Undersea Cable Network in Africa: Facebook all set to further expand the planned network

Last updated on September 11th, 2021 at 07:55 am

 Facebook Inc along with other world’s leading telecommunications carriers like China Mobile Ltd and MTN Group Ltd is set to further expand the already planned giant sub-sea cable in Africa.

According to a statement released by the companies on Monday, the new plan will expand to include Indian Ocean Island countries Seychelles and Comoros to the network, along with Angola and a new connection to Nigeria. Additionally, the network would include link to Canary Islands. This planned network is going to bring the connection to 35 in 26 countries. 

“The significant investment by Facebook in 2Africa builds on several other investments we have made in the continent, including infrastructure investments in South Africa, Uganda, Nigeria and the Democratic Republic of Congo,” said an email sent by a Facebook spokesperson. 

Facebook and Google by Alphabet Inc. are behind by almost 80% of recent investments in the undersea transatlantic links. The latest decision is an attempt by the leading tech giants to tap the growing market’s demand for fast data transfers required for everything from streaming movies to social media to telemedicine. 

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This project is long in-talk plan of Facebook to lead the way in providing faster and more reliable internet services to Africa, a continent that is home to over 1.2 billion people’s rapidly increasing use of smartphones. 

The US-based Facebook Inc had first announced its plans for undersea cable in 2020 May. This was post attempts at launching satellites in 2016 using a SpaceX rocket carrying the technology, that unfortunately blew up. 

2Africa which will be the world’s largest subsea cable network is going to cost just under $1 billion. Nokia Oyj’ Alcatel Submarine Networks has been picked to build the cable for the network. The cable that will stretch to 37,000-kilometer (23,000 miles) will connect Africa, Europe, and the Middle East.

It is expected that 2Africa will be operational in 2024. Other project partners of 2Africa include Telecom Egypt Co, the U.K.’s Vodafone Group Plc and Paris-based Orange SA.