Google, the American multinational technology company has announced that its Equiano undersea Internet cable, which arrived in Nigeria in April and covers a distance of 12,000 kilometers, would begin its full operation in December. According to the company, this new development will allow Equiano to connect St. Helena, Togo, Nigeria, Namibia, and South Africa with Europe, and this is expected to result in good and faster Internet speeds at lower costs across the continent.
This information was disclosed by the company at the second Google for Africa event, where it was said that more than 20 percent of the $1 trillion that was declared the previous year to be spent on the territory in the following five years has been appropriately distributed. A recent economic impact evaluation conducted by Africa Practice and Genesis Analytics shows that the cable will advance economic development by 2025, with GDPs in Nigeria increasing by $10.1 billion, South Africa by $7 billion, and Namibia by $260 million.
This new innovation will improve the country’s economy.
The latest technology is the best of its kind, especially in Nigeria where a lot needs to be done in the communication and information sector. It is anticipated that Google Equiano would be indirectly responsible for the creation of 1.6 million employment in Nigeria, 181,000 jobs in South Africa, and 21,000 jobs in Namibia within the same period. And this is a result of the rise of the digital economy as well as the industries that surround it.
During the virtual event, Sundar Pichai, the Chief Executive Officer of Google made an affirmation that the company plans to establish a new Google Cloud region in South Africa, which will be the company’s first location on the African continent. Pichai added that the new Cloud Region would assist users, developers, companies, and educational institutions throughout Africa in moving more information and tools online, enhancing access choices for consumers, and ultimately producing new employment opportunities.
Google aims to accelerate Africa Digital Transformation.
Furthermore, while speaking at the event, Nitin Gajria, the Managing Director of Google Africa, said that the company is partnering with governments, policymakers, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), telecoms, business leaders, creators, and media in order to assist in accelerating Africa’s transition to a digital economy. Niral Patel, the director of Google Cloud Africa, added that they believe in building an open and healthy ecosystem of technological solutions to aid Africa’s digital transformation ambitions, which leads to greater possibilities for companies.
Director Patel added that respecting the environment is a part of the company’s values. That’s why they run the cleanest cloud in the company, which helps digital transformation that is good for the environment. In addition to the cloud area, they are increasing the size of their network by deploying Equiano subsea cable and building Cloud-based Interconnect sites in Johannesburg, Cape Town, Lagos, and Nairobi. And as a result of this action, they are developing full-scale cloud capabilities for Africa.
It will enhance affordable and high internet speeds in Nigeria.
This innovation makes a significant long-term contribution to the growth of Nigeria’s communications infrastructure, and this represents another milestone in the country’s progress toward that goal. The Equiano cable would provide increased internet speeds and affordability to the people of Nigeria, which will enhance internet quality. However, in order for the benefits to be fully realized throughout the whole of Nigeria, hyper scale connectivity will need to be expanded beyond the Lagos region to the other parts of the nation.
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