Tech giant Google has unveiled its intention to construct a new fiber optic cable called Umoja, aimed at enhancing internet connectivity in Africa.
The company made the announcement via its blog on Thursday. The Umoja cable will be anchored in Kenya, passing through several countries including Uganda, Rwanda, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Zambia, Zimbabwe, and South Africa, before crossing the Indian Ocean to reach Australia.
This groundbreaking project marks the first-ever direct fiber optic route connecting Africa to Australia.
Google revealed that it collaborated with Liquid Technologies to establish Umoja’s terrestrial path, which provides a highly scalable route throughout Africa.
The network will include access points allowing other countries to benefit from its connectivity.
The project has been made possible through partnerships with leaders in Africa and Australia, with the aim of connecting African individuals, businesses, and governments. Meg Whitman, the U.S. Ambassador to Kenya, expressed her support for the initiative.
Umoja, is part of the Africa Connect initiative, alongside the Equiano cable. The Equiano cable which was named after Olaudah Equiano, a Nigerian-born writer and abolitionist, was previously landed in Nigeria in April 2022.
It is one of the initial landings in Africa for the subsea cable, which extends from Portugal along the west coast of Africa to South Africa.
These endeavors under the Africa Connect initiative aim to enhance connectivity between African countries and the rest of the world.
