EASSy
The Eastern Africa Submarine Cable System (EASSy) is an initiative to connect countries along the coast of Eastern Africa via a high bandwidth fibre optic cable system to the rest of the world. It is considered a milestone in the development of information infrastructure in the region.
EASSy is planned to run from Mtunzini in South Africa to Port Sudan in Sudan, with landing points in six countries, and connected to at least five landlocked countries – who will no longer have to rely on expensive satellite systems to carry voice and data services.
The project, funded by the World Bank and the Development Bank of Southern Africa, was initiated on January 2003, when a handful of companies investigated its feasibility. Although the African Development Bank and various governments have pledged financial support, funding has yet to be fully resolved.
Telkom, a major EASSy stakeholder, has said it may withdraw from the project, as it may be forced to reduce the fees it charges rival operators to use its bandwidth on SAT-3, a cable connecting Portugal to Johannesburg, which is co-owned by Telkom. The slow process of implementing the project (it is behind schedule by at least a year) has caused frustration among some governments in the region. A representative of the Government of Kenya said in May 2006 that it may endorse a similar but parallel project, which would connect Mombasa to Djibouti. In
See also
References
- "Eastern Africa submarine cable delayed for one year", Sudan Tribune, February 4, 2006
- "Kenya: Govt Gives Ultimatum for Cable Project", The East African Standard, May 17, 2006
- "Africa Resolves Telecommunications Debate Over EASSy Project", Inforworld, June 12, 2006