MTN Group, PCCW Global, Saudi Telecom Company (STC), Telecom Egypt (TE) and Telkom South Africa have signed an MOU to build the new “Africa-1” submarine cable system. This consortium-funded system will connect Africa with the Middle East and South Central Asia and provide onward connectivity to Europe.
Africa-1 will have at least 3-fiber pair core that extends more than 12,000 km along Africa’s East Coast towards Saudi Arabia, Egypt and Pakistan, with up to an additional 5,000 km for branches. Africa-1 will leverage the latest state-of-the-art 100G technology and will be initially equipped to accommodate several terabits of capacity from day one.
Along with comprehensive interconnection with other cable systems and full Open Access at all cable landing points, Africa-1 will be technically and commercially designed to be attractive, delivering easy accessibility and a unique low-latency direct express route, according to a statement by the consortium.
Dr. Homoud M. Alkussayer, Vice President and Head of Wholesale Business Unit of STC
Africa is an important emerging marketplace with ever-increasing opportunities arising from the positive socio-economic developments in many African countries.
John Unterhorst, Group Executive responsible for Global Carrier Services and Group Network/IP Projects (MTN Group)
Africa-1 as a high capacity consortium initiative on the Eastern African seaboard that will complement existing cables now nearing their mid-life. Africa-1 will ensure future resiliency and capacity requirements for the explosive digital broadband future, so vital for Africa’s economic and social development.
