FEATURE
CONVERGED OPEN DIGITAL INFRASTRUCTURE Accelerating the Digitisation of Africa BY CHRIS WOOD
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eployment of the new, high-capacity Equiano and 2Africa subsea cable systems is facilitating transformation of Africa’s digital landscape; not just because of the significant additional capacity, connectivity and resilience they are bringing, but also because they are being landed into open access data centres. This innovative integration of high-capacity subsea infrastructure with open access digital interconnection points is helping to establish and foster a convergence towards open digital infrastructure, which is driving transformational change on the continent. It enables a level playing field for all operators to easily and cost-effectively access reliable, scalable international capacity at open digital hubs, driving the development of vibrant digital ecosystems.
ESTABLISHING CONVERGED OPEN DIGITAL INFRASTRUCTURE ACROSS AFRICA
With this new subsea cable capacity now coming on stream to improve delivery of digital content, services and technologies, it is imperative that a reliable, scalable, open-access digital backbone with sufficient scale, reach and resilience is available to underpin the realisation of these opportunities throughout Africa. As a pioneer of developing connectivity into, out of and around the continent, WIOCC Group is taking on the challenge to transform digital Africa and accelerate the continent’s digitisation. It has a comprehensive programme
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in place to deploy converged, open digital infrastructure – a mesh of open access connectivity hubs interlinked with open access networks – throughout the continent, supporting better opportunities, better businesses and a better world for all Africans. WIOCC has landed the Equiano and 2Africa cables into open access, carrier-neutral, data centres operated by WIOCC Group company Open Access Data Centres (OADC), helping in ensuring the long-term availability of high-capacity, open access international connectivity to Africa’s wholesale market. Content providers, cloud operators, fixed-line and mobile telcos, Internet Service Providers (ISPs) and major enterprises all make use of such connectivity to further accelerate the digital transformation of the continent.
NEW SUBSEA CABLES TRANSFORM AFRICA’S DIGITAL LANDSCAPE
After a 10-year hiatus, when no new subsea cable systems were deployed between Africa and the rest of the world, the DARE1 and METISS regional cable systems were deployed in 2021. However, Africa’s international subsea capacity inventory will increase dramatically with the new >140Tbps Equiano and 2Africa cable systems going live this year and next. These new cables will completely transform Africa’s digital landscape, bringing much-needed additional capacity, connectivity and resilience that will enable service providers in