Africa to Get a New Internet Cable

By Eddyson Lugangwa Posted 23 March 2006 @ 11:30 am EET     Print     Reprint     E-Mail     Comments

Nairobi (IBTimes.com) - Campaigners fear that a new fibre optic cable which could revolutionise internet use in East Africa could become a missed opportunity.

The Association for Progressive Communications (APC) says a similar cable linking West and Southern Africa has not provided the benefits of cheaper, faster internet access because it is controlled by state-owned monopolies - or their privatised successors - which still enjoy near monopolies.

The APC say there will be a similar lack of competition in East Africa, meaning prices will remain high and so high-speed access like broadband will still be beyond the reach of most people.

Telecoms analyst Eddie Murphy said that the cable will definitely make a "significant difference" to download speeds because at present, there is nothing similar in East Africa.

He does agree, however, that prices are likely to stay high unless other companies are allowed access to the East African Submarine Cable System (Eassy).

Work is due to start on Eassy in the next few months and it is expected to come online by the end of next year.

APC executive director Anriette Esterhuysen said there have been two problems with the way the existing Sat3 cable - which goes from Portugal around West and Southern Africa to Asia - has been used.


Firstly that countries without a direct connection to the cable - such as Namibia - are reliant for their access on a single foreign company, which can charge exorbitant fees without fear of competition;
Secondly that companies which dominate their domestic markets are under little pressure to provide a fast, cheap service to their consumers.
Ms Esterhuysen says Nitel still dominates the Nigerian market and has been slow to offer broadband to consumers.

In contrast, Sat3 has led to a huge expansion in internet access in Ghana, she says.