Google has unveiled plans to construct a groundbreaking fiber optic cable named Umoja, which will be the first to directly connect Africa to Australia.
In a recent statement, Google announced that Umoja will be anchored in Kenya and will traverse Uganda, Rwanda, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Zambia, Zimbabwe, and South Africa before crossing the Indian Ocean to Australia.
“Umoja’s terrestrial path was built in collaboration with Liquid Technologies to form a highly scalable route through Africa, including access points that will allow other countries to take advantage of the network” Google stated.
“Umoja, which is the Swahili word for unity, joins Equiano in an initiative called Africa Connect. Umoja will enable African countries to more reliably connect with each other and the rest of the world.
“Establishing a new route distinct from existing connectivity routes is critical to maintaining a resilient network for a region that has historically experienced high-impact outages,”
Google expressed appreciation for the collaboration from leaders across Africa and Australia in bringing ‘Africa Connect’ to people, businesses, and governments globally.
Meg Whitman, US Ambassador to Kenya, highlighted the importance of reliable digital infrastructure in expanding economic opportunities. “This is a meaningful moment for Kenya’s digital transformation journey and the benefits of today’s announcement will cascade across the region,” she said.
Kenyan President William Ruto noted that the new intercontinental fiber optic route would significantly bolster global and regional digital infrastructure. “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” Ruto stated.
Australian Minister for Communications, Michelle Rowland, emphasized the importance of diversifying Australia’s connectivity and supporting global digital inclusion. “Google’s Umoja cable will help achieve these critical goals,” she remarked.
