Business a.m.
Google has unveiled new investments in digital infrastructure and security initiatives aimed at boosting digital connectivity, accelerating economic growth, and enhancing resilience across Africa. A key highlight of the development is the launch of Umoja, an innovative fiber optic route that will directly connect Africa with Australia for the first time.
In collaboration with Liquid Technologies, Google has designed Umoja’s terrestrial path to create a highly scalable route through Africa. The cable route will originate in Kenya, passing through Uganda, Rwanda, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Zambia, Zimbabwe, and South Africa, including the Google Cloud region. The inclusion of access points along the route will enable other countries to benefit from the extensive network.
Umoja, which is the Swahili word for unity, is Google’s latest endeavour to strengthen digital connectivity within Africa and with the rest of the world. As part of the Africa Connect initiative, Umoja joins the Equiano cable in enhancing internet infrastructure, providing a crucial new route that minimises the risks associated with high-impact outages.
Commenting on the initiative, Meg Whitman, U.S. ambassador to Kenya,said, “Access to the latest technology, supported by reliable and resilient digital infrastructure, is critical to growing economic opportunity. This is a meaningful moment for Kenya’s digital transformation journey and the benefits of today’s announcement will cascade across the region.”
William S. Ruto, president of Kenya, expressed his delight welcoming Google’s investment in digital connectivity, marking a historic milestone for Kenya, Africa, and Australia.
He stated, “This initiative is crucial in ensuring the redundancy and resilience of our region’s connectivity to the rest of the world, especially in light of recent disruptions caused by cuts to sub-sea cables. By strengthening our digital backbone, we are not only improving reliability but also paving the way for increased digital inclusion, innovation, and economic opportunities for our people and businesses.”
Michelle Rowland MP, Australian minister for communications, noted that diversifying Australia’s connectivity and supporting digital inclusion across the globe are both incredibly important objectives, and Google’s Umoja cable will help to do just that.
She added, “Australia welcomes Google’s investment and congratulates all those involved in undertaking this crucial initiative.”
Strive Masiyiwa, chairman and founder of Liquid Technologies, stated that, with the commencement of the initiative, Africa’s major cities including Nairobi, Kampala, Kigali, Lubumbashi, Lusaka, and Harare will no longer be hard-to-reach endpoints remote from the coastal landing sites that connect Africa to the world.
“They are now stations on a data superhighway that can carry thousands of times more traffic than currently reaches here. I am proud that this project helps us deliver a digitally connected future that leaves no African behind, regardless of how far they are from the technology centers of the world,” he added.
