Africa Coast to Europe internet cable goes live in South Africa

Michele McCann

Michele McCann, head of interconnection and peering at Teraco, says: "South Africa is a critical hub for access to digital services in the region. Our position as the interconnection hub in Africa allows us to address the increasing demands for global data transit. Users of Ace now have direct access to Teraco’s ecosystem of over 350 networks, 130 IT service providers, 50 global content providers, and the key global cloud providers via their cloud onramps located in Teraco."

McCann says that the timing is key as the regions’ cloud uptake consistently increases due to the digital transformation occurring across most business sectors: "Ace is playing a critical role in the continent’s infrastructure development. Using the most advanced high-speed broadband fibre-optic technology enables the cable capacity to be increased as and when needed without additional submarine work required."

Ace connects Europe to Africa’s west and southern coast through a high-speed fibre optic system, which has been extended to South Africa. Commissioned to support the cost-effective delivery of broadband services and digital applications for education, healthcare and other e-services, Ace reaches an estimated 450 million people, equivalent to 5.8% of the world’s population.

Sixteen of the 19 countries connected are on African soil – and in the case of Equatorial Guinea, Gambia, Guinea, Liberia, Mauritania, Sao Tomé e Príncipe and Sierra Leone, Ace is the first international submarine cable to land on their shores.