EASSy proving tough to launch
The East Africa Submarine System (EASSy) cable has been on the agenda since 2004 as a crucial way to increase Africa’s bandwidth and slash the costs.
Last week, ministers from 15 countries approved a “roadmap to speedy implementation of the construction of the EASSy cable, scheduled to be operational in year 2008.” Yet only five months earlier they had stipulated a cost of $200m and a launch in 2007, already a year overdue.
Last week the ministers discussed a draft protocol on regulatory, legal and policy frameworks for the cable. They will meet again in August in Rwanda to sign the draft protocol, after consulting their governments.
Internet service providers, voice and data carriers, and every big business needing international connectivity are watching the lack of progress with frustration.
The 9900km cable from Durban to Port Sudan will have landing points in six countries with tentacles spreading into landlocked countries, so they no longer have to rely on expensive satellite bandwidth.
Mauritius has become the latest country to join, bringing the total to 24 and driving the bill up to $300m to extend the cable.
More than 30 operators are in a consortium to finance and own the cable, although funding details are yet to be thrashed out.
Any company in the member countries can join, and South African internet service provider Internet Solutions hopes to invest $20m to take a stake.
That open-to-all model is designed to cut the cost of communications for all operators, instead of repeating a “closed consortium” mistake that makes the Sat-3 cable around Africa’s west coast less useful.
Access to Sat-3 from SA is controlled by Telkom, the largest investor with a 13% stake.
Private players are complaining Telkom charges roughly six times more than can be justified. Telkom’s monopoly is under fire and the industry is waiting for Communications Minister Ivy Matsepe-Casaburri to issue a directive declaring access must be provided on a cost basis, not a profit-loaded basis.
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