Google announced its launch Umojaan ambitious fiber optic cable project that will directly connect the continent to Australia for the first time.
Details
The Umoja cable route, anchored in Kenya, is about to cross Uganda, Rwanda, Democratic Republic of Congo, Zambia, Zimbabwe, and South Africaincluding the Google Cloud Regionbefore crossing the Indian Ocean to reach Australia.
Derived from the Swahili word for “unity,” Umoja represents a major step toward strengthening the resilience of Africa’s digital infrastructure and boosting economic opportunity through reliable Internet access.
Digging deeper
Along with the previously announced Equiano cableUmoja is part of the broader Africa Connect initiative, a strategic effort aimed at empowering African countries to create stronger digital connections between themselves and the rest of the world.
What they say
“Access to the latest technology, supported by reliable and resilient digital infrastructure, is critical to growing economic opportunities,” he said Meg Whitman, the US ambassador to Kenya.
“This is an important moment for Kenya’s digital transformation journey and the benefits of today’s announcement will spread across the region.”
President William Ruto of Kenya echoed similar sentiments, praising Google’s investment in digital connectivity as a “historic milestone” that will significantly improve the region’s global and regional digital infrastructure.
“I am delighted to welcome Google’s investment in digital connectivity, marking a historic milestone for Kenya, Africa and Australia,” President Ruto said.
“The new transcontinental fiber route will greatly enhance our global and regional digital infrastructure. This initiative is vital to ensure the redundancy and resilience of our region’s connectivity to the rest of the world, especially in light of the recent disruptions caused by undersea cable cuts. By strengthening our digital backbone, we not only improve reliability but also pave the way for increased digital inclusion, innovation and economic opportunity for our people and businesses.”
Try Masiyiwathe Chairman and founder of Liquid Technologies, highlighted the transformative impact of Umoja, stating that major African cities will no longer be “hard-to-reach endpoints remote from coastal landing zones”. Instead, they will become stations on a “data superhighway” capable of carrying massive amounts of traffic, bridging the digital divide..
“Africa’s major cities such as Nairobi, Kampala, Kigali, Lubumbashi, Lusaka and Harare will no longer be hard-to-reach endpoints far from the coastal landing zones that connect Africa to the world” said Mr Masiyiwa.
“They are now stations on a data highway that can carry thousands of times more traffic than is currently arriving here. I am proud that this project is helping us deliver a digitally connected future that leaves no African behind, no matter how far they are from the world’s technology centers.”
Between the lines
Google has also signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Kenya’s Ministry of Information Communications and Digital Economy. This partnership aims to accelerate joint efforts in cybersecurity, data-driven innovation, digital upscaling, and the responsible and safe development of artificial intelligence for societal benefits.
As part of this partnership, Google Cloud and Kenya are exploring ways to strengthen the country’s cyber posture, with the Ministry of Immigration and Citizens Services evaluating Google Cloud’s CyberShield solution and Mandiant’s expertise to strengthen its defences. eCitizen platform.
Source: Venture Burn
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