EASSy project signs supply contract
CONSTRUCTION of the East African Submarine System (EASSY) cable project will start soon following the signing of a supply contract with Alcatel-Lucent Submarine Networks of France.
By Emmy Olaki
CONSTRUCTION of the East African Submarine System (EASSY) cable project will start soon following the signing of a supply contract with Alcatel-Lucent Submarine Networks of France.
Construction of the $240m (sh422.4b) submarine cable is expected to be completed by the fourth quarter of next year. The implementation period has been set at 18 months
Once complete, the cable is expected to lead to improved high-capacity connectivity within Africa and with the rest of the world.
The project is intended to address limitations imposed by sole reliance on satellite and meet growing demand for broadband connectivity in the region.
“There is significant growth in voice, data, Internet services, but no submarine cable system along the East African seaboard. EASSy will be the first optic fibre connectivity between eastern Africa and the global optic fibre network,†Donald Nyakairu, the chairman of the project’s finance and commercial working group, said.
It is expected to make services better and affordable by removing the need for transit through third parties and reducing payments to foreign telecoms or satellite providers.
EASSy is owned by the Government and private sector.
It is also facilitated by development finance institutions and development partners.
CONSTRUCTION of the East African Submarine System (EASSY) cable project will start soon following the signing of a supply contract with Alcatel-Lucent Submarine Networks of France.
Construction of the $240m (sh422.4b) submarine cable is expected to be completed by the fourth quarter of next year. The implementation period has been set at 18 months
Once complete, the cable is expected to lead to improved high-capacity connectivity within Africa and with the rest of the world.
The project is intended to address limitations imposed by sole reliance on satellite and meet growing demand for broadband connectivity in the region.
“There is significant growth in voice, data, Internet services, but no submarine cable system along the East African seaboard. EASSy will be the first optic fibre connectivity between eastern Africa and the global optic fibre network,†Donald Nyakairu, the chairman of the project’s finance and commercial working group, said.
It is expected to make services better and affordable by removing the need for transit through third parties and reducing payments to foreign telecoms or satellite providers.
EASSy is owned by the Government and private sector.
It is also facilitated by development finance institutions and development partners.