Building of a four-fibre broadband undersea ring around Africa is under way, according to South African government officials. <\/p>\n
While a Nigerian consortium is building a two-fibre link from Nigeria to Portugal, UhuruNet, a consortium that involves the special purpose vehicle established under Nepad, African telecommunication companies and other investors, is planning to piggyback another two-fibre link on it.<\/p>\n
Keith Shongwe, the deputy director general for ICT international affairs and trade at the communications department, told a media briefing in Parliament on Wednesday that a similar partnership arrangement would be made between the Department of Public Enterprises’ Infraco Broadband’s two-fibre line aimed at linking Nigeria with South Africa and UhuruNet. <\/p>\n
UhuruNet is itself meanwhile going ahead with its plan to partner with a Kenyan consortium aiming to link Kenya with Europe, and with linking Kenya to South Africa. <\/p>\n
Calling it a "very big initiative", Shongwe said the submarine cable would encircle the continent with forward connections to Europe, the Americas and the Middle East. <\/p>\n
This is a continental cable that will see close on to 3.9 terabits in total, providing more than sufficient access and connectivity to the continent.<\/p>\n
The rapid deployment of these submarine cables will have a direct effect on economic growth, Shongwe said. "It has both social and economic benefits," he said. <\/p>\n
"From a social perspective, you look at the impact it has on education – increasing access to knowledge, increasing access to information.<\/p>\n
From a health perspective you look at opportunities of improving healthcare delivery through mediums such as telemedicine and other means of remote access to health care. <\/p>\n
"From an economic perspective you look at opportunities around the development of industries like business process outsourcing, and the support that would give to businesses. <\/p>\n
"We look at opportunities whereby global businesses would have access to their offices throughout the world."<\/p>\n