Togo is the first African stop for Equiano undersea cable

The undersea cable will extend from Portugal to Togo, Nigeria, Namibia, South Africa, and Saint Helena, linking Europe to the West Coast of Africa. 

Following a collaboration agreement between the Togolese government, Google, and CSquared, an open-access wholesale broadband infrastructure provider, the underwater cable, which delivers a fifth-generation (5G) mobile service, arrived in Togo on Friday. 

According to a release, the internet cable would provide 20 times more capacity than any other cable presently servicing West Africa, with Togo serving as the underwater cable’s first African landing site. 

Google’s statement

In a statement on its website, Google Africa also confirmed the news.  

“In 2019, we introduced the Equiano subsea cable, which will run from Portugal along the West Coast of Africa connecting Europe to Togo, Nigeria, Namibia, South Africa, and St. Helena”.

“Today, we are announcing the Equiano subsea cable has arrived in Lomé, Togo marking the cable’s first stop along Africa’s Atlantic coast”.

“People around the world use Google products every day to stay in touch with friends and family, find directions, connect with new customers or bring products to new markets.

As 300 million people come online in Africa over the next five years, the Equiano cable is part of our ongoing commitment to Africa, expanding opportunity and improving connectivity in order to help bring the benefits of technology to more Africans”.

“With Togo’s strong commitment to boosting the digital economy, the arrival of Equiano is a key step in the country’s continued digital development.

Recent Economic Impact Assessment

According to a recent economic impact assessment conducted by Africa Practice and Genesis Analytics, Equiano is expected to result in faster internet speeds, improved user experience, and lower internet prices in Togo.

Internet speeds in the country are expected to more than double from 10 Mbps in 2021 to 21 Mbps in 2025, while retail internet prices are forecast to decline by 14% over the same period”. 

She continued “ Also according to the economic assessment, improved speeds and lower prices are expected to boost internet penetration: Between 2022 and 2025, Equiano should indirectly create 37,000 new jobs in Togo driven by the growth of the digital economy and peripheral sectors”. 

“Not only will the cable improve the resilience of the Google network, but other partners will be able to use and benefit from the Equiano cable’s capacity.

Partnering with multiple key telecom players

We are partnering with multiple key telecom players, including Société d’infrastructures numériques (SIN) and CSquared,

where Equiano lands to ensure that the cable can reach more businesses and end users across Togo and the African continent more broadly”.

“From Curie to Dunant to Firmina, we are proud to name many subsea cable projects after historical luminaries.

The Equiano cable is no different, honoring Olaudah Equiano, a Nigerian-born writer and abolitionist”.

“Expected to be ready for service later this year, Equiano will carry approximately 20 times more network capacity than the last cable built to serve this region.

We’ve worked with established local partners and experts to ensure that Equiano will be able to improve reliability in global communications and free flows of data”.

“With the arrival of the Equiano cable in Lomé, we look forward to helping contribute to the achievement of Togo’s digital goals and accelerating digital transformation not only in the country, but across the continent”.