The Equiano subsea cable has arrived in the capital of Togo, Lomé, this Friday, March 18, 2022, announced Google Africa which indicates that it is the first stop of the cable along the coast of the Atlantic Ocean in Africa.
The Togolese Head of State Faure Gnassingbé also confirmed the inauguration of the submarine cable at the port of Lomé.
“This infrastructure of the Internet giant Google aims to connect Europe to Africa and will permanently transform the digital landscape of our country”, says Faure Gnassingbé.
In 2019, Google Africa 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.
“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. 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”, the Managing Director of Google Africa, Nitin Gajria said in a statement .
According to the latter, 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.
Moreover, 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.”