Comments on: A peaceful EASSy feeling

By: James W

James W — Wed, 10 Oct 2007 08:52:56 +0000

While large in relative terms (when compared to number of internet users in Africa at present), SAT-3 has nowhere near enough capacity if internet connectivity really takes off (but then, it won’t at the currently charged prices :P).

For some perspective, Southern Cross (NZ + Aus only) cable to US is being upgraded to 840Gbps, and has final capacity of 2.6 Tbps.

That’s for a combined population of 24 million people. True, they have more broadband users, and probably higher percentages of people with connectivity, but come on.

You can’t tell me that more Africans will not go online if rates drop to levels for ex. in Aus/NZ (and comparatively speaking their rates are high for the nations they are compared againts).

The SAT-3 guys are being lazy, corrupt, and screwing Africa out of its digital future.

It’s so frustrating, when the limitation is largely crappy policy. The market is there. Stupid fat cats :(

By: Abdinasir Ibrahim

Abdinasir Ibrahim — Sat, 29 Sep 2007 20:04:34 +0000

who will control somalia worlords,regarding security the supmarine cable runing throug somalias cost
it will securty issues

By: afrotechie » Blog Archive » A tale of two cables

afrotechie » Blog Archive » A tale of two cables — Sun, 23 Sep 2007 15:36:28 +0000

[...] A peaceful EASSy feeling – by Ethan Zuckerman of My Heart’s in Accra. [...]

By: Drew

Drew — Thu, 05 Apr 2007 15:35:16 +0000

…check out Ethan Zuckerman’s overview and analysis:
http://ethanzuckerman.com/blog/?p=856

By: Ethan

Ethan — Thu, 01 Feb 2007 12:51:07 +0000

The main point of access, Lesia, is the SAT-3 cable, which has very large capacity, most of it unutilized. I don’t know the specific bandwidth available, but you might be able to find that out from searches about SAT-3. Some countries, like Ghana, have terrestrial fiber that could interconnect with SAT-3, but I don’t know of any other international fiber in west Africa other than SAT-3.

By: Lesia

Lesia — Thu, 01 Feb 2007 03:29:46 +0000

Thanks so much for this information, I am currently doing a market research on doing business in Ghana. One of my main questions is, What is the amount of fiber optic cable currently run into the region?

By: Mike McKay

Mike McKay — Mon, 26 Jun 2006 14:09:06 +0000

Here in Malawi we are desperately waiting for an EASSy redemption of our bandwidth problem. We don’t have a single piece of wire crossing any border of our landlocked country. It is all overly contended and overpriced VSATs. At any rate, I wanted to point out the latest developments:

The EASSy saga, which has had more twists and turns than a mountain road, took what may be a final turn. Kenya Data Networks announced that it has secured a separate deal with Flag Telecom to build a spur from off the cost of Yemen to Mombasa. The deal is believed to be worth US$115 million and the pipe will be built before EASSy was planning to come on stream. And the cost of the bandwidth? An eye-wateringly low figure of around US$150 per mbps per month for Mombasa to London. Russell Southwood spoke to KDN’s CEO Kai Wulff this week about how it will work.

Read all about it: http://www.balancingact-africa.com/news/current1.html

By: Meskel Square

Meskel Square — Mon, 26 Jun 2006 12:23:56 +0000

A tale of two cables

Read these two articles if you want to know why Africa’s internet connections have been so ropey and expensive in the past – and why they are likely to remain so ropey and expensive in the future. A peaceful EASSy…

By: kwasi

kwasi — Sun, 25 Jun 2006 19:24:15 +0000

Good point.

AITI is apparently also trying to lobby the government about this. Hence, I’ll get some latitude when i write about it and the unused fiber that is currently sitting in the country while we contract China to lay more.

Just out of curiosity when does the agreement come up for renewal?

By: Ethan

Ethan — Sun, 25 Jun 2006 16:29:51 +0000

The “Ds vs. Fs” analogy is a good one, Kwasi – I’d agree with that. SAT-3 is overpriced and underutilized in every nation – Ghana’s marginally better than others, but it’s still a major problem. One of the main reasons I’m so excited about EASSy is that it will make it possible to argue for an open access model for SAT-3 when the agreement renewal comes up…