This is super amazing and I want you to join me to congratulate them: “the 2Africa consortium, comprised of China Mobile International, Facebook, MTN GlobalConnect, Orange, stc, Telecom Egypt, Vodafone and WIOCC, announced today the addition of four new branches to the 2Africa cable. The branches will extend 2Africa’s connectivity to the Seychelles, the Comoros Islands, and Angola, and bring a new landing to south-east Nigeria. The new branches join the recently announced extension to the Canary Islands”.
I am using this medium to ask the governors in South East Nigeria to give these companies all the support to make this a reality. I thank MTN which continues to serve. I thank Facebook which is amazing. I thank China Mobile for this voyage. I thank Orange which remains beautiful. To stc, Telecom Egypt, Vodafone and WIOCC, thank you for remembering the land of the rising sun. Well done.
If the future includes digital commerce, every part of Nigeria needs good internet – and these companies have promised to extend the capabilities everywhere, one by one, and for that I say BIG Salute.
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Remaining part of the press release
2Africa, which will be the largest subsea cable project in the world, will deliver faster, more reliable internet service to each country where it lands. Communities that rely on the internet for services from education to healthcare, and business will experience the economic and social benefits that come from this increased connectivity.
Alcatel Submarine Networks (ASN) has been selected to deploy the new branches, which will increase the number of 2Africa landings to 35 in 26 countries, further improving connectivity into and around Africa. As with other 2Africa cable landings, capacity will be available to service providers at carrier-neutral data centres or open-access cable landing stations on a fair and equitable basis, encouraging and supporting the development of a healthy internet ecosystem.
Marine surveys completed for most of the cable and Cable manufacturing is underway
Since launching the 2Africa cable in May 2020, the 2Africa consortium has made considerable progress in planning and preparing for the deployment of the cable, which is expected to ‘go live’ late 2023. Most of the subsea route survey activity is now complete. ASN has started manufacturing the cable and building repeater units in its factories in Calais and Greenwich to deploy the first segments in 2022.
Egypt terrestrial crossing already completed
One of 2Africa’s key segments, the Egypt terrestrial crossing that interconnects landing sites on the Red and the Mediterranean Seas via two completely diverse terrestrial routes, has been completed ahead of schedule. A third diverse marine path will complement this segment via the Red Sea.
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Amazing
I am also very interested in the passage route to South East Nigeria, via Rivers or Akwa Ibom? Because submarine cables cannot suddenly land in the southeast, curiously curious on this one.
Bringing infrastructure to any part of Nigeria is always complicated, not just from government officials but also each community you pass could create new government and tax boards on your head, with recurring ‘assurance’ fees.
We are yet to get to the level where governments and community people make massive concessions, just to attract developmental projects and good paying jobs, that’s why you see lots of poverty stricken communities still frustrating developmental projects.
Let’s hope that this one will fly, my own congratulatory message will have to wait, until it comes to pass…
Go and rest