Faizel Patel, Radio Islam News – 30-06-2019

(Twitter: @FaizelPatel143)

Google says it will build a new undersea cable called Equiano from Portugal to South Africa, which promises to bring superfast internet to local shores.

The new cable will use state-of-the-art infrastructure based on space-division multiplexing (SDM) technology which transmits information along parallel channels.

In a statement, the search giant says this will deliver approximately 20 times more network capacity than the last cable built to South Africa.

The new cable, which will be fully funded by Google, is expected to be operational in South Africa by 2021.

South Africa has access to various undersea cables.

Along the eastern Africa coastline, there are the Seacom cable built in 2009 and the SAT-3/SAFE (South Africa Far East cable) which is older.

The WACS (West Africa Cable System), supported by MTN, was completed in 2012.