Underwater cables internet speeds

Photo: Unsplash

Oh yes! Internet speeds in SA will TREBLE – thanks to a new underwater cable

The days of our frustratingly slow internet speeds in South Africa may soon be numbered, thanks to Google’s ambitious new infrastructure plan.

Underwater cables internet speeds

Photo: Unsplash

Boy, did we need this. Google has confirmed that they will be installing a new underwater cable, which is set to help strengthen the connectivity links between Africa and Europe. The project says it can slash the cost of our broadband bills, and they even guarantee that our internet speeds will TREBLE here in Mzansi.

Google to enhance web connectivity in Africa – with this huge underwater cable

Google Africa Managing Director Nitin Gajria led a presentation on Wednesday, outlining what the ‘Equiano’ link will bring to this part of the world. Starting from its base in Lisbon, the underwater cable will then be placed around the northwest coast of our continent, connecting Nigeria to Europe’s more advanced networks.

That same subsea wire will then be fed into St. Helena, Namibia, and SA itself – and the initiative is likely to bring more citizens online, as Google ramps up its infrastructure development in Africa:

“Google is invested in building global infrastructure, to bring everyone online. This includes Equiano, which is a state-of-the-art subsea cable that will connect Africa with Europe even further. We have branches that are now being connected in Nigeria, St. Helena, Namibia, and South Africa.” | Nitin Gajria

Internet speeds set to treble in South Africa

But South Africans who are already well-connected to the web will also benefit massively from Equiano. It’s understood that the extension of these cables will make internet speeds ‘three times faster’ once the project is complete – and this desperately needed upgrade is set to significantly revolutionise our online connectivity.

“Equiano will provide 20 times more network capacity than the last cable installation brought to South Africa, and will lead to a 21% decrease in internet costs… this will also bring about a tripling of internet speeds in South Africa.”

  • Gajria was featured in the following video, explaining how Equiano will actually work…