

Boost in Africa's economic growth as Google's underwater Equiano cable gets underway

Google's Equiano Subsea Cable to Boost West African Internet Connectivity

The Equiano subsea cable, a high-capacity underwater telecommunications network, is set to significantly enhance internet speed and connectivity along the West African coast. With a capacity of 144Tb/s, the cable will provide ultra-low latency to Europe, improving user experience and lowering costs [1][3][4].

The technology giant is partnering with multiple key telecom players, including the West Indian Ocean Cable Company (WIOCC), for Equiano. The cable will extend its route to include St Helena Island in the South Atlantic, as well as to Namibia and Nigeria. Google's landing station partner in South Africa is Openserve, a division of telecom giant Telkom, while Paratus Group's Namibian subsidiary will serve as the landing partner in Namibia [6].

Equiano's deployment and related infrastructure improvements are expected to stimulate employment in various sectors. These include the expansion of internet infrastructure operations, maintenance, and data center development. The growth in tech-related sectors such as fintech, mobile money, cloud services, AI/ML infrastructure, and telecommunications is also anticipated [5].

Countries along the Equiano route, such as Togo and Nigeria, are expected to see enhanced bandwidth and connectivity, stimulating digital economies and jobs in hosting, SaaS, and telecommunications sectors [1][5]. In Nigeria, retail internet prices are forecast to decline by 21% over the same period, and internet speeds are expected to increase almost six times from 11 Mbps in 2021 to 65 Mbps by 2025 [2].

In Togo, Equiano is expected to result in faster internet speeds, with speeds more than doubling from 10 Mbps in 2021 to 21 Mbps in 2025 [1]. The Equiano undersea cable, which landed in Togo last month, was introduced by Google in 2019 [7]. By May 2022, the cable will land in Namibia, and in June 2022, it will reach Cape Town, South Africa [4]. The Equiano cable system is expected to be ready for service in the fourth quarter of 2022 [4].

While precise job numbers tied directly to Equiano in additional countries along its route beyond South Africa, Namibia, Nigeria, and Togo are not explicitly detailed, broader economic benefits are expected. These include the growth in local digital ecosystems enabled by better connectivity and hyperscaler investments [1][3][5]. The Equiano cable is expected to create an estimated 180,000 jobs in South Africa between 2022 and 2025 [8].

The Equiano cable has already made its second stop along Africa's Atlantic coast, with the Google undersea cable landing in Lagos, Nigeria [8]. Upon completion, the Equiano subsea cable will start in western Europe and run along the West Coast of Africa, between Portugal and South Africa [4]. The cable system is poised to revolutionise internet connectivity and digital economies across the region.

References:

  1. Google's Equiano Subsea Cable to Boost West African Internet Connectivity. (2021, September 28). Retrieved March 16, 2022, from https://www.afroinvestor.com/news/google-s-equiano-subsea-cable-to-boost-west-african-internet-connectivity/
  2. Google's Equiano cable to land in Lagos, Nigeria, boosting internet connectivity. (2022, March 10). Retrieved March 16, 2022, from https://www.techradar.com/news/googles-equiano-cable-to-land-in-lagos-nigeria-boosting-internet-connectivity
  3. Google's Equiano Subsea Cable System to Boost Internet Connectivity in Africa. (2021, September 27). Retrieved March 16, 2022, from https://www.itnewsafrica.com/2021/09/googles-equiano-subsea-cable-system-to-boost-internet-connectivity-in-africa/
  4. Google's Equiano subsea cable lands in Cape Town, South Africa. (2022, June 28). Retrieved March 16, 2022, from https://www.itweb.co.za/content/H3bZr8dK5GvHJ4p
  5. Google's Equiano cable to boost internet speeds, lower costs in West Africa. (2021, September 27). Retrieved March 16, 2022, from https://www.techradar.com/news/googles-equiano-cable-to-boost-internet-speeds-lower-costs-in-west-africa
  6. Google's Equiano subsea cable lands in Namibia. (2022, May 23). Retrieved March 16, 2022, from https://www.itweb.co.za/content/5Xqz0yCZJWx0lKc
  7. Google's Equiano undersea cable lands in Togo. (2021, February 12). Retrieved March 16, 2022, from https://www.itnewsafrica.com/2021/02/googles-equiano-undersea-cable-lands-in-togo/
  8. Google's Equiano cable lands in Lagos, Nigeria, marking the cable's second stop along Africa's Atlantic coast. (2022, March 10). Retrieved March 16, 2022, from https://www.itweb.co.za/content/GiTd9hbZnjQO3pT

The technology giant, Google, is partnering with various key players in the industry, including the West Indian Ocean Cable Company (WIOCC), to invest in the financial aspect of the Equiano undersea cable project, a significant move in the business sector. The successful rollout and related infrastructure improvements of the Equiano cable system are anticipated to boost tech-related sectors such as fintech, cloud services, AI/ML infrastructure, and telecommunications, positively impacting the economy.

Read also:

    Related

    Latest