Telecom Namibia says it has officially activated its capacity on the Equiano subsea cable, positioning the country as a regional Information and Communication Technology (ICT) hub.
The Equiano cable, commissioned by Google, connects Namibia to Europe via Portugal and to the rest of Africa through Cape Town and Johannesburg.
This high-capacity link significantly boosts the country’s international connectivity, complementing the existing West Africa Cable System (WACS).
Speaking at the launch, Telecom Namibia CEO, Stanley Shanapinda, said the 100G link established between Swakopmund and Johannesburg has alleviated network congestion and reduced latency, resulting in improved service quality for customers.
“We implemented a 100G link via Equiano between Swakopmund and Johannesburg. This link has alleviated congestion on terrestrial routes and reduced latency to South Africa, ensuring the highest quality of service for our customers. This enhanced the performance of the TN network and provided faster, more reliable connectivity for users,” he said.
Speaking at the same event, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Works and Transport John Mutorwa, emphasised the cable’s potential to drive economic growth and development.
“We are deeply grateful to Telecom Namibia for their unwavering dedication to infrastructural development. This strategic investment in network modernisation and the collaborative co-landing of the Equiano cable alongside Paratus exemplifies a commendable initiative,” he said.
Deputy Minister of Finance and Public Enterprises Maureen Hinda-Mbuende envisioned a future where SADC nations collaborate on ICT initiatives.
She said such collaboration would not only elevate service quality but also generate cost savings for consumers due to economies of scale.
She further emphasised that regional cooperation was key to accelerating broadband infrastructure development across SADC, which would ultimately bridge the digital divide and guarantee equal access for all citizens.
“Looking towards the future, SADC nations have a tremendous opportunity to further exploit synergies in the ICT sector. By working together, we can unlock a future of immense benefit for our citizens. Imagine a united SADC leveraging combined resources to deliver a higher standard of ICT services across the region.” she said.
The Equiano cable is expected to revolutionise sectors such as agriculture, healthcare, education, and logistics while fostering regional integration within the Southern African Development Community (SADC).
