Social media giant, Facebook is planning to further expand the undersea cable network by adding four more branches to the existing route. The cable network will connect Europe, the Middle East, and Africa.
The telecom companies like China Mobile International, Orange, Vodafone, MTN GlobalConnect, STC, Telecom Egypt, and the West Indian Ocean cable formed a consortium to develop 2Africa cable (an undersea cable network) stretching about 37,000km or 22,990 miles.
In May 2020, 2Africa was declared as a cable that would be originating from the UK, travel all the way south down to West Africa before getting to the opposite side of this massive continent, passing Suez Canal, over the Middle East and the Mediterranean and finally landing in Spain.
The 37,000 km long cable is expected to connect about 23 countries which likewise includes Angola, Djibouti, Egypt, France, Italy, Nigeria, and Saudi Arabia.
The consortium further added the Canary Islands. With the latest addition, the cable will likewise be connecting the Indian Ocean island countries of Seychelles and Comoros along with Angola and Nigeria.
The 2Africa cable network will have 35 landings in 26 countries.
Facebook planned this project with an aim to deliver 1.2 billion people in Africa with a faster and more reliable internet.
Facebook gave a statement, the remarkable investment made by the social media giant in 2Africa builds on various other investments made across the continent. This incorporates infrastructure investments made in South Africa, Nigeria, Uganda, and the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Project 2Africa will be one of the largest undersea cable project on earth which will cost about $1billion USD. Nokia Oyj’ Alcatel Submarine Networks is currently building the cable and is expected to go live by the end of the year 2023.
Additionally, Facebook said that the majority of the subsea route surveying is accomplished, and Mediterranean Seas deployments are on the verge of accomplishment.
Featured Image: 2africacable.com
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