Google has announced that earlier this day, Equiano, a subsea internet cable running thru Portugal to South Africa landed in Lagos, Nigeria.
This announcement is coming a month after Equiano first landed on the African continent in Togo. The Equiano cable is anticipated to streak extra than 12,000km alongside the West Flee of Africa later landing in Swakopmund, Namibia; Rupert’s Bay, Saint Helena and Melkbosstrand, South Africa; setting up a treasured fresh excessive-capacity connection between the African continent and Europe.
The venture, which is named after Nigerian-born author and abolitionist Olaudah Equiano, is anticipated to back enhance extra digital transformation in Nigeria, a country with a thriving tech ecosystem. Equiano is anticipated to increase Nigeria’s GDP by $10.1 billion, magnify internet bound by a aspect of 6 and get 1.6 million jobs by 2025, in accordance with a fresh affect overview be taught about by Africa Observe and Genesis Analytics.
“Google is dedicated to supporting Africa’s digital transformation and we’re excited to behold the affect of the landing of Equiano in Nigeria,” Juliet Ehimuan, Director, West Africa at Google talked about. “We’ve worked with established companions and in-country consultants to guarantee that Equiano has the finest probably discontinuance in Nigeria and sooner or later of Africa.”
This announcement marks a milestone in Google’s opinion to beget inexpensive internet get admission to in Africa by constructing global infrastructure to back carry sooner internet to extra folk and decrease connectivity prices. Final October, Google CEO Sundar Pichai announced a opinion to make investments $1billion over 5 years to increase digital transformation in Africa, of which venture Equiano is part.