Meta’s 2Africa subsea cable, the world’s largest undersea cable spanning an impressive 45,000 km, has arrived in Lagos and Akwa Ibom States of Nigeria, marking a significant milestone in Africa’s digital connectivity landscape. The cable project, overseen by Equinix Company MainOne, has completed its Akwa Ibom phase, reaching the shores of Ibeno, and has also landed at the Mopo-Onibeju Lekki area of Lagos, facilitated by Bayobab and MTN Opco’s partnership.
The arrival of the cable in Nigeria is a pivotal moment that solidifies the country’s position as a key player in Africa’s digital connectivity revolution. Frédéric Schepens, CEO of Equinix Company MainOne, emphasized the importance of the cable’s landing, stating that it marks the fourth in a series of six landings spanning five countries, including Ghana, Nigeria, Côte d’Ivoire, and South Africa. He highlighted that local service providers in Nigeria will gain access to world-class capacity in carrier-neutral data centers or open-access cable landing stations on a fair and equitable basis.
Josephine Sarouk, Managing Director of Bayobab Nigeria, underscored the profound impact of the cable’s landing in Nigeria, stating that it will catalyze the country’s digital economy. She expressed that the arrival of the cable will supercharge the digital economy, creating space for a vibrant ecosystem that delivers digital services to millions of Nigerians, aligning with the government’s vision for a thriving digital economy. Sarouk highlighted Bayobab’s investment in the 2Africa project as part of their commitment to customers, enhancing network resilience and capacity to meet the escalating demands for digital services such as Fintech, IoT, AI, and e-learning.
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The 2Africa subsea cable project is a consortium effort that includes Meta, China Mobile International, MTN Global Connect, Orange, Vodafone, Egypt Telecom, Saudi Telecom Company, and the West Indian Ocean Cable Company. The ambitious project is poised to link 32 other African countries, facilitating direct support for economic development across the continent. Moreover, it promises to catalyze the expansion of 4G and 5G networks, as well as enhance broadband accessibility for millions of individuals and businesses throughout Africa.
- Tags: Meta, subsea, Technology
