Today’s MoU announcement will see the Angola Cables’ international network linked to the terrestrial Broadband Infraco network. The licensed state-owned telco provides extensive regional long-distance network coverage and SADC connectivity. Broadband Infraco currently has more than 14,960km of fibre networks across South Africa and has 156 points of presence (PoPs) providing a high capacity, stable national network environment.
The partnership will advance business channel synergies and further the connections of Brazil and South Africa with other BRICS nations through a high speed, low latency connection. This offers South African consumers an improved usage, low-latency or ´no lag experience’, which benefits the gaming community in particular as well as other users requiring greater bandwidth via the SACS routing to South America.
Angola Cables CEO, António Nunes (pictured), said that the partnership will facilitate internet connectivity into Africa. “With our international connectivity and reach through our submarine networks and the expansive terrestrial network of Broadband Infraco, there is a genuine opportunity for us to collectively fast-track connectivity on the continent,” he said.
“The very real possibility now exists to connect Brazil and South Africa to the other BRICS nations of Russia, India and China through a high speed, low latency connection,” added Nunes. “Such a connection, together with our robust network, will accelerate international co-operation on multiple levels, promote economic development and fast track projects that will enable new opportunities for digital content exchange across the region.”
Angola Cables will also be in a position to support its new partner in other projects that are of national importance and which require global network connectivity. For example the Square Kilometre Array (SKA) project is the world’s largest telescope and where Broadband Infraco is the main supplier of international capacity to Europe. Given the large data requirements, the scientific information can now be shared with other entities, said Nunes.
Andrew Matseke, CEO of Broadband Infraco, said that the partnership is pivotal in the development of digital connectivity within South Africa and Africa. “We have PoPs and fibre connectivity options to all neighbouring SADC countries. Through the Angola Cables subsea networks, SACS and Monet, Broadband Infraco will have the ability to share international traffic and content that could unlock new business opportunities for SADC countries.”
