A subsea cable owned by Google that promises to double internet speeds for millions in Africa arrived in Togo on Friday.
The Equiano cable will double internet speed for Togo’s 8 million residents, Google said in a statement.
The new line will also make land in Nigeria, Namibia and South Africa, with possible branches offering connections to nearby countries. It is expected to start operating by the end of the year.
Sub-Saharan Africa is the world’s least-connected region, with around a quarter of the population still lacking mobile broadband coverage compared to 7 percent globally, according to a 2020 report by GSMA Intelligence.
Most countries in West Africa are at the bottom of a World Bank global ranking on internet penetration.
Togo will be the first to benefit. The cable is expected to reduce internet prices by 14 percent by 2025, according to an Africa Practice and Genesis Analytics assessment commissioned by Google.
Google said the cable will indirectly create 37,000 jobs in Togo by 2025 and boost GDP by $193 million.
