Google lands Equiano Submarine Cable in Nigeria
By Ibidunni Banjoko
Google a subsidiary of Alphabet Inc. in partnership with West Indian Ocean Cable Company (WIOCC), landed Equiano Submarine Cable in Lagos. The cable is expected to improve connectivity and boost Nigerian GDP by $10.1billion, create 1.6 million jobs in the next three years, and save 2.8 million tonnes of CO2 emissions per annum.
It is also projected to impact connectivity by increasing internet speed by six times, reducing internet retail prices by 21 percent, and increasing internet penetration by six percentage points.
The cable’s landing was witnessed by the Governor of Lagos, Babajide Sanwo Olu, and other prominent dignitaries, including the representative of the Minister of Communications and Digital Economy and the Executive Vice-Chairman of the Nigerian Communications Commission, NCC.
Commenting on the landing of the Equiano Submarine Cable; Juliette Ehimuan, Director, Google West Africa, said: “Google is committed to supporting Africa’s digital transformation and we are excited to see the impact of Equiano’s landing in Nigeria. We have worked with established partners and country experts to guarantee that Equiano has the greatest potential impact in Nigeria and across Africa.
“Equiano is set to make a lasting contribution to the development of Nigeria’s communications infrastructure and today marks another major step in its development. We look forward to honoring our commitment to be part of Africa’s digital transformation.”
She also claimed that the cable, when the first phase of capacity expansion in the country begins, will have an economic impact by raising GDP by USD 10.1 billion by 2025 and creating jobs by 1.6 million by 2025.
It will impact connectivity by increasing internet speed by six times, reducing internet retail prices by 21 percent, and increasing internet penetration by six percentage points.
Chris Wood, Chief Executive Officer of WIOCC, also said: “We are proud to have been selected by Google as the landing partner for Equiano Cable in Nigeria, unloading the cable directly at the OADC Lagos data center. From there it will be extended to Lagos and other data centers.”
He added: “Equiano Cable will provide Nigerians with better internet quality, speed, and affordability. However, in order to fully realise the benefits across Nigeria, hyper-scale connectivity needs to be expanded from the Lagos region to the rest of the country. To do this, WIOCC is also deploying an extensive, hyper-scale national fiber network in partnership with Phase 3 Telecom. The network will go live in phases, beginning in June and continuing through the end of the year. When combined, this cable network will deliver transformative benefits across the country.”
The Nigerian government has also stepped up its digital transformation programs since 2017. These initiatives have proven crucial to the success of many industries in the country, especially the start-up space. But studies suggest that faster internet connections, better user experiences, and reduced internet costs will further accelerate these benefits.
The cable was named after Olaudah Equiano an African slave who bought his freedom and became a prominent anti-slavery campaigner.
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