Paratus has confirmed that the cable landing station for the Equiano subsea cable in Swakopmund, Namibia is now complete and functioning, as per an agreement signed with Google.
According to the pan-African network operator, the landing station was completed in June 2021. The internal fit was completed in January 2022, including power, cabling cabinets, conduits, raceways, cages, and security.
The operator said the landing station is now ready to accommodate the cable, which is expected to arrive in the second quarter of 2022.
The Paratus contract included the construction of a structure to house the cable’s termination from the ocean to the landing station, where it is connected to network equipment that lights up the fibre so it may carry data. The landing station for the cable also serves as a gathering point for other operators and consumers to collect and distribute capacity.
The Equiano cable is projected to be operational in the fourth quarter of 2022.
“This connection delivers a huge 20 times greater network capacity than the old cable,” stated Andrew Hall, MD of Paratus Namibia. It also, and maybe more importantly, provides an alternative service to Namibia and the rest of SADC, thereby enhancing redundancy and ensuring network stability and uptime. The above mentioned is fantastic news for both businesses and consumers in the region, and it’s only one step in our larger expansion goal to deliver high-quality connection services to Africa, allowing businesses and individuals on the continent to reach their full potential.”
The Equiano cable, the largest on the African continent, adds to Paratus’s SADC footprint and European network connection and supports the operator’s long-term growth strategy.
